EGYPTIAN, ARAB LEAGUE REACTIONS TO IRANIAN

UNCLAS CAIRO 008365 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EG IZ IR IS MEPN SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN, ARAB LEAGUE REACTIONS TO IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S PUBLIC REMARKS ON ISRAEL REF: A. STATE 199863 ¶B. STATE 199225 ¶1. Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) The GOE position on Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's recent comments calling for Israel's destruction (reftels) was expressed by Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to reporters October 30. Aboul Gheit told journalists that "the United Nations, in which Israel and Iran are both members, has never witnessed the dismantling of any state." Remarks of this nature, Aboul Gheit added, "did not help the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians." Aboul Gheit used the opportunity to highlight Egypt's "maximum efforts" to establish a Palestinian state. (Note: Egyptian opposition newspaper Al Wafd criticized Aboul Gheit October 31 for "defending Israel" and for "getting involved in the war of words between Israel and Iran." End note). Foreign Ministry contacts confirmed the accuracy of press reporting on Aboul Gheit's public statements on this subject. ¶3. (SBU) Similarly, Arab League Secretary General Moussa distanced himself from the Iranian President's statements during a taped television interview with Egyptian TV October 30 -- to be aired November 1 - according to his Chief of Staff, Hesham Youssef. Youssef shared October 31 that Moussa responded to a question on this issue by saying that the Arab League was focused on implementation of the Arab peace initiative and progress on the Roadmap, not elinimation of any state. "While nothing can justify the statement by the Iranian President," Youssef told poloff, it appears that the Iranian government is now "backing down" from its bellicose statements and is now seeking to "clarify" Ahmadi-Nejad's comments. RICCIARDONE