JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 004991

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI, NEA/IAI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM IS PHUM IS PHUM IS VT VTPREL VTPREL
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION
WITH ISRAEL TO END DESPERATE PLIGHT IN PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (D).


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST, PLEASE SEE LAST PARA.


2. (C) SUMMARY: AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE POPE, CATHOLIC
PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM MICHEL SABBAH MADE AN URGENT PLEA TO
AMBASSADOR OCTOBER 10 FOR U.S. HELP TO STOP THE VIOLENCE,
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AMELIORATE THE INCREASINGLY DESPERATE PLIGHT OF THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, AND MOVE THE PARTIES TOWARD MEANINGFUL
DIALOGUE. SABBAH HAD MET WITH THE POPE THE DAY BEFORE TO
CONVEY HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN JERUSALEM AND THE
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES. ACCORDING TO SABBAH, BOTH THE
PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI PEOPLE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED THAT
THE CURRENT CYCLE OF VIOLENCE SERVED NO PURPOSE, BUT THEY
NEEDED TO BE "SAVED" FROM THEIR CURRENT BLOODY IMPASSE BY
OUTSIDE PRESSURE. ONLY U.S. INTERVENTION, HE INSISTED, COULD
MOVE THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT FROM ITS CURRENT POLICY OF
REPRESSION. SABBAH, WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE "ALEXANDRIA
GROUP" -- AN INTER-FAITH RELIGIOUS FORUM ENCOMPASSING
CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, AND MUSLIM LEADERS -- ASSERTED THAT THIS
GROUP HAD CONTACTS WITH HAMAS AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY,
AND COULD SECURE A CESSATION IN TERRORIST ATTACKS OF "MORE
THAN A MONTH" IF ONLY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WOULD OFFER A
"REAL PROMISE" OF EASING THE PALESTINIANS' SUFFERING. SABBAH
CONDEMNED PALESTINIAN TERRORISM AND "HATE SPEECH", BUT SAID
IT WAS A MANIFESTATION OF PALESTINIAN DESPERATION THAT WOULD
STOP ONLY WHEN THE OCCUPATION AND "WAR" ENDED. SEEING NO
SIGNS THAT THE SHARON GOVERNMENT WAS INTERESTED IN PEACE,
SABBAH ASKED THE AMBASSADOR TO CONVEY TO THE PRESIDENT HIS
URGENT PLEA FOR INTERVENTION FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO
SECURE SOME MEANINGFUL CONCESSION FROM THE GOI THAT WOULD
GIVE THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP THE LEVERAGE IT NEEDED TO SECURE A
CESSATION OF VIOLENCE FROM THE ARAB SIDE AND SET IN PLACE THE
BEGINNINGS OF REAL PEACE TALKS LEADING TO AN END TO ISRAELI
OCCUPATION. END SUMMARY.

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MOUNTING DESPERATION IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
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3. (C) AMBASSADOR RECEIVED A CALL FROM VATICAN FOREIGN
MINISTER EQUIVALENT ARCHBISHOP JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN OCTOBER 10,
WHO CONVEYED THE POPE'S REQUEST THAT THE AMBASSADOR MEET THAT
DAY WITH VISITING PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM MICHEL SABBAH, WHO
WAS IN ROME TO SEE THE POPE ABOUT THE DETERIORATING SITUATION
IN THE HOLY LANDS. MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR AND STAFF,
SABBAH AND THE VICAR OF JERUSALEM MADE AN URGENT, ALMOST
DESPERATE PLEA FOR UNITED STATES INTERVENTION TO STOP THE
VIOLENCE AND END THE UNTENABLE SITUATION FOR THE PALESTINIANS
IN THE HOLY LANDS. HE SAID THAT THE CURFEW FORBADE THEIR
MOVEMENT 24 HOURS PER DAY AND DEPRIVED THEM OF BASIC HUMAN
NECESSITIES. HE FURTHER SAID THAT BOTH THE PALESTINIAN AND
ISRAELI PEOPLE NEEDED "PROTECTION" AND "SALVATION" IN THE
FORM OF A U.S. OR UN MILITARY PRESENCE THAT WOULD PROVIDE
SECURITY FOR ALL. SABBAH ASSERTED THAT THE ARAB WORLD WAS
READY FOR PEACE, THE PALESTINIAN WORLD WAS READY, AND THE
TIME WAS RIGHT FOR A MOVE TO PEACE. "THERE IS NO REASON FOR
THIS WAR TO GO ON," HE INSISTED. UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARED
TO HIM THAT THE SHARON GOVERNMENT HAD "NO INTEREST IN PEACE."
SABBAH SAID THAT EVENTUALLY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WOULD
HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (AND RETURN
TO THE 1967 BOUNDARIES),AND THAT SINCE PEOPLE WERE DYING
EVERY DAY, IT WAS POINTLESS NOT TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION NOW
AND SAVE MANY LIVES.


