EU STRATEGY ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE: ITALIAN VIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004404

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR, NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2024
TAGS: IS IT KPAL PREL EUN
SUBJECT: EU STRATEGY ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE: ITALIAN VIEWS


Classified By: POL MC THOMAS COUNTRYMAN, REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: Italian MFA Middle East director outlined the
state of discussion among EU members for an initiative on
Israeli-Palestinian peace. Italy is seeking to insert
stronger messages to the initiatives: for Israel, the need to
publicly declare readiness for negotiation, and for the
Palestinians, the need to declare no tolerance for violence.
Like other EU interlocutors, he emphasized that any EU
initiative can succeed only in coordination with the Quartet
and with a more active role from the United States. End
summary


2. (C) On November 16, MFA Director for the Eastern Med,
Luca Ferrari, described to POL MC the Brussels state of play
on the Middle East initiative proposed by EU High
Representative Solana and enthusiastically supported by the
Dutch Presidency. All EU members agree that the EU must
seize the opportunity afforded by Arafat's passing to push
for renewed activism -- by the EU alone and by the Quartet.
The initiative should be decided by EU Foreign Ministers at
the November 22-23 GAERC. Current discussion, continuing
among EU Missions in Brussels, is focused on four sets of
messages: to the Palestinians, Israel, the US, and other
Arabs.

-- Messages for the Palestinians: The EU will support,
financially and with monitors, Palestinian elections, which
must be held on schedule in January. Reform of the
Palestinian Authority must be accelerated, particularly as
concerns the security services. The PA should seek to broker
a cease-fire with Hamas to avoid attacks in the Territories
or within Israel. The PA should resume security cooperation
with Israel.

-- Messages for Israel: Do everything possible to facilitate
the holding of Palestinian elections. Do not undertake new
military activity in Gaza. Do anything possible to improve
the living conditions of Palestinians (handing over tax
revenues, pulling back military presence in at least some
population centers). Resume Security cooperation with the
Palestinian Authority.

-- Messages for the United States: Hold a Quartet ministerial
meeting as soon as possible (possibly on the margins of the
Sharm al-Sheikh meeting). Reinforce the EU message to
Israel. Increase financial assistance to the Palestinians.

-- Messages to other regional states: Commit to increased
funding for the Palestinians through the Ad Hoc Liaison
Committee (particularly the Gulf states). Egypt and Jordan
to continue and increase their coordination with Palestinians
in support of security forces reform. Syria and Iran to show
restraint and avoid interference in the Palestinian
succession process.


3. (C) Ferrari commented that all these messages are correct,
but that Italy is pushing to include two more. The
Palestinians should be strongly advised to make a clear
statement that there will be no resumption of intifada
violence during an (unspecified) period. And in turn Israel
should be encouraged to state publicly that it is prepared to
coordinate its Gaza withdrawal plan with the Palestinians in
the context of the Roadmap. Ferrari noted that Sharon had
said exactly this during his meeting last week with Deputy
Prime Minister Fini (shortly to become Foreign Minister).
Fini urged Sharon to make exactly that comment publicly, in
order to make clear that Israel recognized that something had
changed with Arafat's death.


4. (C) Ferrari lamented that many EU members are prepared to
give tough messages to Israel, but not to the Palestinians.
Without a strong puh from the EU for a pause to the
intifada, Ferari said, the rest of the initiative will be oQ
little value. Italy will continue to push f/r a stronger
message for both Israel and the Palestinians.


5. (C) POL MC asked how important the issue
of Israel alllestinian residents
ari said the EU would prhe same arrangements as i
elections. If Israel drecedent, it
would Qf Israel'@e `@he peaity that may not recur Q

expectations of a more active US role in the process are
elevated (particularly after the President's meeting with PM
Blair),but so are their fears that Washington is not ready
to speak strongly to both Israel and the Palestinians. It is
crucial, he concluded, that the next meeting of the Quartet,
whether at Sharm or soon thereafter, conclude with a strong
and united appeal to Israel and the PA along the lines of the
initiative described above.


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2004ROME04404 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL