Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV4397
2006-11-03 16:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
SOLANA IN ISRAEL: CROSSINGS, MADRID-TYPE
how-tonull Carol X Weakley 11/07/2006 02:14:00 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 04397 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: POL INFO: IPSC PD IMO RES ECON DCM DAO AMB AID ADM RSO CONS DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RJONES DRAFTED: POL:SCROWLEY CLEARED: ADCM:HFINN, POL:MSIEVERS, DAO:DOMEARA, USSC:NSINGH, ECON:RRU VZCZCTVI153 RR RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHBS RHEHNSC DE RUEHTV #4397 3071656 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 031656Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7405 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS BE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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).
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
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