ISRAEL LOOKING TO JOIN WHALING COMMISSION BY JUNE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001645 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/OA AND NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016 TAGS: EFIS SENV PREL IS ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUBJECT: ISRAEL LOOKING TO JOIN WHALING COMMISSION BY JUNE REF: A. STATE 30949 ¶B. TEL AVIV 1066 ¶C. TEL AVIV 1585 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; reasons 1.4 (B and D). (C) MFA Deputy Director General for North America Affairs Yoram Ben Ze'ev confirmed to the Ambassador April 26 that Israel will join the International Whaling Commission. The GOI is in the process of identifying the funds for annual dues. Ben Ze'ev implied that the MFA is aiming to have Israel join the IWC by June. He said he did not know how quickly the GOI could complete the membership application process, but stated that the GOI recognizes the importance of being able to participate in this year's June meeting. ********************************************* ******************** 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