US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2284

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002284 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2015 
TAGS: EAID, KWBG, PREL, ECON, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: GAZAN CROSSINGS, PERMITS, AND ACCESS ISSUES: 
IMPROVEMENTS MADE, CONCERNS REMAIN 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Since the February 8 Sharm el Sheikh summit 
between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ariel 
Sharon, the GOI has made several improvements in the Gazan 
crossings regime, and the IDF has increased its willingness 
to coordinate with the international community and the TFPI 
on issues of permits and humanitarian access.  On the 
crossings, improvements include a dramatic increase in the 
number of Gazan laborers and businesspeople crossing daily 
through the Erez terminal and the partial re-opening of the 
Erez Industrial Zone.  On humanitarian access to the Gaza 
Strip, the international Task Force on Project Implementation 
(TFPI) reports unprecedented IDF cooperation, including 
allowing the TFPI to work directly with IDF brigade and field 
commanders.  In addition, COGAT has increased its 
responsiveness on Embassy permit requests following the 
Ambassador's February 22 meeting with General Mishlev. 
Despite these changes, only a relatively small number of 
Gazan businessmen report that they have benefited, and most 
Gazans on the ground note little positive impact on their 
daily lives.  Contacts continue to complain of significant 
delays at Karni terminal, and have expressed dismay over a 
reportedly medical grade x-ray the IDF has installed at Rafah 
crossing.  Additionally, Post remains concerned about the 
potential humanitarian and economic impact of a full IDF 
closure of the Gaza Strip in preparation for and during 
Israel's planned summer evacuation of Gaza settlers.  Such a 
shutdown may prevent some 60 USAID and PD grantees from 
traveling to the U.S. for summer programs.  End Summary. 
 
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GOI Improves Crossings... 
------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU)  Several changes in the Gazan crossings regime have 
occurred since the February 8 Sharm el Sheikh summit between 
PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ariel Sharon. 
Improvements have included removal of the restriction on 
males age 16-35 exiting Gaza via Rafah Terminal, the partial 
re-opening of the Erez Industrial Zone, an increase in the 
number of laborer and merchant permits issued to Gazans, and 
an easing of internal restrictions on movement at the Abu 
Kholi checkpoint.  On permits and external border crossings, 
GOI sources report an increase since March 13 in the number 
of laborer permits issued to 5,600 to 1,100.  In conjunction 
with this, UNRWA reported an average of 3,500 laborers 
crossing through Erez into Israel the week of April 3, with 
over 4,000 laborers crossing April 9.  These numbers reflect 
a dramatic increase from the 200-300 laborers crossing daily 
prior to February.  Several Gazan private sector contacts 
concur with reports of operational improvements at Erez, 
saying that their average transit time at the crossing has 
lately been reduced from hours to 15-20 minutes.  Similarly, 
OCHA has cited "a sustained increase in the number of 
workers" entering the Erez Industrial Zone since its February 
13 re-opening, with numbers now topping 600 on a daily basis. 
 (Note: The Erez Industrial Zone employed over 3,500 Gazans 
daily prior to its June 2004 closure.  End note.)  On 
internal closures, Gazan contacts also report positively on 
the 24-hour-a-day opening of Abu Kholi checkpoint to private 
vehicles, albeit those carrying at least three passengers. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
...But Average Gazans Unaffected and Unimpressed 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
3.  (C) Despite these improvements, contacts in Gaza and in 
international organizations are quick to point out that the 
GOI has not yet implemented the full scope of crossing 
improvements needed for real economic growth and humanitarian 
relief in the Strip.  According to Bank of Palestine Vice 
Chairman Dr. Hani Shawa, "only the elite benefit from changed 
procedures at the crossings; the average Gazan is still 
humiliated and restricted."  Palestinian human rights 
organizations report that while the number of laborers 
crossing through Erez into Israel has increased, security 
procedures for this category of permit holders remain lengthy 
and strict.  On an April 3 visit to the terminal, Econoff 
observed no movement over the course of more than one hour 
for 20 laborers and humanitarian/medical cases attempting to 
return to Gaza.  Additionally, the same private sector 
contacts who cite shorter crossing times at Erez note that 
seemingly random changes in IDF procedures have caused 
sporadic delays.  "On Monday we crossed in 15 minutes," 7-UP 
CEO Mohammed Yazgi told Econoff April 3.  "On Tuesday, we 
stood in the sun waiting for a metal door to open for three 
hours, and then we gave up and went home." 
 
