DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON PARTICIPATION IN GAZA ARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000123 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019 TAGS: PREL KPAL MARR MOPS PHSAQ PARM NATO EU IS SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON PARTICIPATION IN GAZA ARMS INTERDICTION EFFORT REF: A. STATE 6469 ¶B. BRUSSELS 84 Classified By: USEU Charge d'Affires, a.i., Christopher Murray for reas ons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Deputy Political Counselor delivered reftel demarche January 27 to Wolfgang Barwinkel, Director of the Middle East Division at the Middle East Maghreb Unit of the EU Council. (Note: Head of Unit Christian Jouret was traveling with Javier Solana in the Middle East.) Barwinkel noted that the EU Foreign Ministers, meeting January 26-27 in Brussels (septel) included reference to stopping arms smuggling to Gaza in its conclusions. It listed as one of the issues to be addressed "an effective mechanism to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling to the Gaza Strip." The Council also "welcomes the commitment of the United States to contribute to stopping arms smuggling to Gaza and is prepared to identify ways to cooperate in such efforts." The Council did not get into any further specifics on mechanisms for stopping the weapons flow, but Barwinkel noted that some individual countries have announced their readiness to contribute to a maritime effort. With Solana and other Middle East officials traveling in the region, Barwinkel did not have any further official response to the request. ¶2. (C) Barwinkel went on to note that the discussions at the Foreign Ministers meeting (as reflected in the "Conclusions") focused heavily on broader issues of humanitarian assistance and the importance of opening Gaza. He said that there is considerable disgruntlement over the perception that Israel has not upheld Foreign Minister Livni's commitment (Ref B) to allow humanitarian assistance in to Gaza. Israel has restricted, Barwinkel said, the quantify but also the range of goods, to that which can be most narrowly defined as humanitarian. It has not permitted in goods (such as more sophisticated medical equipment) that it defines as "reconstruction," to the annoyance of many in the EU. Barwinkel also said that there is a concern that the tunnels in particular not be looked at just in terms of arms smuggling. He noted that, with Gaza closed, the tunnels have served as a "safety valve," and as the means through which Gazans have acquired essential goods not allowed by the Israelis. Many in the EU were focused on the need to open Gaza at the same time as efforts go forward to stop arms flows. ¶3. (C) Barwinkel asked for further details on the proposed expert workshop. USEU will convey information about the workshop to technical experts, and requests any details that we can share. MURRAY .