GOI LARGELY PLEASED WITH SWISS VISIT ON MDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006250 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015 TAGS: IS KPAL KWBG PGOV PREL SZ GOI EXTERNAL HUMANITARIAN AID ISRAELI SOCIETY SUBJECT: GOI LARGELY PLEASED WITH SWISS VISIT ON MDA Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) MFA DDG for International Organizations Affairs Roni Ya'ar told the Ambassador October 31 that GOI meetings with visiting Swiss FM Calmy-Rey were productive and remained focused entirely on MDA issues. Ya'ar said that Calmy Rey was on "good behavior" during her visit and did not expand her dialogue with the Palestinians, or her subsequent press statement, beyond the MDA issue. He said Calmy-Rey told PM Sharon that the Swiss intend to convene the diplomatic conference December 5, as planned, and want to facilitate a coordination agreement between MDA and the PRCS before that time. Ya'ar said that the GOI is willing to support practical talks, but does not want any lack of agreement to prevent the December 5 conference. With only four weeks until the conference, and the week-long time out for Palestinian celebration of the Eid, the GOI wants the Swiss to start issuing conference invitations now. He asked for USG intervention with the Swiss to get the conference preparations moving and not to make the conference dependent on any prospective agreement between MDA and the PRCS, noting that the GOI would have to be mindful of Israeli public opinion. ¶2. (C) Ya'ar added that he does not really see the Palestinians as a problem for the conference, but does find the Syrian position problematic. He said the Syrians have raised with and via the Swiss some questions about the recent statements by MDA Board Chairman Yifrach. The GOI, he said, does not intend to respond to what it sees as a Syrian attempt to raise problems and play a spoiler role. He mused, however, that the GOI might be willing to see MDA negotiate an agreement with the Syrian Red Crescent Society strictly on a humanitarian basis, after it reaches an agreement with the PRCS. Such an agreement could, for example, allow MDA to transfer to Syrian Red Crescent any individuals seeking care in Syria, but he stressed that the GOI "will never" talk about Syrian access to the Golan. Ya'ar asked for USG thoughts on any reply to the Swiss to satisfy GOI concerns regarding the Syrians, adding that the Swiss understand that now is not the time for a serious dalliance with the Syrians. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES