A/S WELCH MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KHATIB

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002870 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2017 TAGS: PREL PREF JO KPAL IS IZ QA LE SUBJECT: A/S WELCH MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KHATIB Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary Welch and Ambassador met Foreign Minister Abdelelah Al Khatib on June 27. A/S Welch and Khatib agreed that the new PA government led by Salaam Fayyad represented positive change compared to the NUG. Khatib emphasized that PM Olmert's actions now would be more important than his statements at the Sharm Al Sheikh summit. He expressed concern over press reports that Qatar was seeking to mediate talks between Israel and Hamas, and provided A/S Welch a copy of a press report on a seven-point plan purportedly put forward by the Qataris. Khatib confirmed that Jordan will host in late July a regional conference on Iraqi refugees. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S) Assistant Secretary Welch described for FM Khatib his June 25-26 meetings in Israel and the West Bank, including lengthy and productive discussions with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas and Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad. Khatib agreed when A/S Welch said his visit showed "in all respects a positive change" compared to the situation under the NUG. Sharm Meeting -------------- ¶3. (S) A/S Welch described his meetings with Israeli officials following the June 25 four-way summit in Sharm al Sheikh as positive. Khatib agreed that PM Olmert's speech was good, but cautioned that actions will now be key. He noted that Olmert even qualified his statement that he would transfer prisoners to Jordan by saying he would ask the Cabinet. "We need to show progress or the other camp (Hamas) will benefit," implored Khatib. "Iran is now on the border of both Israel and Egypt; there are new realities; it is not business as usual," he added. A/S Welch agreed a change in attitude on the part of all concerned was needed. The USG was glad the Jordanians had contacted Olmert ahead of the summit at Sharm. "Without Jordanian efforts the results may not have been what they were," he said. ¶4. (S) A/S Welch said the USG will work for implementation of agenda items that emerged from the summit. PM Fayyad was to meet with Israeli officials on June 27 to discuss the initial transfer of withheld tax revenues to the PA and a return to regular payments. Khatib believed dealing with militias as Abbas intends was a key and feasible step. "The next few weeks are critical," he said, to stop militias from smuggling or carrying arms and keep them from growing. Blair Appointment -------------- ¶5. (S) A/S Welch told Khatib that the Quartet would announce shortly that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be the new special envoy for the Quartet. Khatib agreed that this assignment was a good one and Blair knew the issues, but questioned whether he would have the political space to work with Israel. A/S Welch affirmed that Blair would have sufficient space. He acknowledged there had been some concern by the Quartet that negotiations not be handed over to a new envoy, Blair or anybody else. On this point, the Quartet understanding with Blair was fine. A/S Welch encouraged Jordan to make positive statements when Blair's appointment was announced. Khatib agreed. NOTE: The GoJ issued such as statement on June 28. END NOTE. Mubarak's Statements on Dialogue -------------- ¶6. (C) Khatib downplayed Egyptian President Mubarak's call for dialogue between Fatah and Hamas as solely for public consumption. He said the current situation in Gaza threatens Egypt's internal security, and he did not believe the Egyptians wanted dialogue with Hamas immediately, but would rather squeeze Hamas first. Khatib and Jordanian General Intelligence Director Mohammad Dhahabi sent this message to the Egyptians in a meeting on June 26. Khatib added that the GOJ planned to urge the Saudis, during Saudi King Abdallah's June 27-28 visit (reported septel),not to pursue Palestinian reconciliation efforts. Qatar -------------- ¶7. (C) Khatib told A/S Welch the Qataris were giving the impression that they were mediating between Hamas and Israel. He cited press reports of an alleged plan put forth by Qatar to enable Hamas and Israel to begin talks. The Qatari AMMAN 00002870 002 OF 002 initiative reportedly contains seven points (as translated by post): 1) Hamas would cease all rocket attacks from inside Gaza but without any formal announcement; 2) Israel would cease all military action against both political and military wings of Hamas; 3) Hamas must exert control over the entirety of Gaza for a brief period; 4) Hamas would commit not to launch any rockets from Gaza; 5) political contacts would "continue" on the basis of the "Ahmed Yusuf Document" which calls for a provisional state; 6) Qatar commits (NFI as to how) that Israeli security on the Gaza borders would be akin to that on the Golan; and 7) Qatar would attempt to "sell" the new developments as long as Hamas and Israel did not violate the agreement. Khatib was concerned about the possibility of Qata ri interference in efforts to isolate Hamas, and suggested that the USG was in a position to convince them to cooperate. Lebanon -------------- ¶8. (C) On Lebanon, Khatib lamented that the French were giving mixed signals and needed to clarify their support for the Siniora government. A/S Welch noted U.S. concerns of an escalating battle over the presidency. Iraqi Neighbors Meeting on Refugees -------------- ¶9. (C) Khatib confirmed that the GOJ had agreed to host a meeting during the second half of July of countries hosting Iraqi refugees. The conference would focus on addressing the needs of those host countries, he said, stressing that the need to host Iraqis was temporary and the key issue was to stabilize Iraq. He commented that Iraqis needed to help Iraqis as well, noting that while Iraq's neighbors were taking in Iraqis, nine Iraqi governorates were currently off-limits to Iraqis fleeing violence in their own provinces. ¶10. (U) Assistant Secretary Welch cleared this message. Hale