ADDRESSING ISSUE OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS/REFUGEES AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000786 SIPDIS SIPDIS GENEVA FOR RMA JERUSALEM FOR KAPLAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2013 TAGS: PHUM PREF EG IS SU ER SUBJECT: ADDRESSING ISSUE OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS/REFUGEES AND KILLINGS ALONG EGYPTIAN/ISRAELI BORDER REF: A. STATE 31973 ¶B. CAIRO 479 ¶C. 2007 CAIRO 3238 ¶D. 2007 SECSTATE 154604 ¶E. 2007 TEL AVIV 2874 ¶F. 2007 TEL AVIV 2744 Classified By: A/DCM William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On April 1, Embassy Refugee Reporting Office Alan Holst delivered suggested points from Reftel A to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director for International Organizations and Human Rights Simona Halperin. Halperin reiterated GOI willingness to participate in tripartite talks (Reftels E and F) with UNHCR and GOE to seek a way forward on dealing with these population movements, if UNHCR (or the USG) is successful in getting the GOE to come to the table. Halperin noted that the GOI had requested USG help in dealing with the growing number of asylum seekers in the past and is "very, very" likely to do so again. ¶2. (C) Post anticipates that the visit of PRM PDAS Kelly Ryan and DHS/CIS Director of Asylum Division Joe Langlois April 4-10 will provide an opportunity for the GOI to present its views directly to their Washington counterparts. Per Reftel A request that Embassy provide the Department with its best advice on specific points that will resonate successfully with the GOI in relaunching a dialogue with Egypt and UNHCR on addressing the mixed flows of African refugees/asylum-seekers/migrants, Post notes that the GOI keenly desires "burden sharing" with the USG on this issue. Third country collaboration options would be well received by the Israelis. The Israelis also want to be able to demonstrate to domestic audiences that other countries realize the particular difficulties (such as economic migrants becoming sur place refugees due to the state of relations between Israel and many source countries) Israel faces with their asylum caseloads. ¶3. (C) Halperin noted that the GOI was trying to fix a date to go to Geneva to have senior-level talks with UNHCR on various issues concerning mixed flow of asylum seekers/migrants, and "the known difficulties created by a guaranteed ability to stay in Israel for a very long time and work if registered." She commented that the GOI is seriously considering upgrading discussions with the GOE and UNHCR to find ways to deal with "infiltration and illegal entry into Israel" while "still providing protection for those who are real refugees." Halperin said that "all options are on the table" and while she still did not see how a tripartite meeting will accomplish the desired result, Israel "definitely will not be the one to refuse - Israel will be the one to seize the opportunity to advance the issue." ********************************************* ******************** 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