(S/NF) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KUWAIT AND ISRAEL

S E C R E T KUWAIT 000022 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017 TAGS: PREL PINR IS KU SUBJECT: (S/NF) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KUWAIT AND ISRAEL (C-NE6-02218) REF: A. STATE 203034 ¶B. KUWAIT 03742 (NODIS) Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Kuwait does not have diplomatic relations nor does it share intelligence with the Israeli government. All travel to and trade with Israel is technically illegal in Kuwait. However, Kuwait does not strictly enforce the Arab League's economic boycott of Israel and there are sometimes rumors of Kuwaitis traveling to Israel for business purposes. An Israeli trade representative based in Abu Dhabi and a Kuwaiti investor met with PolCouns and EconCouns in September to discuss their plans for an oil pipeline between Israel and Jordan (ref B),suggesting there may be some behind-the-scenes business relations. There are also sales of Israel-produced pharmaceuticals through third countries. ¶2. (S/NF) Although relations with the PLO soured after Arafat supported Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, the legacy of thousands of Palestinian educators, businesspeople, and government employees continues. Kuwaitis remain reflexively sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, and given its vocal activist Parliament, there is little political space for the low-level contacts with Israel practiced in other Gulf states. Kuwait stays in close step with Riyadh on important foreign policy issues, leading us to believe that any warming of ties between Kuwait and Israel would only take place with tacit Saudi approval. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron