LIVNI AND ABBAS AGREE ON EXPANDED DIALOGUE

S E C R E T TEL AVIV 003763 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2016 TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS SUBJECT: LIVNI AND ABBAS AGREE ON EXPANDED DIALOGUE Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D). ¶1. (S) Summary: According to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's staff, Livni and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas agreed on September 18 to a continued dialogue, including at the Abbas-Olmert level. Despite this renewed contact, the Israelis insisted that no negotiations with the Palestinians will take place until the PA government fully accepts the Quartet's principles and releases the Israeli soldier captured near Kerem Shalom. Livni and Abbas disagreed on the likelihood that a PA National Unity Government (NUG) would take such steps. End summary. ¶2. (S) In a discussion on September 20, Hillel Newman of Livni's policy staff (protect) told poloff that Livni and Abbas had agreed to the continuation of an "open dialogue" on three levels: Abbas and Olmert will meet at an unspecified date, Abbas and Livni will remain in contact, and GOI officials (led by MFA Director General -- and Livni confidant -- Aharon Abramovitch) will begin to meet with Abbas' staff. ¶3. (S) Newman stressed that the Livni-Abbas meeting was part of a "dialogue," something they insist is qualitatively different from "negotiations." They claimed that Livni had used the meeting to reiterate the GOI view that no negotiations are possible until the Palestinian Authority government fully accepts the Quartet's three principles and releases the Israeli soldier kidnapped near Kerem Shalom. Note: According to Livni's staff, she is optimistic that the soldier will eventually be released through Egyptian mediation. End note. ¶4. (S) Livni and Abbas had a long discussion on the National Unity Government, but reportedly disagreed on whether a possible NUG would accept the Quartet principles. Newman cautioned that there are several different texts of a NUG agreement in circulation. The GOI believes that Hamas is still insisting on conditioning acceptance of previous Palestinian agreements with the phrase "according to the interests of the Palestinian people." In the MFA's view, this language negates the entire commitment. ********************************************* ******************** 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