DEPUTY MINISTER SNEH APPROVES EXPORTS THROUGH RAFAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000883

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON KWBG IS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY MINISTER SNEH APPROVES EXPORTS THROUGH RAFAH


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)

GOI TO APPROVE EXPORTS FROM RAFAH
--------------


1. (C) IN SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH THE AMBASSADOR, AND EMBASSY
AND WORLD BANK STAFF, DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENSE EPHRAIM SNEH
SAID THAT THE GOI WOULD APPROVE THE OPENING OF RAFAH FOR
EXPORTS FROM GAZA BEGINNING IN MAY, TO COINCIDE WITH THE
RENEWAL OF THE EUBAM MISSION. SNEH REMARKED THAT IF THE
REQUIREMENT FOR EXPORTS THOUGH RAFAH WAS IN THE AGREEMENT FOR
MOVEMENT AND ACCESS SIGNED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT THEN HE
HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE TERMS. HE
NOTED THAT ISRAEL HAS "NO POLITICAL INTENT" TO HELP DEVELOP
GAZA-EGYPT TRADE AND THAT INSTEAD THERE WOULD BE A NEED TO
RESPOND TO INCREASED EXPORTS THROUGH GAZA BY UPGRADING THE
OPERATION OF THE KARNI CROSSING. IN DISCUSSING NEXT STEPS
WITH THE ECON COUNSELOR, WORLD BANK DIRECTOR AND THE USAID
MISSION DIRECTOR, SNEH SUGGESTED THAT THEY JOINTLY PREPARE
TRIAL SHIPMENTS TO WORK OUT SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS AND THE
MECHANISM FOR OPENING RAFAH FOR EXPORTS. SECURITY REMAINED
HIS MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN, SAID SNEH, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
THE PASSAGE OF TERRORISTS THROUGH RAFAH HIDDEN WITH EXPORTED
GOODS NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.


OPENING THE JORDAN VALLEY
--------------


2. (C) SNEH ALSO DISCLOSED THAT AFTER PASSOVER, (APRIL 2 TO
9),HE INTENDS TO OPEN ROUTE 90 IN THE JORDAN VALLEY TO
PALESTINIAN PASSENGER TRAFFIC WITHOUT THE NEED FOR PERMITS.
(NOTE: THE PERMIT REGIME HAS EFFECTIVELY BANNED PALESTINIANS
FROM ENTERING THE JORDAN VALLEY UNLESS THEY COULD PROVE THEY
OWNED OR WERE WORKING ON PALESTINIAN LAND IN THE VALLEY. END
NOTE) THE CHECKPOINT AT BARDALEH, THAT WAS OPENED FOR
PALESTINIAN TRUCK TRAFFIC SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WOULD ONLY
REQUIRE SECURITY CHECKS AS IS DONE AT OTHER WEST BANK
CHECKPOINTS. SNEH SAID HE HAD TAKEN THIS DECISION OVER THE
STRENUOUS OBJECTIONS OF THE JORDAN VALLEY SETTLERS WHO,
THOUGH POLITICALLY MODERATE, WERE FIRMLY AGAINST PALESTINIANS
TRANSITING ROUTE 90. HE EMPHASIZED THAT HE WAS PERSONALLY
TAKING RISKS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN THE WEST BANK.


EXTENDING THE GAZA FISHING LIMITS
--------------


3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR NOTED THE EXTENSION OF THE THREE MILE
FISHING LIMIT OFF OF GAZA TO SIX MILES INSTITUTED LAST WEEK
AND ASKED WHETHER THERE WAS CONSIDERATION OF FURTHER
EXTENSION TO STIMULATE THE GAZA ECONOMY. SNEH RESPONDED THAT
THIS ISSUE WAS UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION BUT THAT SECURITY
CONCERNS STILL PERSISTED. THE INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS OF
EGYPTIAN EFFORTS TO STOP SMUGGLING ALONG THE BORDER WITH GAZA
HAD INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS BY SEA ALONG
THE GAZA COAST, ACCORDING TO SNEH. HOWEVER, SNEH DID PROMISE
TO RESPOND TO THE UPCOMING CUCUMBER HARVEST SEASON IN GAZA BY
WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE KARNI CROSSING REMAINS OPEN AND
FACILITATES THE EXPORT OF PERISHABLE GOODS.

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