4. (C) SABBAH SKETCHED A GRIM PICTURE OF PALESTINIAN DAILY
LIFE UNDER SIEGE AND CURFEW, WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED, LIMITED
MOVEMENT POSSIBLE ONLY FOR THREE HOURS THREE TIMES A WEEK, NO
ECONOMIC LIFE, AND NO PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. HARSH
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ISRAELI REPRESSION, SABBAH NOTED, HAS NOT RESULTED IN GREATER
SECURITY FOR THE ISRAELI PEOPLE. ON THE CONTRARY, "EVEN THE
ISRAELIS" WERE SUFFERING, HE SAID. WITH PALESTINIANS LIVING
UNDER SUCH DESPERATION, SABBAH SAID IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE
THAT SOME WOULD RESORT TO "IMMORAL ACTS" LIKE SUICIDE
BOMBING. HE CONDEMNED TERRORIST ACTS AS "MORALLY WRONG AND
STRATEGICALLY WRONG," BUT ADDED THAT MOST PALESTINIANS CLAIM
"AS LONG AS THE ISRAELIS ARE IN OUR TERRITORY MAKING WAR ON
US, WE WILL MAKE WAR ON THEM." HE LAMENTED THAT PALESTINIANS
WERE CONDEMNED FOR SUICIDE BOMBINGS, WHILE ISRAEL WAS ABLE TO
KILL INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND DESTROY PROPERTY BY TRADITIONAL
MILITARY MEANS THAT EARNED LESS APPROBATION FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

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ONLY THE U.S. CAN SAVE US FROM OURSELVES
--------------


5. (C) WITH THE VIOLENCE AND OCCUPATION PRESSURES
UNRELENTING, SABBAH FEARED THAT THE SHARON GOVERNMENT WAS
DEAF TO ANY DIALOGUE, AND THEREFORE BELIEVED THAT ONLY THE

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ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 PERC-00
DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 DCP-01
NSAE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00
/003W
-------------- F6E3EA 141420Z /38
O 141342Z OCT 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 004991

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI, NEA/IAI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM IS PHUM IS PHUM IS VT VTPREL VTPREL
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION
WITH ISRAEL TO END DESPERATE PLIGHT IN PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES

BUSH ADMINISTRATION COULD GET THROUGH. WHEN THE AMBASSADOR
POINTED OUT THAT THE GOI WAS NOT ALWAYS RESPONSIVE TO U.S.
DEMANDS, SABBAH REPLIED: "IF YOU CAN'T MOVE SHARON, THEN ALL
IS LOST FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE." HE NOTED THAT THE ISSUE
IS HOW MUCH PRESSURE THE U.S. WAS WILLING TO BRING TO BEAR ON
SHARON. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH PRESSURE, HE FEARED THERE
WOULD BE FIVE OR TEN MORE YEARS OF VIOLENCE UNTIL A NEW
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ISRAELI GOVERNMENT BROUGHT IT TO AN END AND BEGAN A NEW
DIALOGUE. IN THE MEANTIME THOUSANDS WOULD DIE. SABBAH
REITERATED HIS REQUEST THAT WE CONVEY TO THE PRESIDENT HIS
URGENT PLEA FOR AN INTERVENTION WITH SHARON TO CONVINCE HIM
TO EASE THE SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND JOIN
IN STEPS TOWARD A LASTING CEASEFIRE. SABBAH NOTED THAT HE
AND THE OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF JERUSALEM HAD PREVIOUSLY
REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND HOPED TO BE ABLE
TO PRESENT THEIR CONCERNS DIRECTLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AMBASSADOR PROMISED TO CONVEY SABBAH'S COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO
WASHINGTON.


6. (C) AMBASSADOR ASKED SABBAH ABOUT THE STATUS OF HIS OWN
EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.
SABBAH SAID HE HAS MET WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MELCHIOR,
THE ONLY GOI OFFICIAL WHO REGULARLY SPOKE WITH HIM, BUT THAT
MELCHIOR MAKES CLEAR THAT HE CANNOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNMENT, AND GENERALLY PROMISES ONLY TO CONVEY SABBAH'S
CONCERNS. HE SAID HE HAS HAD A REQUEST IN TO MEET DIRECTLY
WITH PM SHARON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT THE PM'S OFFICE HAS
NOT RESPONDED. HE BELIEVED SHARON WAS NOT INTERESTED IN
PEACE, AND WAS BENT ON EXPELLING ALL BUT A FEW THOUSAND
PALESTINIANS FROM THE WEST BANK IN ORDER TO CREATE A GREATER
ISRAEL.

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ALEXANDRIA GROUP: CEASEFIRE POSSIBLE WITH ISRAELI COMMITMENT
-------------- --------------


7. (C) SABBAH TOLD US THAT THE "ALEXANDRIA GROUP" OF
RELIGIOUS LEADERS FROM THE MUSLIN, JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN
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FAITHS CREATED LAST JANUARY MAINTAINS GOOD CONTACTS WITH
HAMAS AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. SABBAH SAID HE HAD
ASKED HAMAS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND THE
REPLY WAS THAT AS LONG AS THE OCCUPATION CONTINUED, HAMAS WAS
AT "WAR"; WHEN THE OCCUPATION CEASED, THE WAR WOULD BE OVER.
HE SAID THAT AFTER THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH SHEIK YASSIM, HAMAS
HAD REFRAINED FROM ATTACKS FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS. DURING THAT
PERIOD, HE SAID, THE ISRAELI SIDE HAD CONTINUED ITS
OCCUPATION AND ASSASSINATION POLICY, AND SO THE TERROR
ATTACKS WERE RENEWED.


8. (C) PRESSED BY THE AMBASSADOR ABOUT CURRENT DIFFICULTIES
IN ESTABLISHING AN IMPROVED SECURITY SITUATION WITHOUT
PALESTINIAN SUICIDE ATTACKS, SABBAH INSISTED THAT THE
ALEXANDRIA GROUP COULD USE ITS GOOD OFFICES TO OBTAIN A REAL
CESSATION IN THE TERRORIST ATTACKS, FROM HAMAS, THE PA, AND
POTENTIALLY EVEN HIZBOLLAH, FOR "A MONTH." BUT THEY COULD DO
SO ONLY IF THEY HAD SOMETHING CONCRETE FROM THE ISRAELI SIDE
TO TAKE TO THE TABLE. AT AMBASSADOR'S QUERY AS TO WHAT WOULD
TYPE OF STEPS WOULD BE NEEDED FROM THE ISRAELI SIDE TO
ACHIEVE SUCH A CESSATION OF ATTACKS, SABBAH CONCEDED THAT
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A REAL PLEDGE FROM THE GOI TO EASE THE
CURFEWS FOR A WEEK COULD CREATE A FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO
BUILD, FOLLOWED BY A RETURN TO "A MORE NORMAL LIFE."
FOLLOWING UP ON SABBAH'S INDICATION THAT THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP
WOULD BE MEETING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY OCTOBER 24-25 AT LAMBETH HOUSE IN LONDON,
AMBASSADOR URGED SABBAH TO DEVELOP HIS PROPOSAL WITHIN THE
ALEXANDRIA GROUP. WHILE CAUTIONING THAT IT WOULD BE A
DIFFICULT TASK TO SET THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP OF RELIGIOUS
LEADERS ON A POLITICAL PATH, HE EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO
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EXPLORE WAYS IN WHICH THE GROUP COULD PROMOTE A CESSATION OF
VIOLENCE AND CREATE SOME SPACE FOR A RESTORATION OF DIALOGUE.

