IAEC "OUTRAGED AND DISAPPOINTED" WITH U.S. PLAN TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001930 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MNSA GENEVA FOR CD E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP MNUC IS CDG ISRAEL RELATIONS SUBJECT: IAEC "OUTRAGED AND DISAPPOINTED" WITH U.S. PLAN TO TABLE FMCT AT CD; NEW MOD REACTS CAUTIOUSLY REF: STATE 79256 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Reftel demarche was presented to Israeli Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) Deputy Director General Ariel Levite and MFA Strategic Affairs Division Director Ambassador Miriam Zeev the morning of May 17. In response, IAEC Arms Control Director Merav Zafary and MFA Arms Control Department Director Alon Bar told poloff: -- Israel finds the U.S. position "outrageous" and "very disappointing." Israel believes it made its sensitivities about the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) known to the U.S. on many occasions, and had an understanding that the U.S. would consult well in advance of tabling a draft treaty and mandate. Israel has not seen the draft treaty or mandate that it understands will be tabled before the Western Group today, and the CD on May 18. -- Israel does not believe it is timely to table the FMCT and mandate now, as the international community tries to dissuade Iran from pursuing its nuclear weapons program. -- Israel is convinced that there is no consensus within the CD on beginning negotiations of an FMCT. Israel has expressed its views on numerous occasions that to proceed with negotiations would be unwise and ineffective. Israel has noted many times what it sees as problems with the flow and substance of the draft treaty. -- Israel is not in the position to support the U.S. initiative or any endorsement by the Western Group. -- This is a preliminary view, and Israel will provide a more comprehensive response to the demarche after it has had a chance to more thoroughly review the points. ¶2. (C) In a separate meeting with poloff, Bar claimed that Israel feels insulted, in part, because it "knows" that the U.K. and France were shown draft texts of the treaty and mandate on Saturday, May 15. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador also presented the non-paper and Israel-specific talking points to new Defense Minister Peretz on the afternoon of May 17. Peretz, who was unfamiliar with the issue, promised to study the points and respond later. ********************************************* ******************** 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