PALESTINIAN ACCESS TO EAST JERUSALEM HOSPITALS

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002090 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/HOLMSTROM/LENTZ; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR PASCUAL; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PREL PHUM KWBG IS SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN ACCESS TO EAST JERUSALEM HOSPITALS RESTRICTED BY GOI ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A new GOI access restriction for Palestinian hospital staff has severely disrupted the operations of the six Palestinian East Jerusalem hospitals, according to Hospital Network Coordinator Tawfiq Nasser. He said that patients and staff are now restricted to two specific checkpoints, resulting in daily travel delays of 90-120 minutes. Palestinian employees of Israeli hospitals in Jerusalem are not subject to this rule and use other, more efficient checkpoints. The GOI is scheduled to meet internally about this issue on November 30, according to Nasser, who underscored the magnitude of the problem: "We cannot go on like this." PA Ministry of Health officials expressed to Econoff their concern over this issue. End summary. Patients and staff directed to crowded checkpoints -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Tawfiq Nasser, CEO of Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, told Econoff on November 19 that a new GOI policy implemented in early October requires patients and employees of Palestinian East Jerusalem hospitals to enter Jerusalem from the north only via the Qualandia and Olive checkpoints. The Qualandia and Olive checkpoints are crowded and not convenient for all travelers. Nasser said that GOI contacts had noted in July possible changes to Israeli policies for commuting Palestinians entering Jerusalem, but no new regulation was specified. PA Ministry of Health officials told Econoff on November 16 that the new restrictions have greatly limited hospital services. ¶3. (SBU) Nasser said that individuals had previously been allowed to use less crowded, "easier" checkpoints, including Hizma. Palestinians working for NGOs, the UN, and consulates can still use these "easier" checkpoints, as well as those working at Israeli hospitals in Jerusalem. Daily delays greatly hinder hospital services -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Nasser said that, as a result of this change, hospital services have been greatly restricted in recent weeks, given the unpredictable arrivals of patients, physicians, nurses, and technicians. Prior to this change, employees had commutes of 30-45 minutes from Ramallah. Those travel times are now 90-120 minutes each day. Nasser told Econoff that 75 percent of his West Bank staff are directly affected by these new restrictions. He underscored that hospital services and operations are being delayed and canceled due to late arrivals: "We cannot go on like this," he said. Israeli officials to meet November 30; Blair Team has raised with GOI -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Nasser has written to numerous officials in the PA and GOI to request assistance. He said that Israeli Ministry of Health, police, and COGAT officials planned to meet on the issue on November 30. Members of the Blair Team told Econoff that they have raised this matter with the GOI in recent weeks. WALLES