Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN88
2009-01-23 17:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMANY: FOCUSED ON ASSISTING EGYPT WITH POLICING
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000088
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P SPECIAL ASSISTANT CONSTANTINOS NICOLAIDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS KPAL XG EG IR IS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY: FOCUSED ON ASSISTING EGYPT WITH POLICING
ITS LAND BORDER WITH GAZA
REF: A. STATE 4900
B. BERLIN 0074
C. BERLIN 0066
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000088
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P SPECIAL ASSISTANT CONSTANTINOS NICOLAIDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS KPAL XG EG IR IS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY: FOCUSED ON ASSISTING EGYPT WITH POLICING
ITS LAND BORDER WITH GAZA
REF: A. STATE 4900
B. BERLIN 0074
C. BERLIN 0066
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY. Germany's internal deliberations continue on
the extent of its possible participation in the U.S.-proposed
Gaza arms interdiction effort, but it seems unlikely that the
Germans will participate in any maritime operations. The
Germans are currently focused on offering Egypt technical
support on border policing, and still have a group of experts
standing by to go to Egypt as soon as Cairo gives the green
light. Israel has not yet approached Germany to request an
anti-smuggling MOU, but an Israeli delegation has requested
to visit Berlin next week. Looking ahead, Germany believes
the border to Gaza must be opened to more than just
humanitarian aid in order to bring the border with Egypt
under control. Germany also emphasizes the need to
"strengthen" the Egyptian government to encourage its
continued positive engagement, and to that end, continues to
support holding a possible Gaza reconstruction conference in
Cairo. END SUMMARY.
STILL DELIBERATING
2. (C) Post followed up with MFA Deputy Near East Office
Director Robert Doelger January 23 to find out if Germany had
reached any conclusions about the extent of its involvement
in the U.S.-proposed Gaza arms interdiction effort (refs A
and B). Doelger indicated that Germany's internal
deliberations were continuing. Because the international
community still did not have a clear picture of what kind of
support Egypt and Israel wanted, it was difficult to reach
any firm conclusions. In that regard, Doelger was curious
about what had come out of a meeting of senior Egyptian and
Israeli national security officials yesterday (January 22).
Doelger also confirmed that Germany was looking forward to
participating the forthcoming workshop, which he understood
was tentatively scheduled to be hosted by Denmark sometime in
February. He thought that would offer a good opportunity to
firm up some of the ideas discussed at the January 15 meeting
in Washington.
FOCUS ON SUPPORT FOR EGYPT IN CONTROLLING THE LAND BORDER
3. (C) In the meantime, Doelger said that Germany remained
focused on offering Egypt technical support on border
policing to address the problem of weapons smuggling. He
noted that Germany still had a group of experts, consisting
of a diplomat and a handful of police officers from the
Ministry of Interior, standing by to go to Egypt as soon as
Cairo indicated that it was ready to receive them. He
confirmed press reporting, however, that Egypt was proving
reluctant about accepting any outside help, claiming that
most of the weapons smuggling into Gaza was by sea and not
via the land border with Egypt. Doelger also thought the
Egyptians were holding off on accepting offers of help on
border control until it saw what Israel would do and how the
political situation developed in the wake of the cease-fires.
PARTICIPATION IN MARITIME OPERATIONS UNLIKELY
4. (C) While remaining open to how it might contribute to the
Gaza arms interdiction effort, Doelger said he thought it
unlikely that Germany would participate in any maritime
operations. He noted that there had been proposals to
"double hat" some existing naval operations and task forces
in the Mediterranean (like Operation Active Endeavor) to give
them the additional responsibility of interdicting arms
destined for Gaza. He indicated that in order for the German
navy to participate in such operations, the government would
have to go to the Bundestag for a parliamentary mandate,
which he inferred it would be reluctant to do with national
elections coming up in September.
ISRAEL DELEGATION COMING TO BERLIN
5. (C) Doelger confirmed that Israel had not yet approached
Germany to request an anti-smuggling MOU like it has with the
U.S. However, he did report that the Israelis, at their own
initiative, were sending a delegation to Berlin next week.
It was not yet clear what was on their agenda.
KEY POINTS: OPENING THE BORDER, STRENGTHENING EGYPT
6. (C) Doelger argued for the creation of a mechanism for the
provision of humanitarian assistance, but added that Israel
had be prevailed upon to open the border to more than just
that. In the wake of the widespread destruction in Gaza, it
was important that the inhabitants be allowed to bring in
basic household items as well, like mattresses, furniture,
etc. He thought that as long as the Rafah crossing remained
closed to regular commercial traffic, it would be difficult
to bring the border with Egypt under control. Doelger also
thought it was important to support and "strengthen" the
Egyptian government so it could continue to "take risks" in
advancement of the peace process. To that end, he reiterated
Germany's suggestion that a possible Gaza reconstruction
conference be held in Cairo (ref C).
