Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07AMMAN2870
2007-07-04 12:55:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

A/S WELCH MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KHATIB

Tags:  PREL PREF JO KPAL IS IZ QA LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3112
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #2870/01 1851255
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 041255Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9413
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
-------

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