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 001621 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2016 
TAGS: ECON PREL PGOV KPAL KWBG PTER IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS HUMANITARIAN AID
SUBJECT: GOI COMMITTED TO KEEPING KARNI OPEN, WILL GET U.S. 
PRIORITIZED WISH LIST OF ASSISTANCE PROJECTS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
 ¶1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry 
of Defense Political-Military Advisor Amos Gilad said that he 
is committed to keeping Karni open despite the security 
risks.  He agreed to get the Ambassador a prioritized list of 
specific assistance projects that the GOI wants to see 
continued despite the general suspension of aid to the PA 
since the Hamas takeover. He also promised to look into using 
frozen Palestinian customs revenues to fund medical treatment 
for Palestinians in Israeli hospitals.  Gilad said he would 
seek to keep the number of cars in PA President Mahmud 
Abbas, motorcade at five for security reasons.  End summary. 
 
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GOI Assistance Preferences 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) In an April 25 meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry 
of Defense (MOD) Political-Military Advisor Amos Gilad said 
he had only recently been apprised of the GOI's promise to 
provide a list of assistance projects the GOI wants to see 
continued in the West Bank. The Ambassador explained the 
range of USAID projects being suspended, including those 
involving water, waste treatment and roads, and told Gilad 
that GOI input into this process would assist our 
deliberations.  He told Gilad that he had also raised the 
issue with Foreign Minister Livni and discussed the 
importance of finding ways to pay for medical treatment for 
Palestinians in Israeli hospitals like Augusta Victoria, 
perhaps utilizing frozen tax revenues.  Gilad promised to 
consult on the list with ministry officials, but said that, 
given the current political situation, it is difficult to get 
Minister Mofaz (a lame duck) to focus. 
 
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Current Situation in Gaza 
------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Gilad described the current political situation with 
the Palestinians, saying that it is important for Hamas to 
collapse, but not for the Palestinian people to fall.  He 
noted that Mahmud Abbas now seems to understand the situation 
and finally to be taking some action.  The Egyptians, 
according to Gilad, have sent two new generals to Gaza to 
represent GOE interests there.  He thought that the GOE may 
have been behind Abbas' decision to be more assertive on 
control of the border (and Hamas's willingness to accept 
this). The GOE had made it clear to all that they did not 
want Hamas fighters on their border.  He urged the U.S. to 
work with the Egyptians to be more actively involved in Gaza. 
 Responding to the Ambassador's question on the recent 
reported launches of Katyusha rockets, Gilad commented that 
Islamic Jihad, with the tacit support of Hamas, continues to 
attempt to launch the rockets but were hampered by technical 
difficulties, with most rockets landing inside Gaza.  This 
situation was unlikely to persist, however.  If the rockets 
hit Ashkelon and cause deaths or damage, this would create a 
situation to which Israel would need to vigorously respond, 
he said. 
 
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Karni Crossing to Remain Open 
----------------------------- 
 
 
¶4. (C) Gilad insisted that the GOI is committed to keeping 
the Karni crossing open unless an attack is imminent. &We 
will measure the risk,8 he said, and ensure that the 
Palestinians are kept alive and their basic needs met.  The 
Ambassador urged that exports from Gaza through Karni also be 
continued. He then described the progress of USAID-funded 
improvements at Rafah, including the completion of an optical 
fiber connection to the Kerem Shalom liaison office.  He also 
told Gilad that he had given Minister Livni a letter of 
acceptance of the Customs protocol for Rafah.  Gilad promised 
to follow up on the protocol, which he appeared to welcome. 
 
 
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Abbas Motorcade 
--------------- 
 
¶5. (C) The Ambassador then raised the status of Mahmud 
Abbas, motorcade.  Recently, Abbas had been informed that 
the motorcade would need to be reduced from five/six to three 
cars.  The Ambassador asked Gilad to consider retaining the 
motorcade as is for security reasons.  Gilad indicated that 
he understood and will address the situation. 
 
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Upcoming Visits 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Gilad said he would be traveling to Jordan on May 8 to 
attend a boundary committee meeting, but more importantly, to 
consult with Jordanian officials and try to enhance 
relations.  He said that Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar 
Suleiman would come to Israel on a visit after the Israeli 
government is formed.  He also confirmed that PM Olmert would 
visit Cairo either before or after his visit to the U.S. 
Gilad surmised that the Egyptians, for reasons of face, would 
likely press for the stop in Cairo before Washington. 
 
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JONES