US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV4112

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004112 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR WELCH, CHENEY/DIBBLE, E. 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PREF, PTER, KWBG, EG, JO, IS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: MFA DEMANDS EGYPT DO MORE TO PREVENT SMUGGLING 
ALONG GAZA BORDER 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Israeli MFA Director General Ron Prosor 
stressed to visiting NEA A/S Welch, DNSA Elliott Abrams, and 
the Ambassador June 17 that Egypt is doing "less than the 
minimum necessary" to stop smuggling along the Egyptian-Gaza 
border.  Prosor floated the idea of allowing the Badr Brigade 
to deploy along the Philadelphi Corridor and secure the 
border from the Gaza side, an idea he said had been broached 
recently by former Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Moulki. 
With suitable safeguards in place, such as requiring the 
brigade members, families to remain in Jordan, Prosor said 
he thought the idea had some merit.  Prosor expressed concern 
that the June 16 EU statement that EU election monitors would 
have contact with Hamas candidates as required in the course 
of their duties could open the way for eventual recognition 
of a political arm of Hamas.  He denied absolutely that any 
GOI officials, including COGAT officers coordinating 
municipal affairs in the occupied territories, knowingly have 
any contact with Hamas, saying that all contact is now routed 
through PA ministries to avoid any occurrence.  The GOI will 
support Acting UNRWA Commissioner General Karen Abu Zayd for 
the top position.  End Summary. 
 
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Egypt Must do More to Fight Smuggling 
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2.  (C) Israeli MFA Director General Ron Prosor, Deputy 
Director General for North America Yoram Ben Ze'ev and senior 
staff stressed that Egypt must do more to prevent smuggling 
along the Gaza-Egyptian border in a June 17 meeting with 
Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams, NEA 
Assistant Secretary David Welch, and the Ambassador.  Prosor 
forcefully maintained that the GOE is "doing less than the 
minimum required," while at the same time conditioning 
further Egyptian efforts on an agreement with Israel on 
establishing an Egyptian force along the border.  The GOI 
insists that Egypt take what Prosor termed "irrevocable 
steps" to secure the border.  A/S Welch agreed that Egypt 
needed to do more, adding that the U.S. continues to press 
the GOE directly on this issue. 
 
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Return of the Badr Brigade? 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) Prosor floated possibly allowing the Badr Brigade to 
deploy along Gaza's Philadelphi Corridor and secure the 
border, an idea he said was broached to him in mid-June by 
former Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Moulki and that he 
though had some merit.  Brigade members, families would be 
required to stay in Jordan, sidestepping for the time being 
right of return issues.  No promises would be made with 
regard to any return to the West Bank, but a successful 
deployment in Gaza would position the brigade well for the 
future.  Finally, Prosor said that deploying the Brigade in 
Gaza would help strengthen PA Minister of Interior Nasir 
Yusif.  Prosor said the MFA is checking to determine whether 
the idea is an official or private initiative and would 
present it to PM Sharon. 
 
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MFA Pushes Back Against EU Statement on Hamas 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Prosor also expressed GOI concern over the EU 
statement that EU election monitors will, in the context of 
monitoring the Palestinian Legislative Council election 
campaign, "have contacts with all candidates," including 
those of Hamas.  A/S Welch reiterated that the U.S. policy 
prohibiting contact with Hamas remains unchanged, adding that 
the UK presidency in July might see a more cautious EU 
approach on this issue.  Prosor responded that the GOI is 
worried that any EU contact with Hamas, even in the limited 
context of election monitoring, will pave the way for 
eventual recognition of a political arm of the organization 
and the subsequent death of the roadmap.  "If we don't make a 
point now," Prosor said, "it will get away from us." 
 
5.  (C) Prosor and his team categorically denied that, after 
a recent news story reported that COGAT officers had met with 
Hamas municipal officials in the course of their duties, any 
COGAT had any/any knowing contact with any Hamas-affiliated 
individuals.  All GOI or COGAT contact with municipalities 
now goes exclusively through the relevant PA ministry, where 
the GOI could be relatively assured that they would not 
inadvertently come into contact with Hamas.  Asked what 
conditions the GOI would impose should it find itself in a 
position where an issue was either so important or so urgent 
that contact absolutely must be made, Prosor insisted that 
the GOI had no criteria -- period.  There would be no 
contact.  Prosor suggested that the GOI and the U.S. might 
work together to develop joint criteria as a contingency. 
 
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Hizballah Provocations and KAZ for ComGen 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Prosor complained that Hizballah is trying to use a 
water dispute in the northern town of Ghajar to provoke a 
confrontation with Israel aimed, in Prosor's view, at shoring 
up Hizballah's position as defender of Lebanon among the 
Lebanese public.  Prosor agreed with the Ambassador that 
general provocations of this type are not new, but maintained 
that the Syrian withdrawal provided a new context for them 
that bears watching.  Ben Ze'ev remarked that, since Canadian 
Special Envoy to the Middle East Jill Sinclair declined to be 
considered for UNRWA Commissioner General, the GOI would 
support Acting ComGen Karen Abu Zayd for the top post. 
 
7.  (U) A/S Welch and DNSA Abrams cleared this message. 
 
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KURTZER