ISRAELI REASSURANCES ON NONPROLIFERATION SECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006546

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014
TAGS: PREL PARM IS GOI EXTERNAL MILITARY RELATIONS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI REASSURANCES ON NONPROLIFERATION SECTION
OF THE EU-ISRAEL ACTION PLAN


Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Israeli officials told the Ambassador on
December 22 that the nonproliferation section of the
EU-Israel plan of action under the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy (ENP) contained "absolutely nothing new."
They described the plan as another attempt by the EU to lock
Israel into a process and undermine other fora such as the
Arms Control and Regional Security group. Israel had agreed
to the text because of beneficial provisions elsewhere in the
plan (e.g., economic cooperation and combating
anti-Semitism). Israeli officials said they would resist
changes to their nonproliferation policy, even if this stance
results in delays to the ENP process. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) During a meeting on December 22, Israel Atomic Energy
Commission (IAEC) Director General Gideon Frank, his
Principal Deputy for Policy Eli Levite, and Director for Arms
Control Merav Zafary briefed the Ambassador and poloffs on
the nonproliferation section of the EU-Israel action plan.
They also discussed Iran and the upcoming IAEA forum on
experience with nuclear-weapon-free zones (septels).


3. (C) Levite said that the Israeli cabinet had recently
discussed the nonproliferation section of the text of the
joint EU-Israel plan of action under the framework of the
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). PM Sharon had explicitly
asked the IAEC to inform the USG that there is "absolutely
nothing new" in Israel's arms control policy, despite what
some EU members may say. In Levite's analysis, the EU is
trying to lock Israel into "some sort of process" on arms
control. He said Israel's clear preference is to work these
issues with the USG or on its own.


4. (C) The Ambassador asked if the EU shared Israel's
interpretation of the action plan. Frank replied, "some of
them do." He noted that the chapeau of the nonproliferation
section (text available under http://europa.eu.int) clearly
states that the two sides will develop their dialogue in the
context of both EU strategy and "Israel's vision of the
long-term goals of regional security and arms control process
in the Middle East."


5. (C) Levite speculated that the Europeans are looking for
creative ways to revive the Barcelona process. He said the
EU also intends to supersede the Arms Control and Regional
Security (ACRS) process -- something Israel would not allow.
Nevertheless, FM Shalom had told the cabinet that the action
plan contained many points that would benefit Israel, so the
government had approved the text.


6. (C) The Ambassador asked if possible differing
interpretations of the nonproliferation section could
eventually cause difficulties for Israel in the ENP process.
Levite said it would be a "political judgment" by the EU on
whether the action plan commits Israel to certain steps. His
view was that the plan contained enough scope for progress in
other areas that the two sides could move forward. He noted,
however, that Israel would not take nonproliferation steps
that were against its own interests, even if this stance
results in delays to the ENP process.

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