HOLY SEE ON ICJ, ISRAELI SEPARATION BARRIER

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005365

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE: LEVIN; NEA/IPA; IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2013
TAGS: IS KPAL PREL VT UNGA
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE ON ICJ, ISRAELI SEPARATION BARRIER

REF: A. A) SECSTATE 325119

B. B) VATICAN 5190

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


1. (C) POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL POINTS TO HOLY SEE OFFICE
DIRECTOR FOR ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS FRANCO COPPOLA
NOVEMBER 25. COPPOLA LIMITED HIS RESPONSE TO THE POSSIBILITY
OF AN INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ) OPINION ON THE
LEGALITY OF THE ISRAELI SEPARATION BARRIER. HE AGREED THAT
SEEKING AN ICJ OPINION WOULD BE A MISTAKE THAT WOULD RISK
POLITICIZING THE ICJ, AND IN GENERAL WOULD COMPLICATE THE
SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST.


2. (C) COPPOLA SAID THE HOLY SEE APPRECIATED AND WELCOMED THE
PRESIDENT'S SIGNIFICANT NOVEMBER 19 COMMENTS IN LONDON
REGARDING THE WAY FORWARD IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DISPUTE
(REF A). HE POINTEDLY NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COMMENTS
SEEMED TO HAVE MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.
THE HOLY SEE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE GOI MAY IN FACT NOW BE
SPEEDING UP CONSTRUCTION OF THE BARRIER. IF THE GOI DOES NOT
RESPOND EVEN TO THE U.S. CRITICISM, COPPOLA OBSERVED, PERHAPS
SOMETHING MORE CONCRETE NEEDED TO BE DONE.


3. (C) THE HOLY SEE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE SECURITY FENCE -- AS
HIGHLIGHTED BY THE POPE'S POINTED REMARKS IN HIS LAST SUNDAY
ANGELUS ADDRESS (REF B) -- WAS THAT THE FURTHER ALONG THE
BARRIER PROJECT WENT, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO
REVERSE IT. THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES THE PROJECT WILL ONLY
SERVE TO EMPOWER EXTREMISTS, AND WILL ONLY HINDER THE PEACE
PROCESS. THE ICJ IS NOT THE ANSWER, COPPOLA AGREED, BUT WE
MUST FIND ANOTHER WAY.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) THE POPE'S UNUSUAL DIRECT AND PUBLIC CRITICISM OF THE
SECURITY WALL EVOKED A SHARP RESPONSE FROM PRIME MINISTER
SHARON DURING HIS VISIT TO ITALY LAST WEEK IN WHICH HE NOTED
THAT HE COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE VATICAN WAS
SURROUNDED BY WALLS. THERE HAD BEEN PRESS SPECULATION ABOUT
WHETHER SHARON WOULD MEET WITH THE POPE DURING HIS THREE DAYS
IN ROME, BUT THE POPE'S CRITICISM DIMMED ANY PROSPECTS FOR
SUCH A MEETING. WE HAVE HEARD THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL
AND THE HOLY SEE ARE AT A LOW POINT -- AN IMPRESSION
REINFORCED BY SHARON'S' STUDIOUS AVOIDANCE OF VATICAN CITY
DURING HIS VISIT AND BY ISRAEL'S DOWNSIZING OF ITS MISSION TO
THE HOLY SEE IN RECENT MONTHS. COPPOLA'S CALL FOR SOMETHING
BEYOND EXHORTATION TO ISRAEL IS A REFLECTION OF THE HOLY
SEE'S MOUNTING FRUSTRATION BOTH WITH THE CONTINUING CYCLE OF
VIOLENCE AND ISRAELI POLICY ON THE BARRIER AND SETTLEMENTS.


NICHOLSON

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2003VATICA05365 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL