POPE TELLS ARAFAT TO CONTAIN VIOLENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005695

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (DEBORAH MENNUTI)

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 195/00

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/11

TAGS: VT PREL IS
SUBJECT: POPE TELLS ARAFAT TO CONTAIN VIOLENCE

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R.J. NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5
(A) AND (D).


1. (C) DCM AND POLOFF CALLED ON VATICAN DEPUTY FOREIGN
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 05695 021715Z
MINISTER CELESTINO MIGLIORE, OCTOBER 31. THE PURPOSE OF
THE CALL WAS TO DISCUSS ON GOING EMBASSY ANTI-TRAFFICKING
PROJECTS (SEPTEL) AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CHAIR YASSAR
ARAFAT'S OCTOBER 30 MEETING WITH THE POPE.


2. (C) MIGLIORE SAID THAT AT THIS 11TH VISIT WITH THE
POPE (HE JOKED ABOUT THE FREQUENCY WHICH ARAFAT COMES TO
THE VATICAN),NOTHING NEW WAS DISCUSSED. MIGLIORE DID
SAY THAT THE POPE TRIED TO IMPRESS UPON ARAFAT THE NEED
FOR HIM PERSONALLY TO CONTROL THE PALESTINIAN MILITANTS
AND TO END THE VIOLENCE. MIGLIORE ALSO VOLUNTEERED THE
VATICAN VIEW THAT DESPITE SUGGESTIONS ARAFAT IS LOSING
HIS GRIP AND CANNOT CONTROL THE MILITANTS, ARAFAT, IN
FACT, IS STILL "POWERFUL" AND CAN CONTROL THE MILITANTS
"WHEN HE WANTS TO".


3. (C) COMMENT: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE VATICAN
HAS STRESSED TO THE MISSION ITS URGING OF THE
PALESTINIANS TO END THE VIOLENCE, AS OPPOSED TO ITS
SYMPATHY FOR THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIANS IN FACE OF
ISRAELI ACTIONS. THIS COULD BE A SUBTLE SHIFT ON THE
PART OF THE VATICAN INDICATING A MORE BALANCED VIEW.
CORROBORATING THIS SUPPOSITION IS A REPORT GIVEN TO DCM
BY HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART, ZVI TAL (PROTECT). ACCORDING
TO TAL, THE PAPAL NUNCIO IN ISRAEL WAS RECENTLY
REPRIMANDED BY THE VATICAN FOR TAKING PART IN A
PALESTINIAN ORGANIZED PEACE MARCH. NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA05695 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL