VATICAN TELLS AMBASSADOR: POWELL IS NEEDED

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001738

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2012
TAGS: IS PHUM PREL VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN TELLS AMBASSADOR: POWELL IS NEEDED
IMMEDIATELY


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND (D).


1. (C) FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN CALLED AMBASSADOR THIS MORNING
(4/08). TAURAN SAID THAT HE HAD JUST SPOKEN TO THE PAPAL
NUNCIO IN JERUSALEM WHO WAS CONTACTED BY SENIOR ARAFAT AIDE
MUSTAFI. MUSTAFI ASKED THAT THE VATICAN CONVEY TO US THE
NEED FOR SECRETARY POWELL TO GO IMMEDIATELY TO JERUSALEM. HE
SAID IF THE SECRETARY WAITS UNTIL THURSDAY OR FRIDAY "HE WILL
ONLY FIND RUINS AND DEAD". TAURAN URGED THE SECRETARY TO
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 01738 081232Z
TAKE THIS MESSAGE SERIOUSLY.


2. (C) THE ISRAELIS TOLD US EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT TAURAN
CALLED AMBASSADOR LAMDAN ALSO THIS MORNING. ACCORDING TO
ISRAELI EMBASSY SOURCE, IT WAS A "DIFFICULT CONVERSATION".
ISRAELIS CLAIM THAT TAURAN SAID IF REPORTS ARE TRUE THAT
ISRAELI SOLDIERS HAVE FIRED INTO THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY,
THE VATICAN WILL REACT "VERY STRONGLY". NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA01738 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL