Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV3671
2006-09-15 04:24:00
SECRET
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ISRAELI MFA DG'S VISIT TO ABU DHABI
how-tonull Leza L Olson 09/18/2006 09:00:21 AM From DB/Inbox: Leza L Olson Cable Text: S E C R E T TEL AVIV 03671 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: POL INFO: IPSC PD RES ECON IMO DCM DAO AMB AID ADM RSO CONS DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RHJONES DRAFTED: POL:MSIEVERS CLEARED: DCM:GCRETZ VZCZCTVI281 PP RUEHC RUEHXK DE RUEHTV #3671 2580424 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 150424Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6355 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 003671
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2026
TAGS: PREL IS IR TC
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MFA DG'S VISIT TO ABU DHABI
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 003671
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2026
TAGS: PREL IS IR TC
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MFA DG'S VISIT TO ABU DHABI
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) MFA Deputy DG for Political Research (the Israeli
equivalent to INR) Nimrod Barkan informed newly arrived
Polcouns Sept. 13 that MFA Director General Aharon
Abramovitch, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's close confidant,
had just returned from a visit to Abu Dhabi, where he
discussed the Iranian threat with senior UAE officials.
Barkan noted that while there is an Israeli representative
resident in Abu Dhabi, Abramovitch was the most senior
Israeli official thus far to visit the UAE as far as he was
aware. Barkan suggested that Abramovitch's visit marked a
noteworthy step forward in Israel's relations with the UAE.
2. (S/NF) Barkan commented that the Emirati leadership was
interested in Israeli views on means of deterring Iran and
countering the Iranian nuclear threat. Barkan said that
Abramovitch had gained the impression that the UAE was
concerned that it could not rely solely on the U.S. over the
long term in deterring Iran. Israel is also engaged in a
dialogue on Iran with Qatar and Oman, he said.
3. (S/NF) Polcouns asked about Saudi Arabia, noting that
based on his own experience in Riyadh from 1998 to 2001, King
Abdullah was strongly attached to the Palestinian cause and
therefore would likely be reluctant to engage Israel directly
despite Saudi concerns about Iran. Barkan stated that an
Israeli intelligence channel to Saudi intelligence had been
established, but so far there was no direct political contact
between Tel Aviv and Riyadh.
4. (C) Comment: In the past, MFA's Arab Affairs Department
has been extremely sensitive about discussing Israeli
contacts with the UAE with Embassy Tel Aviv, but Barkan
appeared eager to inform Polcouns of Abramovitch's visit to
Abu Dhabi as an indication of a growing Israeli security
dialogue with the Gulf as a result of the Iranian threat. We
welcome comments from our colleagues in the Gulf as to the
significance of their host governments' dialogue with Israel.
********************************************* ********************
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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2026
TAGS: PREL IS IR TC
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MFA DG'S VISIT TO ABU DHABI
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) MFA Deputy DG for Political Research (the Israeli
equivalent to INR) Nimrod Barkan informed newly arrived
Polcouns Sept. 13 that MFA Director General Aharon
Abramovitch, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's close confidant,
had just returned from a visit to Abu Dhabi, where he
discussed the Iranian threat with senior UAE officials.
Barkan noted that while there is an Israeli representative
resident in Abu Dhabi, Abramovitch was the most senior
Israeli official thus far to visit the UAE as far as he was
aware. Barkan suggested that Abramovitch's visit marked a
noteworthy step forward in Israel's relations with the UAE.
2. (S/NF) Barkan commented that the Emirati leadership was
interested in Israeli views on means of deterring Iran and
countering the Iranian nuclear threat. Barkan said that
Abramovitch had gained the impression that the UAE was
concerned that it could not rely solely on the U.S. over the
long term in deterring Iran. Israel is also engaged in a
dialogue on Iran with Qatar and Oman, he said.
3. (S/NF) Polcouns asked about Saudi Arabia, noting that
based on his own experience in Riyadh from 1998 to 2001, King
Abdullah was strongly attached to the Palestinian cause and
therefore would likely be reluctant to engage Israel directly
despite Saudi concerns about Iran. Barkan stated that an
Israeli intelligence channel to Saudi intelligence had been
established, but so far there was no direct political contact
between Tel Aviv and Riyadh.
4. (C) Comment: In the past, MFA's Arab Affairs Department
has been extremely sensitive about discussing Israeli
contacts with the UAE with Embassy Tel Aviv, but Barkan
appeared eager to inform Polcouns of Abramovitch's visit to
Abu Dhabi as an indication of a growing Israeli security
dialogue with the Gulf as a result of the Iranian threat. We
welcome comments from our colleagues in the Gulf as to the
significance of their host governments' dialogue with Israel.
********************************************* ********************
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