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PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP AND REFORM
--------------


9. (C) RESPONDING TO U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
POLITICAL REFORM AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, SABBAH DISMISSED THESE AS "SECONDARY
CONCERNS." "EVEN WITH THE BEST ADMINISTRATION, FREE FROM
CORRUPTION, VIOLENCE WILL STILL BE THERE IF NOTHING IS DONE
ABOUT THE OCCUPATION," HE OBSERVED. ON THE LEADERSHIP ISSUE,
SABBAH CAUTIONED THAT U.S. AND ISRAELI PRESSURE TO GET RID OF
ARAFAT WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. "THE MORE YOU SAY THAT
ARAFAT IS IRRELEVANT, THE MORE RELEVANT HE BECOMES." WHEREAS
IF THE U.S. AND ISRAEL JUST IGNORED HIM AND LET THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF IT, "YOU WILL GET THE
LEADERSHIP YOU WANT," HE ADDED. HE DESCRIBED ARAFAT AS
"PRISONER," WHO COULD DO NOTHING, AND TO WHOM NO ONE LISTENS,
BUT WHO GROWS IN POPULARITY THE MORE HE IS HUMILIATED.

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PAGE 01 VATICA 04991 03 OF 03 141420Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 PERC-00
DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 DCP-01
NSAE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00
/003W
-------------- F6E3F1 141420Z /38
O 141342Z OCT 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 004991

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI, NEA/IAI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM IS PHUM IS PHUM IS VT VTPREL VTPREL
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION
WITH ISRAEL TO END DESPERATE PLIGHT IN PALESTINIAN
TERRITORIES

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COMMENT
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10. (C) SABBAH'S MEETING WITH THE POPE AND THE POPE'S
RECOMMENDATION FOR A MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR REFLECT THE
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POPE'S INCREASING CONCERN FOR THE SITUATION IN THE HOLY LANDS
AND CONSISTENT OPPOSITION TO HEAVY HANDED ISRAELI REPRESSIVE
MEASURES. WHILE WE ARE CONFIDENT SABBAH MAINTAINS TIES TO
BOTH HAMAS AND THE PA, AND MAY BE ABLE TO PLAY A USEFUL ROLE
IN CONSTRAINING ATTACKS, WE LEAVE IT TO WASHINGTON, TEL AVIV
AND JERUSALEM TO ASSESS WHETHER THESE TIES WOULD BE STRONG
ENOUGH TO HELP ACHIEVE A CESSATION OF SUICIDE ATTACKS, AS HE
MAINTAINS. GIVEN THE CURRENT IMPASSE, HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE
THAT INTER-FAITH RELIGIOUS EFFORTS SUCH AS THAT OF THE
ALEXANDRIA GROUP CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF SOME
DIALOGUE IN A SITUATION WHERE VERY LITTLE EXISTS. IN ANY
EVENT, SABBAH'S DESPERATE PLEA FOR GREATER U.S. ENGAGEMENT --
A PLEA ECHOED IN EVERY MEETING WITH SENIOR HOLY SEE OFFICIALS
-- REFLECTS A STRONGLY HELD VIEW HERE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF
GREATER U.S. PRESSURE ON SHARON, THERE IS NO HOPE FOR AN END
TO THE TRAGIC CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. SABBAH,
A PALESTINIAN NATIONALIST AND A CATHOLIC CLERGYMAN,
UNDERSCORED TO THE AMBASSADOR HIS CONDEMNATION BOTH OF
TERRORISM AND THE HATE SPEECH THAT EXISTS IN PALESTINIAN
MEDIA AND SCHOOLS. HE SAID HE PREACHES TO HIS OWN FLOCK TO
"LOVE THE ISRAELIS, EVEN THOSE WHO DRIVE TANKS OVER YOUR
HOUSES." THIS WAS "HARD TO DO," HE ADDED, "BUT IT IS THE
CHRISTIAN THING TO DO." ACTION REQUEST: EMBASSY IS PREPARED
TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOLY SEE ON THIS TRACK IF THE
DEPARTMENT BELIEVES IT WILL BE HELPFUL IN ENCOURAGING
DIALOGUE AND REDUCING VIOLENCE. PLEASE ADVISE IF FOLLOWUP
ACTION IS REQUIRED. POST WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN ANY
READOUT OF THE LONDON MEETING OF THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP.
NICHOLSON

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2002VATICA04991 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL