UAEG EXPRESSES VIEWS ON ISRAEL-PALESTINE

1. (C) Summary: On February 13, MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid
Al-Noaimi told visiting ARPI Office Director Alan Misenheimer
and DCM that he is more optimistic about the prospect for
peace in Israel and Palestine since Abu Mazen,s election.
He noted that motion on this front will help solve other
regional problems, but remained concerned about Iran,s
potential to destabilize both Israeli-Paletinian peace and
Lebanon. End Summary.



2. (C) Al-Noaimi told Misenheimer and DCM that &the peace
train has departed from Sharm al-Sheikh and it,s not going
to stop.8 He said the UAEG knows Abu Mazen well, is
optimistic about him as a leader, and is encouraged by his
engagement with Hamas. He called Abu Mazen a statesman who
can lead people, whereas Arafat could never distance himself
from his guerilla past. The UAE believes that supporting Abu
Mazen and the Palestinians politically and financially is in
its self interest, and will continue to do so. (Note: Post
delivered draft version of reftel demarche during
Misenheimer,s visit. End note.) Without committing to a
direct figure, Al-Noaimi opened the door to renewed UAE
assistance to the PA, noting that UAE concerns about Arafat
and corruption had forced the UAEG to concentrate its support
on humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and
funnel it through the UAE Red Crescent. (Note: Although
2004 data is not available, the UAE provided Palestinians
more than 200 million dollars in humanitarian aid in grants
and loans in 2003; this figure does not include in-kind
assistance. End note.).



3. (C) Al-Noaimi said that the momentum from progress in
Israel and Palestine will propel resolution of other problems
in the Middle East, such as Lebanon and Syria. He added that
the more the Palestinians progress toward peace, the more
pressure there will be on Syria to reform.



4. (C) Al-Noaimi viewed Iran as the biggest threat to
stability and the peace process. Recalling his recent visit
to Lebanon, Al-Noaimi said that he doesn,t like to see
Iranians in the Bekaa Valley or hear Farsi on Lebanese radio.
He stated that it was necessary to &unplug8 Iran from
Lebanon and Syria, and urged the United States to keep up
pressure on Iran.



5. (C) Misenheimer encouraged the UAEG to urge Iran to move
in a constructive direction, stating Iran should support a
final outcome of a Palestinian state. Al-Noaimi was
pessimistic about Iran changing its policies. He described
Tehran airport signs with Palestinian and anti-US slogans,
and stated that Iran needs this rhetoric to maintain the
regime,s legitimacy.

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