4.  (C) On Karni terminal, the Gaza Strip's only passage for 
the import and export of goods, manufacturers and 
agribusinesses dependent on raw materials and access to 
outside markets charge that there has been no improvement in 
procedures.  Israeli shipping and marketing firms confirm 
that containers moving in or out of the Strip continue to 
wait at Karni for 20-30 days.  (Note: According to Karni 
general manager Yoni Doton, closures and delays are often 
precipitated by what he terms credible security threats. 
These types of short-term closures have reportedly increased 
since the December terrorist bombing that killed six Israeli 
terminal employees.  End note.)  Finally, UNRWA, OCHA, and 
Gazan private sector contacts have raised significant 
concerns regarding a reportedly medical-grade x-ray machine 
the IDF is using to scan travelers -- including pregnant 
women and the ill -- exiting the Gaza Strip at Rafah 
terminal.  Contacts say that the machine causes delays due to 
the need for its operator to move behind a leaded curtain 
during use.  IDF sources told the Embassy April 2 that the 
machine is a thermal sensor and produces no harmful 
radiation.   Nevertheless, PA Minister for Civil Affairs 
Muhammed Dahlan reportedly secured the GOI's promise to 
strictly limit the use of this machine, although it remains 
on site at the terminal. 
 
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Increased COGAT and IDF Responsiveness, 
But What About Lockdown? 
--------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) The multi-donor Task Force on Project Implementation 
has cited unprecedented willingness on the part of senior IDF 
staff in recent weeks to work with TFPI members on issues of 
humanitarian and international access to Gaza.  An April 6 
meeting of TFPI members with Gaza Division Commander 
Brigadier General Kohavi constituted the achievement of a 
longstanding TFPI priority to secure for itself direct access 
to brigade and division commanders.  Kohavi told the TFPI 
that "security is for Israel above all, but we recognize now 
that it is not all."  He suggested that he meet with TFPI 
members once a month, and ordered his assistants to work with 
COGAT staff on "creative solutions" to the TFPI's "minimum 
requirements" document that addresses issues of cargo.  In a 
similarly forward-leaning gesture, COGAT head Major General 
Mishlev assured the Ambassador February 22 that COGAT will 
improve its responsiveness on Embassy permit requests.  LtC. 
Daniel Beaudoin, head of COGAT's International Relations 
division, and Maj. Uri Singer of the Erez Liaison Office, met 
with an Embassy team headed by EconCouns April 7 for the 
first in a planned series of joint coordination sessions. 
Singer emphasized the importance of several recent 
operational changes at the Erez terminal, including the 
opening of five passenger lanes, which he said allows 
merchants, VIP permit holders, laborers and humanitarian 
cases to cross at the same time.  Emboffs have observed that 
in several recent instances, this increased capacity has 
enabled Singer to coordinate expedited passage for groups of 
Embassy contacts with valid permits on one day's notice. 
Beaudoin and Singer agreed to accept a comprehensive weekly 
list of pending Embassy permit requests, which they said will 
ensure greater COGAT responsiveness and quicker turnaround. 
 
6.  (C)  Both COGAT and the IDF brigade and division 
commanders are not yet able to provide key details, however, 
on the GOI's planned "lockdown" of the Gaza Strip in the 
run-up to disengagement, and the effect it may have on 
freedom of movement for Gazan Palestinians.  Israeli media 
sources and several GOI contacts cite May 1 as the date after 
which Israeli access to Gaza settlements will be halted.  The 
IDF has emphasized, however, that this restriction will not 
affect Gazan movement or the flow of goods in and out of the 
Strip.  Despite these assurances, the international community 
is concerned that the efforts of an estimated 40,000 - 50,000 
IDF troops and several thousand additional Israeli National 
Police forces deployed to Gaza on or around June 1 to carry 
out the process of settlement evacuation will cause a de 
facto closure of the Strip for Palestinians as well as 
Israeli settlers.  In addition, COGAT told Emboffs April 9 
that regardless of the GOI's efforts not to restrict Gazan 
movement, the tens of thousands of right-wing activists 
expected to begin demonstrations close to the Israeli side of 
the Erez terminal in the run-up to withdrawal may also deter 
Gazans from exiting the Strip.  The Embassy has made clear to 
the GOI that COGAT and IDF assistance will be required in 
ensuring ease of travel for some 60 Gazans slated to travel 
to the U.S. on USAID and Public Diplomacy-sponsored programs 
between June and October. 
 
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