US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5797

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 005797 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GREENE/LOGERFO/WATERS; 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/MUSTAFA; TREASURY FOR NUGENT AND ADKINS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2015 
TAGS: ECON, ELTN, ETRD, PREL, KWBG, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, GOI EXTERNAL, GOI INTERNAL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: GAZA CROSSINGS:  GOI TIGHTENS INSPECTIONS OF GOODS 
AT KARNI; INTRODUCES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR WEST BANK TRUCKS 
 
REF: JERUSALEM 4403 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Gretz for reasons 1.4 (b 
) and (d) 
 
1.  (U) This cable was cleared with ConGen Jerusalem 
 
2.  (SBU) Summary:  In response to last week's unrestricted 
flow of people and goods through the Rafah crossing on the 
Egypt-Gaza border, the GOI recently implemented additional 
measures regulating the flow of goods through the Karni 
crossing on the Israel-Gaza border.  The GOI is applying 
greater scrutiny to Gaza-origin shipments in order to prevent 
the possible entry of arms and explosives that may have 
passed through Rafah, according to the IDF.  West Bank 
shippers also report that the GOI has introduced new 
registration requirements for West Bank trucks traveling to 
Karni.  Contrary to previous reports, however, these 
requirements do not oblige West Bank trucks to undergo x-ray 
inspection at Ashdod, Israel before proceeding to Karni, 
according to IDF and Gaza contacts.  End Summary. 
 
3.  (C) On September 22, Major Uri Singer, IDF Command 
Liaison at the Erez crossing, confirmed to Econoff that the 
GOI had recently altered inspection procedures at Karni 
Terminal in order to better detect possible arms and 
explosives hidden in shipments of Gaza-origin goods.  (Note: 
Karni is the main transit point for goods shipped between 
Israel and Gaza).  Singer said that the pallet height 
required for scanning had been reduced from about three feet 
to two feet.  He explained that the GOI had been obliged to 
change the inspection protocol because of the "unrestricted 
entry" of people and goods through Rafah crossing in the days 
immediately following the September 12 IDF withdrawal from 
the Philadelphi corridor between Egypt and Gaza.  (Note:  DAO 
contacts with the IDF indicate that Egypt-Gaza crossings have 
been stopped in many locations along the border, but 
crossings continue at three northern points on September 22, 
according to the IDF.  Rafah opened at 6 a.m. on September 23 
for 48 hours to allow passage of persons on humanitarian 
grounds.) 
 
4.  (C) Palestinian Business Association (Gaza) Chairman 
Mohammed Yazgi told Econoff on September 22 that he was aware 
of GOI changes implemented at Karni.  In addition to the 
reduction in both height of pallets to be scanned, Yazgi said 
that more concrete barriers had been installed and a greater 
distance (from six to ten meters) provided between a 
protective wall and vehicle lanes.  He said Karni had been 
closed for three hours on September 21 while some of these 
changes were made.  Yazgi attributed these and other measures 
to GOI concerns over what had occurred at Rafah and, as a 
consequence, the heightened threat of arms being smuggled 
into Israel.  While he understood the reasons for GOI 
actions, Yazgi said that the changes would further limit both 
the volume and speed of goods flowing from Gaza.  He added 
that, in the wake of the GOI's disengagement from Gaza, 
Gazans expect to see signs of an economic revival, including 
an increase in exports.  He said he hoped that the GOI and PA 
will soon reach agreement on the operation of all borders, 
before frustrations begin to escalate. 
 
5.  (SBU) West Bank contacts of ConGen Jerusalem confirmed 
the pallet height change at Karni and added that the height 
requirement was dependent on the product being scanned.  For 
example, a pallet of cans can only be 15 cm high, but the 
height requirement for some other items remains 40-60 cm. 
According to the same contacts, West Bank shippers are 
complaining that they have nothing in writing on the new 
protocol at Karni and, as a result, truckers have been 
obliged to breakdown the pallets at the border after being 
informed of the relevant height requirement. 
 
6.  (SBU) West Bank shippers also told ConGen EconChief that 
the GOI has introduced new requirements for West Bank trucks 
bound for Karni.  According to these sources, West Bank 
shippers are now required to fax an invoice to an office in 
Ashdod with the details of the company, shipments, truck 
number, invoice and bank account number at an Israeli bank. 
The office will then deduct Karni passage fees from the 
Israeli bank account and, depending on the schedule, notify 
the West Bank shipper a day in advance as to when his truck 
can proceed to Karni.  The new requirements reportedly apply 
only to West Bank-sourced shipments.  Gaza-bound shipments 
from inside Israel or from one of the Israeli ports do not 
need to first register with the Ashdod office.  We will seek 
confirmation from the GOI of the aforementioned changes and, 
if true, determine what impact they may be having on West 
Bank-Gaza trade. 
 
7.  (C) Singer refuted reports (reftel) that the GOI was now 
requiring trucks from the West Bank to go to Ashdod for x-ray 
inspection prior to crossing into Gaza.  Yazgi also denied 
that West Bank trucks were now being obliged to travel to 
Ashdod.  (Note:  Neither Singer nor Yazgi were aware of the 
additional registration requirements claimed above for West 
Bank trucks headed to Gaza.) 
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