BAHRAIN: PREMATURE ENGAGEMENT WITH PALESTINIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000147

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL KISL KWBG BA IS REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: PREMATURE ENGAGEMENT WITH PALESTINIAN
NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

REF: STATE 17726

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM SUSAN L. ZIADEH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) THE DCM DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE FEBRUARY 14
REGARDING PREMATURE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL
UNITY GOVERNMENT TO MFA ASSISTANT UNDERSECRETARY FOR
COORDINATION AND FOLLOW UP SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ BIN MUBARAK AL
KHALIFA. AFTER LISTENING CAREFULLY TO THE POINTS, SHAIKH
ABDUL AZIZ SAID THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY REQUESTS BY
PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS TO VISIT OR MEET, BUT CAUTIONED THAT
THE GOB WOULD NOT BE INCLINED TO AVOID MEETING WITH
PALESTINIANS UNTIL THEY HAD AGREED TO THE QUARTETS
PRINCIPLES. HE SAID THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS
APPROPRIATE "TO MEET FACE-TO-FACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND
HAVE A HEART-TO-HEART TALK WITH YOUR FRIEND."


2. (C) SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ STRESSED THAT THE GOB AGREES WITH
THE QUARTET'S THREE PRINCIPLES AND, SHOULD A MEETING TAKE
PLACE, WILL INSIST THAT THE PALESTINIANS ALSO AGREE TO THEM.
THE PALESTINIANS "WON'T GET ANYWHERE UNLESS THEY AGREE TO THE
PRINCIPLES." IN ADDITION, HE SAID THAT MEETINGS GIVE THE GOB
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELAY PERSONALLY TO THE PALESTINIANS THAT
GOODWILL EXISTS ON THE ISRAELI SIDE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
MOVE FORWARD IN GOOD FAITH. SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ SAID IT WOULD
NOT BE WISE FOR BAHRAIN TO CLOSE THE DOOR, AND EVEN THOUGH
THE GOB WILL NOT INVITE THE PALESTINIANS TO VISIT, SENIOR GOB
OFFICIALS COULD CONCEIVABLY MEET WITH THEIR PALESTINIAN
COUNTERPARTS AS THEIR PATHS CROSS.


3. (C) SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ ALSO ENCOURAGED THE USG TO "HELP
ISRAEL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS" TO IMPROVE THE PALESTINIANS
ABILITY TO SATISFY THEIR MOST BASIC NEEDS. VISITING NEA/ARP
DIRECTOR MISENHEIMER INQUIRED ABOUT THE GOB'S WILLINGNESS TO
SEND THIS MESSAGE DIRECTLY TO THE ISRAELIS, COMMENTING THAT
BAHRAIN HAS CREDIBILITY WITH ISRAEL AND CAN USE ITS
INFLUENCE. SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE GOB HAS
CHANNELS TO ISRAEL THAT IT CAN USE, BUT ARGUED THAT THE USG
MUST PLAY THE MOST CRITICAL ROLE IN THIS REGARD. MISENHEIMER
NOTED THAT NEA A/S WELCH WOULD BE SPENDING INCREASING TIME ON
THE PEACE PROCESS. SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ WELCOMED THIS NEWS,
SAYING THAT U.S. FOCUS ON THE PEACE PROCESS WAS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANCE.


4. (C) SHAIKH ABDUL AZIZ COMMENTED THAT THE SECTION OF THE
JOINT STATEMENT ON PALESTINIAN ISSUES FROM THE RECENT GCC
PLUS TWO MEETING IN KUWAIT HAD BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED. IT
SHOWED SINCERITY IN ADDRESSING PALESTINIAN CONCERNS AND MADE
A DIFFERENCE IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE UNITED STATES' IMAGE
IN THE REGION. HE SAID THAT INCREASED U.S. ACTIVITY ON THE
PEACE PROCESS WOULD SWAY PUBLIC OPINION IN A POSITIVE
DIRECTION.


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