Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04VATICAN1548
2004-04-21 05:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN RAISES CONCERNS ON PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT,

Tags:  IS KPAL KWBG PREL VT 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001548 

SIPDIS


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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2014
TAGS: IS KPAL KWBG PREL VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN RAISES CONCERNS ON PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT,
SHARON PLAN

REF: A. STATE 84066


B. 03 VATICAN 5748

C. VATICAN 1445

Classified By: Ambassador Jim Nicholson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001548

SIPDIS


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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2014
TAGS: IS KPAL KWBG PREL VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN RAISES CONCERNS ON PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT,
SHARON PLAN

REF: A. STATE 84066


B. 03 VATICAN 5748

C. VATICAN 1445

Classified By: Ambassador Jim Nicholson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Holy See Country Director for Israel Franco Coppola
told Poloff April 16 that the Holy See had concerns about
both the Presidential statement issued April 14 and PM
Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan. Coppola said that the USG's
consent for Israel to keep some parts of the West Bank it has
occupied since 1967 and to deny the right of Palestinian
refugees to return to Israel left the Palestinians with no
leverage and left Israel completely "in the driver's seat."
Although he agreed that the U.S. position on the land and
refugee issues reflected current realities, he said the move
was bound to sit poorly with the Arab world and with many in
Europe. Coppola was also concerned about language in the
statement that endorsed what he said might be unilateral or
excessive Israeli military measures. He acknowledged several
ref (a) points, such as the positive nature of the decision
to remove any settlements, and the need for the Palestinian
leadership to act more decisively against terror. Comments
by Catholic officials in the media contributed to a negative
buzz on the issue. End Summary.

--------------
Israel in the Driver's Seat
--------------


2. (C) Holy See Country Director for Israel Franco Coppola
told us April 16 that the Vatican had concerns about the
Presidential statement issued April 14 and PM Sharon's plan
to withdraw settlements from Gaza. Coppola acknowledged that
it was "unthinkable" for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967
borders, and likewise impossible that Palestinians could have
the right of return to a future Israeli state. At the same
time, he believed that taking these items "off the table"
left the Palestinians with no leverage and left Israel
"completely in the driver's seat." This was bound to sit
poorly with the Arab world -- and many Europeans, he said.
Poloff shared ref (a) points with Coppola and emphasized the
opportunity that existed for progress with Sharon's
initiative; we pointed out (and he agreed) that the removal

of settlements would be a historic, precedent-setting
measure. In addition, we underlined that the U.S. had no
intention of prejudicing the outcome of permanent status
negotiations.

--------------
Israel's Capacity to Deter and Defend
--------------


3. (C) Coppola said that further Holy See reaction to the
plan and the Presidential statement would depend on the
interpretation of some of the language used. He was curious
about the statement's reference to Israel as a "Jewish
state," and wondered what implications that might have for
religious freedom in the country. Coppola expressed concern
over the implications of the portion of the statement that
emphasized the USG commitment to "preserve and strengthen
Israel's capability to deter and defend itself, by itself,
against any threat or possible combination of threats." To
Coppola, this smacked of unilateral and potentially excessive
action of which the Holy See did not approve. Further, the
section on "prevent(ing) the areas from which Israel has
withdrawn from posing a threat that would have to be
addressed by any other means" seemed to him ominous and
vague.

--------------
Leadership Vacuum
--------------


4. (C) Coppola also questioned how likely it was that the
U.S. and others could "foster...new leadership" in Palestine.
"You can't force leaders on the people," he said. "You have
to work with those who already command the allegiance of the
people." We noted the failure of the current Palestinian
leadership to meet its responsibilities in reform and the
suppression of terrorism. Coppola agreed that Palestinian
leadership had not done enough against terror and admitted
that it had not been helpful to the peace process.

--------------
Media Plays Negative Catholic Comments


--------------


5. (U) Vatican media have picked up some negative comments
by Holy See officials and other Catholics in the Holy Lands,
contributed to the public impression of Vatican concern about
the Sharon Plan. Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and a persistent and
vocal critic of U.S. policy in the region (ref b),asserted
that it seemed "unjust" for the U.S. and Israel "not to
listen to the other side" given that there were two
contending parties. Another Catholic church source based in
the region was quoted by the widely read Catholic News
Service as declaring that the plan represented an
"overwhelming victory for Israel and a catastrophic defeat
for the Palestinians." "The road map is over," the source
added, claiming that "Peace (in the Middle East) is doomed."

--------------
Comment
--------------


6. (C) The Holy See continues to regard the
Israel-Palestinian conflict as "the mother of all conflicts"
in the region and a source of anti-Western feeling that
contributes to the growth of terrorism throughout the Middle
East. The Vatican also hears a steady stream of reports from
religious workers active in the Palestinian Territories of
humiliations endured by Palestinians and hardships facing
those who work with them. A group of American religious
leaders who called on the Ambassador this week noted that
they routinely had to allot 3 hours for an 8 mile trip to
attend a meeting outside of Jerusalem. Even Vatican
Cardinals lecturing in the area were sometimes turned back or
harassed at checkpoints. All of this has contributed to an
increasingly tense relationship between the Holy See and
Israel (ref c). Resolution of current visa and residency
issues as recently promised by the Israeli government would
be an important step forward.

Nicholson

NICHOLSON


NNNN


2004VATICA01548 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL