EU'S SOLANA: 1967 BORDERS ARE STARTING POINT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 004419

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/IPA, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2009
TAGS: PREL PTER IS UNSC EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU'S SOLANA: 1967 BORDERS ARE STARTING POINT FOR
MID-EAST PEACE


Classified By: USEU/POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary. In an October 13 speech before the
European Parliament, EU High Rep Solana harshly criticized
recent remarks by Israeli PM Sharon's cabinet chief, Dov
Weisglass, that the Gaza disengagement plan was designed to
freeze negotiations leading to a Palestinian state. Solana
also called for a Quartet effort to begin discussion of the
borders of a Palestinian state, and challenged Israel to
agree that the 1967 borders should be the basis for that
negotiation. End Summary.

Solana to European Parliament: Roadmap is stalled
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2. (SBU) In an October 13 address to the European
Parliament, EU High Rep Javier Solana said events in the
Middle East since the last Quartet meeting have stalled
progress on the Roadmap. In Gaza, the situation has
deteriorated. Rocket launches from the Palestinian side had
triggered a disproportionate Israeli response. The EU and
others worked hard, but in vain, for a ceasefire. Then came
the attacks in Taba, which have generated a sense of
"revulsion" among all. The PA, Solana said, "needs a
government;" much needs to be done on security. Arafat needs
to delegate power to the Prime Minister. Israel complains
about not having a negotiating partner; this issue needs to
be resolved so Israel does not have an "alibi" for not
"trying" to move negotiations forward.

Taking a Swipe at Weisglass
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3. (SBU) Israel, Solana said, is also politically unstable.
The recent Knesset vote against Sharon's Gaza plan and the
issue of financing disengagement are causing problems in
Israel. Solana said there could be further political
realignment, perhaps a coalition government, and elections
could be moved up from 2006 to 2005. With the Roadmap
stalled, Solana said, "recent Israeli political declarations"
(a reference to Weisglass) were "disgraceful" and "totally
unacceptable." The EU cannot accept Israel saying "no" to
the Roadmap. "Dishonesty doesn't help," Solana concluded,
noting that the remarks in question were made by "someone
close to the Prime Minister."

What the EU can do
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4. (SBU) Solana outlined four areas for EU action, all
guided by the direction given by the Roadmap.

-- Security: The EU stands ready to help the PA improve its
police structure to enhance law and order and combat
terrorism.

-- Reform: The EU will support PA reform efforts. But the
PA needs to carry out reform.

-- Economic: The EU will do all it can to support Gaza
disengagement. But, if Israel intends to disengage only from
Gaza, it can't count on continued EU support. Gaza must be
part of a broader plan leading to a negotiated resolution of
all issues.

-- Electoral Process: The PA needs credible elections in the
territories, and a credible Electoral Commission. The EU
will support this so Palestinians can elect the leaders they
want.

Focus on 1967 borders
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5. (SBU) Saying it was time to "take a leap," Solana said
the "step-by-step" approach to Roadmap implementation had
reached its logical end. Once the US elections are over, he
continued, the EU wanted the Quartet to speed up
implementation. For example, no one has defined the borders
of a Palestinian state yet, but their basic outline was
"quite clear-- the 1967 borders." The two parties can
negotiate exchanges of territory as they see fit, but this
must be on the basis of the 1967 borders as the starting
point. Solana concluded that it was imperative to "move
forward speedily" to final settlement talks, and "get beyond
the irresponsible statements of Israeli leaders."

Comment
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6. (C) Council Secretariat sources indicated to us in
advance of Solana's speech that, despite press reporting that
Solana would announce a major initiative, in fact there would
be little that was really new. They described this as the
result of an effort by the Dutch presidency and Solana to
pre-empt individual member states from launching trial
balloons of their own, either out of anger over Weisglass's
remarks or out of frustration over lack of progress on the
Roadmap. The Israeli mission in Brussels told us today that
PM Sharon's office was upset with Solana's remarks but, in
the words of the Embassy officer with whom we spoke, "There's
nothing much in what Solana said to get upset about -- what
Weisglass said was inexcusable."


7. (C) Comment continued. We interpret Solana's remarks as
an attempt to pin Sharon down on whether Gaza disengagement
is in lieu of disengagement in the West Bank, or is part of a
process that could ultimately include the West Bank and lead
to a negotiated settlement of all final status questions.
The 1967 borders is simply the vehicle Solana chose to
achieve this. We expect the EU will press this issue in any
future Quartet meetings.

McKinley