SOLANA IN ISRAEL: CROSSINGS, MADRID-TYPE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004397 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016 TAGS: PREL EUN KWBG IR IS SUBJECT: SOLANA IN ISRAEL: CROSSINGS, MADRID-TYPE CONFERENCE, OUTPOSTS, AND IRAN Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: According to the MFA and the EC delegation, High Representative Javier Solana used his October 25-27 visit to urge the Israelis to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas. The GOI was generally cautious in its response, although the EC claimed that PM Ehud Olmert is considering a number of unilateral steps along the lines of the now-frozen "convergence plan." Solana stressed the need to keep Rafah open, but his talks left the EC Mission uncertain of the GOI's full commitment to the USSC plan to increase security at Karni. Solana told the Israelis that he believes Iran will return to the negotiating table to discuss its nuclear program. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) According to the EC Mission in Tel Aviv, Solana's primary objective during his visit to Israel and Jerusalem was to encourage GOI steps to reinvigorate peace negotiations. The EC political officer said that PM Olmert had told Solana that he is still considering a number of possible unilateral steps to move the process forward. According to the EC, Olmert said that the "convergence plan" to concentrate settlements in the major blocs has not been canceled, but may change. The EC's view is that the Prime Minister's Office is preparing proposals for discussion with the USG during Olmert's November 12-14 visit to Washington. ¶3. (C) Solana strongly urged the GOI to open the Rafah border crossing. EC officials said that he received no assurances; on the contrary, the GOI cautioned that Israel feels compelled to take action against continuing weapons smuggling into -- and rocket fire from -- Gaza. Both EC and GOI officials denied that Solana had any significant discussions on a possible deployment of EU monitors to the Karni crossing, leading the EC political officer to question whether the GOI accepts all aspects of the USSC security plan for Karni (i.e., the expansion of the EU-BAM mission to Karni). ¶4. (C) According to a policy adviser in the MFA who participated in the meeting, Solana urged FM Tzipi Livni to help strengthen the Quartet's role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. EC officials admitted that Solana encountered "no interest" when he suggested a "Madrid-type" conference to reinvigorate peace talks. ¶5. (C) The EC and MFA said Solana received a mixed response when he urged Israeli officials to evacuate settlement outposts. New Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman "agreed to disagree," while FM Livni claimed that the EU and GOI positions on outposts were not far apart. -------------- -------------- Solana Predicts that Iran Will Negotiate on Nuclear Program -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The EC Mission said that the GOI remains clearly focused on the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear weapons program. FM Livni's aide said Solana had predicted passage of a "very limited" UNSC sanctions resolution within the first half of November and a return by Iran to the negotiating table. ********************************************* ******************** 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