Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TELAVIV1177
2008-06-03 12:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
GAZAN FULBRIGHTERS: MG MISHLEV PLEDGES TO HELP
how-toVZCZCXRO9870 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHTV #1177 1551216 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031216Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6960 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001177
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL IS
SUBJECT: GAZAN FULBRIGHTERS: MG MISHLEV PLEDGES TO HELP
DESPITE SENSITIVITIES
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001177
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL IS
SUBJECT: GAZAN FULBRIGHTERS: MG MISHLEV PLEDGES TO HELP
DESPITE SENSITIVITIES
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) DCM Moreno, accompanied by Poloff and Econoff, met
June 3 with Coordinator for Government Activities in the
Territories (COGAT) MG Mishlev to discuss the issue of
Palestinian Fulbright students needing permits to exit Gaza
for visa interviews at the Consulate General in Jerusalem.
The DCM noted that he had requested the June 3 appointment
with Mishlev in order to discuss the problem of getting
Fulbright students and other USG-grantees out of Gaza, and
expressed regret that the story of the Fulbright students
broke in the New York Times before there was an opportunity
to meet. Mishlev agreed that the public controversy had
caused problems for the GOI and his office in particular, but
confirmed that at least seven of the eight 2008 Fulbright
students will be allowed to leave Gaza the morning of June 4
for visa interviews. Mishlev said the eighth student, Zuhair
Mustafa Abu Shaban, was still being reviewed by the ISA (Shin
Bet) pending an "interview" with him. Mishlev cautioned that
while the ISA might simply want to speak with Abu Shaban,
they might also want to arrest him. The DCM thanked Mishlev
for his help with the 2008 Fulbright students, and confirmed
that a ConGen vehicle would pick them up at the Erez crossing
the morning of June 4.
2. (C) Mishlev stressed that the GOI does not count
"students, workers or businessmen" among the humanitarian
cases eligible to leave Gaza under Israel's current
restrictive policy. He said he decided unilaterally to give
exit permits only to USG grantees, not to European or other
countries' program recipients. He warned that in doing so,
he was not only violating official GOI policy, but also
opening himself to criticism from NGOs and the Military
Advocate General, who was concerned about the legality of a
double standard that favored American recipients over others.
Mishlev said that for political and legal reasons, it was
important that all cooperation with COGAT on these issues be
handled quietly. "We need to continue with a very low
profile because this is extremely sensitive," he said.
3. (C) Mishlev also expressed annoyance at last week's
incident involving an MIT scholarship recipient from Gaza who
used the opportunity of an Embassy-facilitated exit permit to
testify before a Knesset committee examining Israel's refusal
to let Palestinian students out of Gaza. The public nature
of the student's activities had jeopardized COGAT's ability
to work with us, Mishlev said. The DCM assured Mishlev that
we were also concerned about the student's behavior, and
would work to ensure that it does not happen again.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL IS
SUBJECT: GAZAN FULBRIGHTERS: MG MISHLEV PLEDGES TO HELP
DESPITE SENSITIVITIES
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) DCM Moreno, accompanied by Poloff and Econoff, met
June 3 with Coordinator for Government Activities in the
Territories (COGAT) MG Mishlev to discuss the issue of
Palestinian Fulbright students needing permits to exit Gaza
for visa interviews at the Consulate General in Jerusalem.
The DCM noted that he had requested the June 3 appointment
with Mishlev in order to discuss the problem of getting
Fulbright students and other USG-grantees out of Gaza, and
expressed regret that the story of the Fulbright students
broke in the New York Times before there was an opportunity
to meet. Mishlev agreed that the public controversy had
caused problems for the GOI and his office in particular, but
confirmed that at least seven of the eight 2008 Fulbright
students will be allowed to leave Gaza the morning of June 4
for visa interviews. Mishlev said the eighth student, Zuhair
Mustafa Abu Shaban, was still being reviewed by the ISA (Shin
Bet) pending an "interview" with him. Mishlev cautioned that
while the ISA might simply want to speak with Abu Shaban,
they might also want to arrest him. The DCM thanked Mishlev
for his help with the 2008 Fulbright students, and confirmed
that a ConGen vehicle would pick them up at the Erez crossing
the morning of June 4.
2. (C) Mishlev stressed that the GOI does not count
"students, workers or businessmen" among the humanitarian
cases eligible to leave Gaza under Israel's current
restrictive policy. He said he decided unilaterally to give
exit permits only to USG grantees, not to European or other
countries' program recipients. He warned that in doing so,
he was not only violating official GOI policy, but also
opening himself to criticism from NGOs and the Military
Advocate General, who was concerned about the legality of a
double standard that favored American recipients over others.
Mishlev said that for political and legal reasons, it was
important that all cooperation with COGAT on these issues be
handled quietly. "We need to continue with a very low
profile because this is extremely sensitive," he said.
3. (C) Mishlev also expressed annoyance at last week's
incident involving an MIT scholarship recipient from Gaza who
used the opportunity of an Embassy-facilitated exit permit to
testify before a Knesset committee examining Israel's refusal
to let Palestinian students out of Gaza. The public nature
of the student's activities had jeopardized COGAT's ability
to work with us, Mishlev said. The DCM assured Mishlev that
we were also concerned about the student's behavior, and
would work to ensure that it does not happen again.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES