Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3093
2007-10-05 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EU CONTACTS DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

Tags:  PREL PGOV IS SY LE XF EUN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8141
RR RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #3093 2781447
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051447Z OCT 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHKU/MIDDLE EAST MULTILATERAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003093 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS SY LE XF EUN
SUBJECT: EU CONTACTS DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS


Classified By: Deputy Political Minister Counselor Alyce Tidball for re
asons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003093

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS SY LE XF EUN
SUBJECT: EU CONTACTS DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS


Classified By: Deputy Political Minister Counselor Alyce Tidball for re
asons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) EU Council Middle East Unit Chief Christian Jouret
characterized the Quartet and other meetings in New York as
good, but expressed his personal concern from side meetings
with Arab officials that "the Arabs" are not privately as
optimistic or constructive as they appeared to be. Jouret
said the Arabs don't want to be spoilers and are willing to
voice public support for the upcoming international meeting,
but they don't believe in the process because they fear it
will not address the core issues. The Arabs, he said, point
to the internal political situations in both the Palestinian
Territories, with the Hamas-Fatah split, and in Israel, with
ever more political opposition to moving the process forward.
On the positive side, Jouret said, they are being publicly
constructive, not voicing loudly their personal pessimism.


3. (C/NF) Cherif Castel, Political Advisor to the EU Special
Representative to the MEPP Marc Otte, was positive in his
assessment of the September 23 Quartet meeting, but worried
that signs are not encouraging for a large Arab participation
in the upcoming international meeting. He said the Arabs put
their planned critical statement back in their pockets at the
Quartet meeting once it was clear they and Syria would be
invited to the international meeting. He also said that the
Russians had intended to propose another conference following
the international meeting if the Arabs were not invited, but
the announced intention to include the Arab League follow up
committee calmed their concerns. Castel reported that even
some NGOs said it was the best Quartet meeting this year and
the best Quartet statement. Castel heard concerns that
security was not addressed and there was no discussion of a
strategy for Gaza. Signs from the region, he said, indicated
Arab pessimism about the meeting - Hamas has said it would
not stand by any agreement reached at the meeting, Syrian
papers are saying core issues will not be discussed, and Iran
has said it is not a serious effot. The Gaza closure is
causing growing criticsm of Fatah. The extended range of
rockets fired from Gaza is also a big concern, on the one
hand because these could cause more fatalities in Israel and
on the other hand because it could give the Israeli Defense
Forces a reason to attack. Another concern is that Hamas is
rearming its people in the West Bank.


4. (C) All EU institutions and member state contacts,
including French, Spanish, Italian and UK delegation
representatives in separate meetings, were very supportive of
the process. The Italian representative suggested there is
more going on than Olmert and Abbas let on, based on an
impression the Italians have of uneasiness amongst the
radical groups. Italy is trying, she said, to be a voice of
reason and understands the need to encourage both sides. The
French representative cautioned that Syria is reluctant to
attend because Hamas will not be invited. The Spanish
representative said Syria may not attend if their concerns
regarding the Golan Heights are not addressed, noting that
Assad also has to sell any change of policy internally. The
Spanish representative said the EU encourages the process,
but noted that comprehensive peace means all tracks must be
in motion simultaneously, as everything is interlinked.

Gray








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