Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TELAVIV786
2008-04-03 12:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ADDRESSING ISSUE OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS/REFUGEES AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHTV #0786 0941211 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 031211Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6152 INFO RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN 0012 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0764 RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 0064 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1914 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0066 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 9463 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0584
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).
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
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