Koenig
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P SPECIAL ASSISTANT CONSTANTINOS NICOLAIDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS KPAL XG EG IR IS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY: FOCUSED ON ASSISTING EGYPT WITH POLICING
ITS LAND BORDER WITH GAZA
REF: A. STATE 4900
B. BERLIN 0074
C. BERLIN 0066
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY. Germany's internal deliberations continue on
the extent of its possible participation in the U.S.-proposed
Gaza arms interdiction effort, but it seems unlikely that the
Germans will participate in any maritime operations. The
Germans are currently focused on offering Egypt technical
support on border policing, and still have a group of experts
standing by to go to Egypt as soon as Cairo gives the green
light. Israel has not yet approached Germany to request an
anti-smuggling MOU, but an Israeli delegation has requested
to visit Berlin next week. Looking ahead, Germany believes
the border to Gaza must be opened to more than just
humanitarian aid in order to bring the border with Egypt
under control. Germany also emphasizes the need to
"strengthen" the Egyptian government to encourage its
continued positive engagement, and to that end, continues to
support holding a possible Gaza reconstruction conference in
Cairo. END SUMMARY.
STILL DELIBERATING
2. (C) Post followed up with MFA Deputy Near East Office
Director Robert Doelger January 23 to find out if Germany had
reached any conclusions about the extent of its involvement
in the U.S.-proposed Gaza arms interdiction effort (refs A
and B). Doelger indicated that Germany's internal
deliberations were continuing. Because the international
community still did not have a clear picture of what kind of
support Egypt and Israel wanted, it was difficult to reach
any firm conclusions. In that regard, Doelger was curious
about what had come out of a meeting of senior Egyptian and
Israeli national security officials yesterday (January 22).
Doelger also confirmed that Germany was looking forward to
participating the forthcoming workshop, which he understood
was tentatively scheduled to be hosted by Denmark sometime in
February. He thought that would offer a good opportunity to
firm up some of the ideas discussed at the January 15 meeting
in Washington.
FOCUS ON SUPPORT FOR EGYPT IN CONTROLLING THE LAND BORDER
3. (C) In the meantime, Doelger said that Germany remained
focused on offering Egypt technical support on border
policing to address the problem of weapons smuggling. He
noted that Germany still had a group of experts, consisting
of a diplomat and a handful of police officers from the
Ministry of Interior, standing by to go to Egypt as soon as
Cairo indicated that it was ready to receive them. He
confirmed press reporting, however, that Egypt was proving
reluctant about accepting any outside help, claiming that
most of the weapons smuggling into Gaza was by sea and not
via the land border with Egypt. Doelger also thought the
Egyptians were holding off on accepting offers of help on
border control until it saw what Israel would do and how the
political situation developed in the wake of the cease-fires.
PARTICIPATION IN MARITIME OPERATIONS UNLIKELY
4. (C) While remaining open to how it might contribute to the
Gaza arms interdiction effort, Doelger said he thought it
unlikely that Germany would participate in any maritime
operations. He noted that there had been proposals to
"double hat" some existing naval operations and task forces
in the Mediterranean (like Operation Active Endeavor) to give
them the additional responsibility of interdicting arms
destined for Gaza. He indicated that in order for the German
navy to participate in such operations, the government would
have to go to the Bundestag for a parliamentary mandate,
which he inferred it would be reluctant to do with national
elections coming up in September.
ISRAEL DELEGATION COMING TO BERLIN
5. (C) Doelger confirmed that Israel had not yet approached
Germany to request an anti-smuggling MOU like it has with the
U.S. However, he did report that the Israelis, at their own
initiative, were sending a delegation to Berlin next week.
It was not yet clear what was on their agenda.
KEY POINTS: OPENING THE BORDER, STRENGTHENING EGYPT
6. (C) Doelger argued for the creation of a mechanism for the
provision of humanitarian assistance, but added that Israel
had be prevailed upon to open the border to more than just
that. In the wake of the widespread destruction in Gaza, it
was important that the inhabitants be allowed to bring in
basic household items as well, like mattresses, furniture,
etc. He thought that as long as the Rafah crossing remained
closed to regular commercial traffic, it would be difficult
to bring the border with Egypt under control. Doelger also
thought it was important to support and "strengthen" the
Egyptian government so it could continue to "take risks" in
advancement of the peace process. To that end, he reiterated
Germany's suggestion that a possible Gaza reconstruction
conference be held in Cairo (ref C).
Koenig