Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM732
2009-05-01 14:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PATIENT REFERRALS FROM GAZA RESUME
how-toVZCZCXRO4400 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #0732 1211406 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011406Z MAY 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4766 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000732
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR;
TREASURY FOR AHERN; DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR
ANE/MEA:MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2014
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG PTER IS
SUBJECT: PATIENT REFERRALS FROM GAZA RESUME
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000732
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR;
TREASURY FOR AHERN; DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR
ANE/MEA:MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2014
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG PTER IS
SUBJECT: PATIENT REFERRALS FROM GAZA RESUME
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: On April 27, the Palestinian Authority (PA)
resumed referring patients from Gaza for medical treatment in
East Jerusalem, Israel, and Jordan, following a month-long
suspension resulting from a dispute between the PA and the
Hamas-controlled government in Gaza. The PA's coordinator
for referrals returned to his job on April 27, supported by a
revised committee of "independent and Fatah-leaning"
physicians agreed upon by the PA and Hamas. End Summary.
Gaza referrals resume
--------------
2. (C) Medical referrals from Gaza to East Jerusalem, Israel,
and Jordan were suspended on March 22 when the
Hamas-controlled government physically removed the PA
coordinator, Dr. Bassam al-Badri, and his staff from their
offices and dismissed the committee that reviews referrals.
PA Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO officials report that the
referral system in Gaza resumed operations on April 27 when
the PA and the Hamas-controlled government came to an
agreement that allowed al-Badri to return to his position.
As part of the agreement, the PA identified new members for
the referral committee, all of whom were accepted by Hamas
authorities in Gaza. WHO Gaza representative Mahmoud Daher
told EconOff on April 30 that the new committee has already
referred 47 patients for treatment outside Gaza -- the first
such referrals since March 22.
A "practical" deal
--------------
3. (C) PA Deputy Minister of Health Anan Masri told Econoff
on April 30 that the PA had to cut a deal on the make-up of
the patient referral committee "given the facts on the ground
in Gaza." He said that none of the new members of the
referral committee are Hamas-affiliated, but "a few of the
more contentious Fatah members have been removed." WHO's
Daher described the new members as "independent and
Fatah-leaning" physicians. Masri, who has often privately
disagreed with his Minister, called the Minister's decision
the "practical and mature thing to do."
WALLES
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR;
TREASURY FOR AHERN; DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR
ANE/MEA:MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2014
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG PTER IS
SUBJECT: PATIENT REFERRALS FROM GAZA RESUME
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: On April 27, the Palestinian Authority (PA)
resumed referring patients from Gaza for medical treatment in
East Jerusalem, Israel, and Jordan, following a month-long
suspension resulting from a dispute between the PA and the
Hamas-controlled government in Gaza. The PA's coordinator
for referrals returned to his job on April 27, supported by a
revised committee of "independent and Fatah-leaning"
physicians agreed upon by the PA and Hamas. End Summary.
Gaza referrals resume
--------------
2. (C) Medical referrals from Gaza to East Jerusalem, Israel,
and Jordan were suspended on March 22 when the
Hamas-controlled government physically removed the PA
coordinator, Dr. Bassam al-Badri, and his staff from their
offices and dismissed the committee that reviews referrals.
PA Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO officials report that the
referral system in Gaza resumed operations on April 27 when
the PA and the Hamas-controlled government came to an
agreement that allowed al-Badri to return to his position.
As part of the agreement, the PA identified new members for
the referral committee, all of whom were accepted by Hamas
authorities in Gaza. WHO Gaza representative Mahmoud Daher
told EconOff on April 30 that the new committee has already
referred 47 patients for treatment outside Gaza -- the first
such referrals since March 22.
A "practical" deal
--------------
3. (C) PA Deputy Minister of Health Anan Masri told Econoff
on April 30 that the PA had to cut a deal on the make-up of
the patient referral committee "given the facts on the ground
in Gaza." He said that none of the new members of the
referral committee are Hamas-affiliated, but "a few of the
more contentious Fatah members have been removed." WHO's
Daher described the new members as "independent and
Fatah-leaning" physicians. Masri, who has often privately
disagreed with his Minister, called the Minister's decision
the "practical and mature thing to do."
WALLES