C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003319

SIPDIS

DEFENSE FOR OSD AT&L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2012
TAGS: MASS MARR EAIR PREL IT UN
SUBJECT: DUTCH QUERY ITALIANS ABOUT ISRAELI PARTICIPATION
IN JSF
CONFIDENTIAL


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CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5(B)
(D)


1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 5.


2. (C) THE DUTCH AMBASSADOR AND DCM IN ROME EXPRESSED CONCERN
TO EMB OFFICERS REGARDING POSSIBLE ISRAELI PARTICIPATION IN
JSF. THE DUTCH AMBASSADOR MENTIONED THE ISSUE AT THE
EMBASSY'S JULY 4 RECEPTION, AND THE DUTCH DCM, WILLIAM VAN
EE, FOLLOWED UP THE NEXT DAY TO SEE IF OUR ITALIAN CONTACTS
HAD RAISED THE MATTER WITH US.


3. (C) VAN EE EXPLAINED THAT IN THE DUTCH VIEW, ISRAEL'S
APPLICATION IS LARGELY POLITICALLY INSPIRED. GIVEN THE
POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, VAN EE SAID HIS
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS IS THE TIME TO ENGAGE IN A
COOPERATIVE PROJECT WITH ISRAEL. IN ADDITION, ISRAEL'S
PARTICIPATION WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE RESTRICTIVE EXPORT
POLICY OF THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT BASED ON CONCERNS ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS, VAN EE SAID.


4. (C) VAN EE REPORTED THAT HE HAD MET WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR
OF THE MFA OFFICE OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION ON JULY 5 TO
DISCUSS DUTCH CONCERNS AND TO GAUGE ITALIAN REACTIONS. VAN
EE SAID HIS ITALIAN INTERLOCUTOR BELIEVED THAT ISRAEL HAS
BEEN ON THE LIST OF POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS ALL ALONG, AND
THAT ISRAEL WAS INCLUDED AS SUCH IN THE ITALIAN MOU. VAN EE
ASKED HIM TO VERIFY THIS, AS THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE
FROM THE MOU SIGNED BY THE DUTCH.

CONFIDENTIAL

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5. (C) ACTION REQUEST. POST WOULD APPRECIATE GUIDANCE ON USG
REACTION TOWARD ISRAEL'S APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN JSF
AND CLARIFICATION AS TO WHETHER ISRAEL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN
OTHER MOUS AS A POTENTIAL PARTICIPANT. WE UNDERSTAND THE
ISSUE IS BEING STUDIED BY RELEVANT OFFICES IN WASHINGTON. WE
HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY THE GOI BUT ANTICIPATE THAT WE
MAY BE NOW THAT THE DUTCH HAVE RAISED THE ISSUE.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME03319 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL