Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV4736
2006-12-05 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ISRAEL'S OPPOSITION TO SPAIN'S MIDDLE EAST PLAN
how-tonull Carol X Weakley 12/07/2006 04:11:22 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 04736 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: POL INFO: CONS IMO IPSC PD RES ECON DCM DAO AMB AID ADM RSO DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RJONES DRAFTED: POL:SCROWLEY CLEARED: DCM:GCRETZ, POL:MSIEVERS/PV/VR VZCZCTVI710 PP RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHMD DE RUEHTV #4736 3391522 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051522Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8016 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 2056
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004736
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV EUN SP IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL'S OPPOSITION TO SPAIN'S MIDDLE EAST PLAN
(C-RE6-01224)
REF: STATE 190559
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 004736
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV EUN SP IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL'S OPPOSITION TO SPAIN'S MIDDLE EAST PLAN
(C-RE6-01224)
REF: STATE 190559
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
1. (C) SUMMARY/COMMENT: Israel is strongly opposed to the
Middle East peace initiative proposed by Spanish PM Zapatero.
Israeli FM Livni bluntly informed Moratinos of this position
on November 16 and urged him to put the initiative aside or
at least to discuss it with the GOI before proceeding
further. The Israeli MFA does not believe that the Spanish
initiative will win consensus support in the EU, a view they
claim is shared by EU HighRep Solana. The Spanish EMBASSY in
Tel Aviv acknowledged that they are "not making any progress"
on the plan at present, but added that Madrid may raise it
again at the European Council meeting on December 14-15.
Israel's reaction to the Spanish plan demonstrates anew the
GOI's opposition to any independent EU role in resolving the
Middle East conflict. END SUMMARY/COMMENT.
--------------
GOI Rejects Spanish Middle East Plan
--------------
2. (C) According to the MFA and the EU mission in Tel Aviv,
HighRep Solana raised the idea of another Madrid-type
conference to reinvigorate peace talks during his October
25-27 visit, but encountered "no interest" on the Israeli
side. PM Zapatero's announcement of the plan on November 16
elicited an immediate and sharp response from FM Livni. One
of Livni's staffers who monitored her telephone call with
Moratinos called it a "very difficult conversation." Livni
reportedly chastised the Spanish FM for failing to consult
with Israel, commenting that such a move "is not acceptable
behavior among friends." She urged Moratinos to put the
Zapatero initiative aside unless it could be agreed to by the
involved parties. Another of Livni's staffers, who
accompanied her to the Euro-Med ministerial in Tampere on
November 28, said that Moratinos approached Livni at one of
the meetings and asked "are you still angry with me?"
-------------- --------------
Israelis Do Not Believe Spanish Initiative Has EU Support
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Livni's staff does not believe that the Spanish have
sufficient support within the EU to force the issue. This
view was reinforced by Livni's meetings with German FM
Steinmeier and EU HighRep Solana on December 3. The German
Embassy admitted that Steinmeier and PM Olmert had agreed
"the initiative is not worth pursuing," while an EU official
told us that Solana said the Spanish plan "is not on the
table right now." The Spanish EMBASSY acknowledged that they
are "not making any progress" on the initiative at present,
but suggested that Madrid may raise it again at the European
Council meeting on December 14-15. Livni plans to continue
her campaign against the plan when she travels to Paris on
December 5.
--------------
GOI Still Opposed to Significant EU Role
--------------
4. (C) Comment: PM Olmert has told visiting Codels that he is
encouraged by Germany's engagement in the Middle East under
Chancellor Merkel; the Israelis also recognize that UNSC
permanent members like the U.K. and (to a lesser extent)
France will be involved in the region. However, Israelis
believe that many EU states, including Spain, are biased in
favor of the Palestinians. Accordingly, the GOI remains
averse to any substantial EU role in resolving the Middle
East conflict, preferring to negotiate directly with the
Palestinians or -- when pressed -- through the USG. The GOI
does not consider Spain -- nor its "loose cannon" FM
Moratinos -- to have significant influence in the region and
seriously doubts that Madrid understands Israel's security
needs. Strong Israeli-EU trade ties, participation by the EU
in the Quartet, and the EU-Border Assistance Mission in Rafah
have not altered these views, nor has the EU demonstrated
that it has other leverage sufficient to win GOI support for
a more active European role. End comment.
********************************************* ********************
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: 12/04/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV EUN SP IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL'S OPPOSITION TO SPAIN'S MIDDLE EAST PLAN
(C-RE6-01224)
REF: STATE 190559
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
1. (C) SUMMARY/COMMENT: Israel is strongly opposed to the
Middle East peace initiative proposed by Spanish PM Zapatero.
Israeli FM Livni bluntly informed Moratinos of this position
on November 16 and urged him to put the initiative aside or
at least to discuss it with the GOI before proceeding
further. The Israeli MFA does not believe that the Spanish
initiative will win consensus support in the EU, a view they
claim is shared by EU HighRep Solana. The Spanish EMBASSY in
Tel Aviv acknowledged that they are "not making any progress"
on the plan at present, but added that Madrid may raise it
again at the European Council meeting on December 14-15.
Israel's reaction to the Spanish plan demonstrates anew the
GOI's opposition to any independent EU role in resolving the
Middle East conflict. END SUMMARY/COMMENT.
--------------
GOI Rejects Spanish Middle East Plan
--------------
2. (C) According to the MFA and the EU mission in Tel Aviv,
HighRep Solana raised the idea of another Madrid-type
conference to reinvigorate peace talks during his October
25-27 visit, but encountered "no interest" on the Israeli
side. PM Zapatero's announcement of the plan on November 16
elicited an immediate and sharp response from FM Livni. One
of Livni's staffers who monitored her telephone call with
Moratinos called it a "very difficult conversation." Livni
reportedly chastised the Spanish FM for failing to consult
with Israel, commenting that such a move "is not acceptable
behavior among friends." She urged Moratinos to put the
Zapatero initiative aside unless it could be agreed to by the
involved parties. Another of Livni's staffers, who
accompanied her to the Euro-Med ministerial in Tampere on
November 28, said that Moratinos approached Livni at one of
the meetings and asked "are you still angry with me?"
-------------- --------------
Israelis Do Not Believe Spanish Initiative Has EU Support
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Livni's staff does not believe that the Spanish have
sufficient support within the EU to force the issue. This
view was reinforced by Livni's meetings with German FM
Steinmeier and EU HighRep Solana on December 3. The German
Embassy admitted that Steinmeier and PM Olmert had agreed
"the initiative is not worth pursuing," while an EU official
told us that Solana said the Spanish plan "is not on the
table right now." The Spanish EMBASSY acknowledged that they
are "not making any progress" on the initiative at present,
but suggested that Madrid may raise it again at the European
Council meeting on December 14-15. Livni plans to continue
her campaign against the plan when she travels to Paris on
December 5.
--------------
GOI Still Opposed to Significant EU Role
--------------
4. (C) Comment: PM Olmert has told visiting Codels that he is
encouraged by Germany's engagement in the Middle East under
Chancellor Merkel; the Israelis also recognize that UNSC
permanent members like the U.K. and (to a lesser extent)
France will be involved in the region. However, Israelis
believe that many EU states, including Spain, are biased in
favor of the Palestinians. Accordingly, the GOI remains
averse to any substantial EU role in resolving the Middle
East conflict, preferring to negotiate directly with the
Palestinians or -- when pressed -- through the USG. The GOI
does not consider Spain -- nor its "loose cannon" FM
Moratinos -- to have significant influence in the region and
seriously doubts that Madrid understands Israel's security
needs. Strong Israeli-EU trade ties, participation by the EU
in the Quartet, and the EU-Border Assistance Mission in Rafah
have not altered these views, nor has the EU demonstrated
that it has other leverage sufficient to win GOI support for
a more active European role. End comment.
********************************************* ********************
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