ISRAEL: GAZA CROSSINGS UNDER FIRE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002796 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO UN LE IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL: GAZA CROSSINGS UNDER FIRE REF: TEL AVIV 2591 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Marc Sievers, reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 11, MFA Director for UN Political Affairs David Siegel updated PolOff on several issues ISRAEL is pursuing at the UN, especially on humanitarian support to Gaza. Siegel showed PolOff the draft of a presentation the GOI is preparing for New York that demonstrates the extent the closing of Gaza crossings is linked to attacks on the crossings. Siegel emphasized that Israel would not expose its security forces and civilian truck drivers to fire in order to deliver humanitarian aid. Siegel then covered a range of issues, including growing concerns over Egypt's UNESCO Director General candidate, the tracking of votes on anti-Israel resolutions in the General Assembly, and Israel's disillusionment with UNIFIL. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- Israel: Gaza Crossings Often Closed Due to Attack -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Siegel shared parts of a presentation the MFA is developing for the UN in New York, which included satellite maps of Gaza that were marked with the location of all rocket and mortar hits by week. Siegel pointed out that since rocket fire resumed November 4, an average of 60 percent of the attacks have been at or near the crossings, much higher than before this June's tahdiya (or calming). While the percentage was relatively low the first week, when the crossings were closed by the GOI as a result of the general resumption of rocket fire, he showed that the percentage of attacks on crossings had increased dramatically as ISRAEL moved to re-open them. By the first week of December, Israel's data showed that around 80 percent of all rocket and mortar attacks were aimed at the crossings, with a clear focus on Kerem Shalom. ¶3. (C) NOTE: Kerem Shalom is the main crossing for humanitarian supplies into Gaza. It was closed for reconstruction between April 18 and August 18 following a major car bomb attack. Israel's policy of closing crossings for several days following an attack or credible threat of an attack on a crossing remains consistent with its approach before the tahdiya. END NOTE. -------------- Siegel: UNIFIL Getting Worse -------------- ¶4. (C) Siegel then went on to an overview of other issues Israel is tracking at the UN. He explained that GOI frustration with UNIFIL continues to grow, as the most recent 1701 report was even worse than the previous. He pointed out that while early reports said UNIFIL had no evidence of Hizballah military activity south of the Litani, the new report asserts UNIFIL is confident such activity does not exist. He expressed disillusionment with European participation in the enhanced UNIFIL force and explained that Israel initially supported the enhanced UNIFIL force following the 2006 war in Lebanon. Siegel said ISRAEL had hoped the expanded UNIFIL force would work robustly to fulfill its mandate by limiting Hizballah and not just filing complaints about Israel. ¶5. (C) Siegel then repeated Israel's concern that the candidacy of Egypt's Culture Minister Farouk Hosni for the UNESCO Direct General was gaining momentum, despite the fact that there was wide consensus that he was inappropriate, because no alternative had been offered. On votes covering anti-Israel resolutions in the General Assembly, Siegel said Israel was developing a spreadsheet to better track their efforts lobbying for other countries and would share with the U.S. when it was ready. He also requested an update on our lobbying efforts, as outlined by Assistant Secretary Hook during his visit in October (reftel). ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM