US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV6875

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006875 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, KPAL, KWBG, EG, IS, SY, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: MOFAZ TELLS A/S WELCH HE WILL SHUT KARNI, EREZ IF 
PA DOES NOT IMPLEMENT NOVEMBER 15 AGREEMENT 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told NEA A/S 
Welch and the Ambassador December 9 that the Palestinian 
Authority (PA) has done nothing to implement the Agreement on 
Movement and Access since both sides met with the Secretary 
November 15.  He underscored repeatedly that security 
concerns and the current political climate will compel him to 
turn Karni and Erez into "international crossings" by Sunday, 
December 11, if the PA does not fully implement the 
agreement.  A/S Welch concurred that the PA had not 
implemented the agreement satisfactorily, but progress is 
steady; he asked that before making any decision on Sunday, 
Mofaz take into consideration technological improvements that 
the EU continues to make to comply with the agreement.  Welch 
also said remaining GOI concerns would be addressed. 
 
2.  (C) Summary cont. Mofaz also charged that the PA has not 
taken meaningful actions against the Palestinian Islamic 
Jihad (PIJ), even though, Mofaz asserted, PA President Mahmud 
Abbas "has the power to deal with the PIJ."  Mofaz  expressed 
concern that Syria will support an escalation in Hizballah 
activity along the Israel-Lebanon border to detract attention 
from the release of the Mehlis Report next week.  Mofaz 
expressed concern that the PIJ and Hamas could become 
stronger after the January Palestinian Legislative Council 
elections, buttressed by continued smuggling into Gaza of 
arms from Egypt.  A/S Welch agreed that the PIJ is a serious 
concern, noted that the PA has taken some actions against 
that terrorist group, and added that if PIJ is being directed 
and funded externally, it may be beyond PA control.  Welch 
underlined the importance that the PLC elections be as free 
and open as possible.  End Summary. 
 
3.  (C) A/S Welch and the Ambassador were accompanied by DCM 
Cretz, Pol/C Olsen, Econ/C Weinstein, Col. Mark Dugger 
(USSC), and Embassy notetaker Bernstein-Zabza.  Mofaz was 
joined by MOD Pol-Mil Director Amos Gilad and Mofaz's Chief 
of Staff Brig. General Eitan Dangot. 
 
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Mofaz: "I Won't Take Any Risks After Sunday." 
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4.  (C) Defense Minister Mofaz began the meeting with A/S 
Welch December 9 by charging that the PA has "implemented 
nothing, but nothing," of the November 15 Agreement on 
Movement and Access.  In contrast, Mofaz asserted, the GOI 
has made good on its commitments under the agreement, opening 
Karni and Erez, and increasing the number of Palestinian 
workers crossing into Israel.  Mofaz complained that the PA 
is not conveying real-time information and image feed to the 
GOI at Rafah, thereby putting Israelis at risk.  The PA could 
easily improve the technology to comply with the agreement in 
a day, Mofaz charged, and characterized the PA's failure to 
comply as lack of "good will."  The PA, he asserted, is 
"playing games with us."  Mofaz, in a clearly agitated state, 
continued that "three and a half weeks after we sat with the 
Secretary...and the PA side has done nothing, and they 
 
SIPDIS 
continue to attack us... No other country would be as 
patient."  Mofaz also asserted that "blacklisted persons" 
were entering Gaza from Egypt, including Al Qaeda elements. 
"This is an unacceptable situation," Mofaz underscored. 
 
5.  (C) Mofaz said that on Sunday, December 11, he intends to 
assess the situation, and, if PA noncompliance continues, to 
make "deep inspections" at the Karni and Erez crossings, and 
convert them to international passages, unless and until the 
PA conforms with the agreement.  After the Netanya and Hadera 
terrorist attacks, Mofaz stressed, he, as Defense Minister, 
could not take risks with Israeli lives.  He said that Prime 
Minister Sharon has deferred to Mofaz's judgment in how to 
respond to the PA's noncompliance.  Mofaz said that Welch's 
presence in Israel at this time is "critical" to conveying 
the severity of the situation.  Mofaz asked for a read-out of 
Welch's meetings with the PA before Welch leaves on December 
10 to help inform Mofaz's decision on Karni and Erez. 
 
6.  (C)  A/S Welch stressed that while the USG is also not 
satisfied with the PA's level of compliance with the 
agreement, the PA is making improvements and there has been 
real progress.  He said that in the late morning December 8, 
with support from the EU as well as Egypt, data transmission 
and image feed at Rafah was transmitted fully and more 
effectively and that most of the GOI's concerns were being 
addressed.  Welch said that in a morning meeting, EU Special 
Representative to the Middle East Peace Process Marc Otte 
indicated that the EU was assisting the PA to address GOI 
concerns.  Welch said it would be preferable if the GOI could 
stay on schedule with the November 15 agreement deadline as 
the PA continues to address GOI concerns.  Dangot 
acknowledged that the PA had decreased the data and image 
transmission time from eight minutes to two-to-three minutes. 
 Dangot added, however, that while the PA is improving 
operations at Rafah, it is not implementing the agreement "at 
the level we agreed."  Gilad added that the Haj pilgrimage 
will soon start, a time during which recruitment of 
terrorists increases, making transmittal of pictures and data 
at Rafah even more critical.  Welch committed to convey in 
his meeting with PA officials that the USG expects the PA to 
live up to the agreement.  Welch said remaining Israeli 
concerns would be fixed. 
 
7.  (C) Note: Mofaz appeared not to have been briefed on the 
most recent improvements in the quality and speed of data 
transmission in Rafah.  Mofaz turned to Gilad and Dangot 
during the meeting and asked in Hebrew about the situation 
and Gilad again noted the decrease in transmission time down 
to two-to-three minutes.  End note. 
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PIJ and Hizbollah 
----------------- 
 
8.  (C) Mofaz charged that PA President Abbas "could do more 
against PIJ" since it is a small, extremist group, with an 
insignificant public base.  He claimed that Abbas knows where 
PIJ is located and "has the power to deal" with it.  He 
recounted the GOI's recent activity against PIJ in the West 
Bank and against Qassam rocket attacks coming from Gaza. 
Mofaz assessed that the PIJ is receiving orders and funding 
from Syria.  Mofaz expressed concern that Syria would 
escalate Hizballah attacks along the Israel-Lebanon border to 
distract international attention from the anticipated release 
of the Mehlis Report next week.  Welch underlined that the PA 
can and should deal with PIJ, but added that if PIJ is also 
directed from outside PA, this places PIJ to a certain extent 
beyond the reach of the PA.  He said that the USG is also 
addressing the problem of Hizballah activity, adding that the 
U.S. is looking to Lebanon to exercise greater control over 
its territory. 
 
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Fatah Elections 
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9.  (C) The PA, Mofaz charged, is not acting against 
terrorist activity in and Qassam rocket attacks from Gaza in 
the run-up to the January 25, 2006 PLC elections.  As a 
result, terrorist groups will be more powerful after the 
elections, Mofaz asserted.  He claimed that smuggling of 
weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, across the border 
with Egypt continues, although he acknowledged that Egypt is 
making its "best effort" to prevent smuggling. 
 
10. (U) NEA A/S Welch cleared this message. 
 
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JONES