Cablegate: Goi Continues to Facilitate Passage Of

VZCZCXRO4956
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHTV #1928 1761253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251253Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1913
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001928

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM IS
SUBJECT: GOI CONTINUES TO FACILITATE PASSAGE OF
HUMANITARIAN GOODS INTO GAZA

REF: TEL AVIV 1844

Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly

1. (SBU) COGAT confirmed to EconOff on June 25 that despite
the main border crossings with Gaza remaining closed, the GOI
continues to facilitate passage of individuals through Erez
Crossing Point on a special humanitarian basis. It is also
allowing the import of humanitarian goods, food, and fuel
through the Kerem Shalom, Sufa, and Nahal Oz crossing points.
Maj. Peter Lerner, Head of International Relations at Erez
Crossing Point, told EconOff that since June 19 the GOI has
channeled a steady stream of food and aid from international
donors -- including food and soap from the Jordanian King and
dialysis equipment from USAID -- through Kerem Shalom.

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COMPOSITION OF HUMANITARIAN GOODS
---------------------------------

2. (SBU) COGAT contacts reported that 20 truckloads of food
(cooking oil, eggs, sugar, and dairy products) and one
truckload of medicine were brought into Gaza through the
Kerem Shalom Crossing on June 24. In addition, approximately
70 truckloads of animal feed (totaling 537 tons) and straw
(totaling 581 tons) were brought in via the Sufa crossing
point.

The following humanitarian goods are scheduled to be imported
into Gaza on June 25:

Via Erez:

-- one truckload of medicine from UNRWA;
-- one truckload of medicine from UNICEF;

Via Sufa:

-- one truckload of medical supplies from the ICRC;
-- one truckload of dialysis equipment from USAID;
-- 11 truckloads of food from the World Food Programme.

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KARNI STILL CLOSED
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3. (SBU) As for the Karni (Al-Mintar) Cargo Terminal, Oded
Herman, Ministry of Defense Advisor to Pol-Mil Director Amos
Gilad, advised EconOff on June 25 that the crossing point
remained closed. He noted that although the crossing point
had sustained damage on the Palestinian side, the GOI still
did not have a Palestinian counterpart at Karni with whom to
coordinate the passage of commercial goods, and asserted that
since dealing with Hamas was not an option, the lack of a
Palestinian partner -- not the damage -- was the real reason
Karni would remain closed for the foreseeable future.

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