CODEL VOINOVICH DISCUSSES GAZA SMUGGLING ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000293 SIPDIS CODEL SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2013 TAGS: PREL IS KPAL IR IZ SUBJECT: CODEL VOINOVICH DISCUSSES GAZA SMUGGLING ISSUES WITH ISRAELI FM LIVNI ON JANUARY 2 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(C) SUMMARY: On January 2, 2008 Codel Voinovich met with Israeli FM Tzipi Livni at the MFA in Jerusalem. Senator Voinovich was accompanied by Representatives Rob Bishop (R, Utah); Phil Gingrey (R, Georgia); Steve Pearce (R, New Mexico) and Michael Turner (R, Ohio) as well as by Embassy polcouns and emboff note taker. The brief meeting centered almost exclusively on the impact on Israeli-Egyptian relations of the continued smuggling along the Gaza Strip,s border with Egypt. Livni blamed the Egyptians for failing to police the border properly and appeared irritated and defensive when questioned about Israel,s actions. The Senator suggested that the recommendations made by the recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineer,s report on tunnels between Gaza and Egypt become the baseline for monitoring Egypt's handling of the problem. (Note: Senator Voinovich was not aware that the Corps of Engineer's report has not been shared with Israel.) End Summary. 2.(C) Senator Voinovich opened the meeting by asking Livni if she was aware of the recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' report on the Egyptian-Gaza border and its recommendations for controlling smuggling through tunnels. Senator Voinovich, unaware that the Corps of Engineers' report has not been shared with Israel, suggested that it serve as an agreed baseline for monitoring the performance of Egyptian border guards. 3.(C) He also expressed concern that UNSCR 1701 was not being fully implemented, and its lack of implementation could negatively impact a two state solution. The reference related to the failure to return Israeli solidiers and stop arm smuggling to Hezbollah in Lebanon. 4.(C) Livni stated that Israel,s withdrawal and dismantling of settlements in Gaza was proof of its desire to give the Palestinians full control of Gaza. Israel had agreed with Egypt that Egypt would control the Rafah crossing with Gaza. Livni contended that the Egyptians had the resources and ability to properly patrol their border with Gaza but refused to do so for political reasons. Senator Voinovich and the other members of the CODEL mentioned that, based on their discussions in Cairo, Egyptian officials felt that Egypt was not allowed to station enough border guards to control the area. The CODEL members, series of questions on the topic appeared to put Livni on the defensive as she explained that the GOI had an abundance of proof, including photos, of Egyptian direct cooperation with Hamas. The CODEL noted Egypt,s claims that before disengagement from Gaza, Israeli efforts at thwarting smuggling were also inadequate. Livni complained that Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the two most important Arab states, were not supporting President Abbas, but rather promoting reconciliation between Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas. Livni pointedly noted that Egypt that same day had allowed about two thousand Hamas-backed Hajj pilgrims to return to Gaza through Rafah without any checks. 5.(C) Congressman Turner described Egypt's request for additional border guards as reasonable, and asked Livni why Israel refused the convening of a U.S.-Egyptian-Israeli trilateral meeting to address the problem. On the border guards, Livni responded that Prime Minister Olmert was still considering Egypt's request. She appeared unfamiliar with the idea of a trilateral meeting, but noted that in the past, Israel had participated in a quadrilateral group that included Palestinian Authority representatives. It had not, however, helped resolve the problem. 6.(U) Senator Voinovich reaffirmed his belief that resolution to the crisis in Gaza and proper management of its border was of key importance in continuing on a path towards a two-state solution. He urged that Israel and Egypt address their disagreements constructively. 7.(U) This cable been cleared by CODEL Voinovich. ********************************************* ******************** 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