Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO2854
2005-04-12 16:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE U.S. ELICITS

Tags:  PREL PGOV KPAL ASEC EG IS 
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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 CAIRO 002854 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL ASEC EG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE U.S. ELICITS
QUIET REACTION, WHILE VISIT TO EGYPT BY FOREIGN MINISTER
SHALOM ATTRACTS LOCAL ATTENTION

Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002854

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL ASEC EG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE U.S. ELICITS
QUIET REACTION, WHILE VISIT TO EGYPT BY FOREIGN MINISTER
SHALOM ATTRACTS LOCAL ATTENTION

Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Egyptian press and MFA contacts offered tempered
reactions to public comments by President Bush and Israeli
Prime Minister Sharon following their April 11 Crawford,
Texas summit. Worried that the President might offer Sharon
political cover for Israeli efforts to consolidate control
over the West Bank and Israeli settlements there, MFA
contacts expressed relief over the President's firm stance in
support of both sides' Roadmap commitments, including those
by Israel on removing unauthorized outposts and preventing
the expansion of settlements. Egypt remains focused on
promoting coordination between Israel and the Palestinians on
Gaza disengagement and continues to press both sides
privately. Following disengagement, Egypt plans to focus its
diplomatic efforts on extracting from Israel a specific
timetable for direct negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians on final status issues such as borders and
refugees. With the Sharon visit to the U.S. still in
progress, the media reaction in Egypt so far has been muted.


2. (C) On April 12, Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom visited
Cairo for meetings with President Mubarak, Intelligence Chief
Soliman, and Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit. No major
announcements or breakthroughs were made public during the
visit, but MFA contacts note that the visit was both cordial
and productive. Shalom was in Cairo looking for GOE support
for Israeli efforts to expand its diplomatic relations in the
Arab world. Israel is also hoping to gain Egyptian support
for pressing the Palestinian leadership to do more to crack
down on violence and the infrastructure of terror. On the
bilateral side, MFA Office Director for Palestinian Affairs
told poloff that Shalom and Aboul Gheit, along with the
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, discussed and were close to
agreement on a deal for Egypt to export natural gas to
Israel. Labib also confirmed that an agreement on Egypt's
provision of 700-800 border guards to the Gaza and Israel
border was not reached during Shalom's visit to Cairo. The
Egyptian and Israeli ministers did, however make progress
during a working lunch toward setting up a bilateral working
committee to address all aspects of the relationship, "from
visas to commercial deals."







Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo

You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.

GRAY