This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016 
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PGOV IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: FM LIVNI DISCUSSES RELATIONS WITH PALESTINIANS AND 
AMA ISSUES 
 
REF: A) TEL AVIV 1584 B) TEL AVIV 1585 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the Ambassador on April 20, 
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni cautioned that there are limits 
to Israel's restraint following Palestinian terror attacks. 
Livni promised to examine ways that the GOI could pay medical 
costs for Palestinians being treated in Israeli hospitals. 
She reacted cautiously to issues associated with the 
Agreement on Movement and Access, accepting the Ambassador's 
letter on the customs protocol as a non-paper, agreeing to 
speak with the Defense Minister on opening Gaza crossings for 
exports, and limiting any future consideration of a possible 
West Bank-Gaza link to a tunnel.  Livni also addressed 
efforts to facilitate the admission of Magen David Adom into 
the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement as well as the GOI's 
intention to join the International Whaling Commission 
(reftels).  END SUMMARY. 
 
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GOI Reaction to April 17 Suicide Bombing 
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¶2. (C) The Ambassador noted that Israel's measured response 
to the April 17 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv had helped the 
world focus on Hamas' foolish statements defending the attack 
and its continued intransigence in refusing to accept the 
Quartet's conditions.  Livni replied that the Israeli public 
"understands restraint to some extent," but there are limits. 
 She claimed that the Israeli security services are pressing 
for permission to "do something" about rocket attacks from 
Gaza. 
 
¶3. (C) The Ambassador informed Livni that the USG had again 
presented demarches in a number of capitals urging them not 
to meet with Hamas officials, to restrict the flow of funds 
to the PA, and to channel humanitarian assistance through 
proper channels.  Livni thanked the USG for such efforts, 
commenting that she believed they had influenced Jordan's 
decision not to receive the PA's foreign minister.  Livni 
complained that Russia's policy is "very problematic," 
conjecturing that Moscow is trying to present itself as an 
independent regional player.  Chief of Staff Dayan expressed 
concern about possible meetings between Norwegian 
parliamentarians and Hamas officials.  Livni noted that the 
Israeli finance and justice ministries want to share their 
thoughts on how to prevent the flow of money to terrorist 
groups with U.S. officials.  The Ambassador mentioned that 
Treasury U/S Levey would visit soon; Livni requested that he 
meet with Ministry of Justice Director General Aharon 
Abramovich. 
 
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Payment for Palestinian Medical Care in Israel 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (C) The Ambassador asked Livni if the GOI had plans to pay 
for medical treatment for Palestinian patients at facilities 
such as the children's hospital in Tel Aviv and the Augusta 
Victoria hospital in Jerusalem.  She replied that the amount 
of funding involved is limited (she estimated USD 1.2 to 2.4 
million a month).  Vowing to "find a way to help," she said 
she would need to discuss the issue with other GOI officials. 
 Livni suggested that the GOI could probably overcome legal 
obstacles to releasing money from the frozen PA tax revenues. 
 She speculated that even Hamas would find it difficult to 
oppose an Israeli announcement of such plans. 
 
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AMA: Gaza Crossings, Customs Protocol, Gaza-West Bank Link 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶5. (C) The Ambassador raised three issues connected to the 
Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA).  He thanked Livni for 
her role in opening the crossings points for imports into 
Gaza and noted the importance of allowing exports from Gaza 
as well.  He explained steps that the United States Security 
Coordinator and USAID are taking to improve security at the 
crossings, including the financing of scanners, development 
of a security plan for the Palestinian side of Karni, and 
coordination on tunnel detection systems.  Livni replied that 
she understood the Defense Ministry's reluctance to open the 
crossings when they are threatened, but promised to speak 
with the Defense Minister at the Cabinet meeting on April 23. 
 She requested U.S. assistance on helping to secure the 
Israel-Egypt border against smugglers, noting that 
trafficking in persons across the border is connected to 
weapons and drug smuggling. 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador explained the importance of the customs 
protocol -- already negotiated between the GOI and PA prior 
to the PLC elections -- for the operation of Kerem Shalom and 
Rafah.  Noting that the EU monitors require guidelines to 
properly perform their duties on the border, he proposed that 
the GOI and Palestinians each accept the 
previously-negotiated document as a guide for the operations 
at Rafah and Kerem Shalom, presenting her a letter to that 
effect.  Livni accepted the letter but said she did so as a 
non-paper pending consultations with other GOI officials on 
whether Israel could accept this procedure. 
 
¶7. (C) The Ambassador briefed Livni on the outcome of the 
USAID-financed feasibility study of possible Gaza-West Bank 
links.  In Livni's view, a tunnel is the only option that 
would facilitate the President's goal of a viable Palestinian 
state without cutting Israel in two.  She remarked that 
previous discussions of possible surface routes were moot in 
the new security environment.  She said the tunnel option was 
worth further study, but added that "now is not the right 
moment" to discuss it in public.  Accordingly, she requested 
that the USG not share the feasibility study with others or 
publicize the report. 
 
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JONES