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.

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