GERMANY: FOCUSED ON ASSISTING EGYPT WITH POLICING

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