ISRAELI VIEWS ON IAEA FORUM ON "EXPERIENCE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006547

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014
TAGS: KNNP PREL MNUC TRGY IS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: ISRAELI VIEWS ON IAEA FORUM ON "EXPERIENCE OF
POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO THE CREATION OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE
ZONE IN THE MIDDLE EAST"

REF: STATE 270510

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Gideon Frank and Eli Levite of the Israel
Atomic Energy Commission told the Ambassador on December 22
that the ground rules and agenda for the upcoming IAEA forum
on nuclear-weapon-free zones reflect understandings between
Israel and the IAEA. The only outstanding issue is that DG
El-Baradei wants the forum to be a more public platform that
would include the Arab League as an observer. Israel has
urged the IAEA to view the forum as "a one-time educational
event" that will have only an "intellectual" outcome. Israel
will be represented at the working level. 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
their position on the upcoming forum "Experience of Possible
Relevance to the Creation of a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in
the Middle East" (reftel). They also discussed the status of
talks with the EU on the European Neighborhood Policy and
Iran (septels).


3. (C) Levite said that the ground rules and agenda for the
forum reflect understandings between Israel and the IAEA. He
said the Israeli view is that the IAEA has no role to play in
this area, but that Israel wanted to make a "very modest
gesture of good will." The only outstanding issue is that DG
El-Baradei wants a more public platform that would include
the Arab League as an observer. The Israelis see Arab League
participation as "very difficult" and "not consistent with
the learning process." Levite said that Israel would speak
to El-Baradei to urge him to structure the event in a manner
that does not adversely affect the NPT RevCon.


4. (C) Israel has urged the IAEA to view the forum as "a
one-time educational event." Levite said the outcome should
be "intellectual" without any concrete deliverables. Israel
would not send high-level participants, but would probably be
represented by Director for Arms Control Merav Zafary and
Ambassador to the IAEA Israel Michaeli. Frank added that he
did not think the Israeli delegation would speak, but a
decision had not yet been taken.

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KURTZER