FMCT: ISRAELI MFA NOT SURE IT CAN ENDORSE U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002228 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MNSA AND NEA/IPA GENEVA FOR CD USUN FOR POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016 TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL KNNP CDG IL GOI EXTERNAL UN SUBJECT: FMCT: ISRAELI MFA NOT SURE IT CAN ENDORSE U.S. PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME REF: A. STATE 92033 ¶B. TEL AVIV 1930 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Responding to ref A demarche, Israeli MFA Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs Ambassador Miriam Ziv told Ambassador Jones June 9 that she cannot say that Israel will endorse the U.S. FMCT proposal "at this time." She called the FMCT "a very sensitive issue that relates to Israel's very sense of being, and one that is handled by the highest authorities." Referring to Assistant Secretary Rademaker's May 18 speech at the CD, Ziv said that she understands the U.S. position on the FMCT well. She noted her understanding that only the P-5 countries will ratify the treaty, and that the treaty will ultimately apply only to those few countries that have not yet joined the NPT, including Israel. She pointed this out to highlight Israel's view that NPT violators like Iran would not be affected by the FMCT due to their NPT member status, while countries like Israel will bear the brunt of the obligations flowing from the FMCT. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Jones is scheduled to meet Ambassador Ziv on June 12 to discuss this issue further. Ambassador Ziv promised to provide him with a more detailed Israeli reaction to our initial demarche (reported ref B) in the form of a non-paper. ********************************************* ******************** 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