GOI TO TAKE STEPS TO SPEED UP AMA IMPLEMENTATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000913

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL KWBG PBTS IS
SUBJECT: GOI TO TAKE STEPS TO SPEED UP AMA IMPLEMENTATION

REF: A) TEL AVIV 502 B) TEL AVIV 883

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a March 22 meeting of the Core Group
for implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access
(AMA),Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh pointed to GOI
progress in reducing obstacles to movement and increasing the
flow of agricultural goods through crossing points. He
agreed to increase the frequency of bi-lateral meetings --
particularly among interagency working groups -- and
recommend practical ways to speed up AMA implementation.
Although GOI security concerns about an open West Bank-Gaza
passenger link remain, Sneh reported that the GOI was
developing a pilot project involving humanitarian medical
convoys that could be expanded in the future. On crossings,
the Ambassador called for the GOI to sign on to the Customs
Protocol, which would facilitate opening Kerem Shalom and
provide an alternative to the Rafah crossing. Sneh pledged
to seek Prime Minister Olmert's approval. Finally, Sneh
supported a two-track follow-up to the Palestinian Economic
Development Seminar held at the Ambassador,s residence on
February 13. One track, which is ongoing, looks to solve
immediate problems and is headed by Coordinator of Government
Affairs in the Territories (COGAT) Coordinator General
Mishlev and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat. The
other, trilateral, track will focus on plans for developing
the Palestinian agriculture and industrial sectors with input
from NGOs and international experts. END SUMMARY.

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PROGRESS ON AMA IMPLEMENTATION ...
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2. (C) In a meeting of the Core Group for the implementation
of the AMA on March 22, Deputy Defense Minister Sneh
highlighted for the Ambassador several recent GOI measures
that he said have resulted in tangible improvements in the
quality of life for Palestinians. Such actions include
removing barriers to movement, creating more jobs and
boosting exports in the agricultural and industrial sectors,
facilitating access for tour groups and clergy during
religious holidays, and increasing the total number of work
permits for private sector Palestinians by 21,200 (84%) since
May of 2006. Moreover, Sneh cited specific steps unrelated
to movement and access taken by the GOI "in the spirit of the
AMA," as signs of progress. These include providing oxygen
generators and immunizations to hospitals in Gaza, promoting
Israeli-Palestinian scientific cooperation, and several
electricity and infrastructure projects.

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... BUT MOVING TOO SLOWLY
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3. (C) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for GOI
assistance in keeping traffic moving at the Karni crossing
and in removing empty containers from Gaza, but noted that it
had taken one month for the joint Economic Committee
(described in ref A) to reconvene. The Ambassador also
called for increasing the frequency of bi-lateral meetings,
particularly among interagency working groups, including on
crossings, to agree on common terms of reference and
recommend practical steps to speed AMA implementation. The
Economic Counselor explained the U.S. interest in a renewal
of the working group on crossings. He pointed out that
previous discussions had identified specific steps that could
be taken in accordance with accepted international standards
to improve crossing operations, such as signing onto a
Customs Protocol and instituting a transparent scheduling
system. Sneh agreed that working groups were a good idea,
and noted that the MOD would include other appropriate GOI
entities, such as the Airport Authority, in the discussions.

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GOI CONSIDERING MEDICAL CONVOYS PILOT PROJECT
--------------


4. (C) Regarding convoys and a West Bank-Gaza link, Sneh
acknowledged that security concerns remain a major impediment
to progress. There is a fear that some Palestinians would
use convoys and increased freedom of movement to facilitate
terrorist operations. As a humanitarian gesture, and in an
effort to test the feasibility of implementing a West
Bank-Gaza link, Sneh said that he had just tasked COGAT MG
Mishlev to develop a "medical convoys pilot project" that
would shuttle patients in need of medical treatment, usually

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accompanied by a family-member escort, from Gaza to the West
Bank and back. A transportation company from East Jerusalem
would operate the shuttle route between Erez and Ramallah,
and would not charge the passengers. Sneh confirmed that the
GOI would need to seek sufficient funds in the budget to
finance the pilot project. Once assured that the medical
convoys were "not dangerous," the GOI could consider
expanding the project to include non-medical convoys
accommodating elderly people and other approved passengers.
Sneh said that he would ask Mishlev to brief the Core Team on
the project.

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CROSSINGS
--------------


5. (C) On the Rafah Crossing Point, the Ambassador noted
that EU-BAM Commander LTG Pietro Pistolese requested USG
assistance for the EU's efforts to normalize operations.
Citing the lack of response to his April 2006 letter, the
Ambassador said that Israel's continued failure to sign the
Customs Protocol was keeping Kerem Shalom from operating as
an alternative to Rafah. He urged the GOI to complete this
process. Sneh agreed that opening Kerem Shalom would be
mutually beneficial to Israelis and Palestinians, and pledged
to raise the issue with the Prime Minister. He cautioned,
however, that all parties would need to make sure that funds
did not go to the Hamas-led Palestinian government. The
Ambassador underscored the USG commitment on this issue,
adding that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had assumed
control over crossings operations. Sneh also confirmed GOI
willingness to approve exports from Rafah (see also ref B).

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COORDINATION AND FOLLOW UP
--------------


6. (C) To follow up on the Palestinian Economic Seminar held
at the Ambassador,s residence on February 13, Sneh signaled
approval for trilateral working-level meetings that would
include international experts and NGOs to address Palestinian
agriculture and industrial development. This track would
augment problem-solving discussions being held March 22
between General Mishlev and Negotiations Chief Erekat. He
suggested the Embassy work with MOD Senior Advisor Haggai
Alon to follow up on these discussions as well as on
multilateral projects such as the Ankara Initiative and the
Corridor for Peace and Prosperity Initiative with Japan.
Finally, Sneh also promised to consider the Ambassador's
request to extend the Gaza offshore fishing limit for the
remainder of the sardine season (ref B).

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PARTICIPATION
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7. (U) ISRAEL
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh
Senior Advisor Haggai Alon
Naval Aide Commander Cohen
LtCol Daniel Beaudoin
LtCol (Reserve) Oded Herman

USA
Ambassador Richard H. Jones
A/DCM Marc Sievers
USAID Deputy Director David Harden
USSC Colonel Bernd Willand
Special Advisor Norman Olsen
Economic Counselor Bill Weinstein
Defense Attache Colonel David O'Meara
Econoff

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