US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5021

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 005021 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2010 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, EG, IS, GOI EXTERNAL, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT 
SUBJECT: ISRAEL AND EGYPT REPORTEDLY REACH FINAL AGREEMENT 
ON DEPLOYMENT OF EGYPTIAN BORDER GUARDS TO GAZA-EGYPT BORDER 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Ministry of Defense Deputy Director General Amos Gilad 
called the Ambassador August 15 to report that Israel and 
Egypt had reached agreement overnight on the principles and 
details for the deployment of Egyptian border guards on the 
Gaza-Egypt border.  Gilad said the final touches on the 
agreement came in phone calls between Defense Minister Mofaz 
and Egyptian Defense Minister Tantawi and between Mofaz and 
Egyptian intelligence director Sulayman.  The texts are not 
yet signed, said Gilad, but they are final. 
 
2. (C) Gilad said the next step will be to gain approval by 
the Israeli Cabinet and the Knesset.  He expects significant 
opposition in the Knesset, including from many 
parliamentarians who otherwise support disengagement.  One 
specific issue that will arise is whether the Knesset will 
force the government to get an Egyptian commitment not to 
provide weapons to the Palestinians.  Gilad said he has 
already asked the Egyptians to consider sending such a letter 
in order to pre-empt this demand from the Knesset. 
 
3.  (C)  Gilad said he would provide the texts of the 
principles and details as soon as they have been submitted to 
the government.  In general, he said, he was pleased that the 
negotiations had succeeded but actually was more worried than 
before because the negotiations clearly revealed an Egyptian 
interest in eroding the security provisions of the bilateral 
Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.  Gilad said this agreement on 
the deployment of border guards maintains the integrity of 
the treaty, but Egyptian intentions have now been unmasked. 
 
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KURTZER