FM LIVNI: ARAB LEAGUE PEACE COMMITTEE CAN PROVIDE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001110 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MEPN KPAL ARABL JO IS SUBJECT: FM LIVNI: ARAB LEAGUE PEACE COMMITTEE CAN PROVIDE POLITICAL HORIZON FOR ISRAEL REF: CAIRO 1077 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (B and D). ¶1. (C) Summary and comment: The MFA reports that FM Livni has been actively lobbying both her Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts prior to the meeting of the Arab League's "Follow-Up Committee" scheduled for April 18 in Cairo (reftel). Senior GOI officials, including PM Olmert, have made public statements recently calling for talks with the Arab states. The GOI's response to the formation of any Arab League committee to discuss peace is likely to be positive, although the Israelis' enthusiasm will be greatly dependent upon the scope of the group's membership. End summary and comment. ¶2. (C) Livni traveled to Jordan on April 15 following her participation in the PM Olmert-President Abbas meeting in Jerusalem earlier that day. Livni's special assistant Tal Becker (protect),who took part in the meeting with FM Al-Khatib, said the GOI was pleased with Jordan's view that the Arab League should form a broad-based committee (i.e., not just Jordan and Egypt) to discuss its peace initiative with Israel. According to the MFA, Al-Khatib also told Livni that the Arab League proposal is a starting point for negotiations. The Israelis took this to mean that the Arab states would ultimately show flexibility on what the GOI sees as the most problematic areas of the Arab League initiative (i.e., refugees). ¶3. (C) Livni found less agreement from the Jordanians when she presented her view that the Arab League should offer Israelis a "regional political horizon" in advance of the Israeli-Palestinian track. Al-Khatib replied that the Arab League's decision to engage with Israel already represented a significant concession in this regard. Livni's special assistant said that the Israelis left the meeting concerned that the two sides were "broadcasting on different frequencies" when discussing what the Arab League working group could accomplish. ¶4. (C) Livni also discussed the Arab League efforts with Egyptian FM Aboul Gheit by telephone on April 15. According to her staff, Livni was left with the impression that the GOE had not yet made a decision on composition or direction for the working group. Livni maintained that it would be better for the Arab League working group to meet with the GOI before it -- or a parallel working group -- begins activity at the United Nations. ¶5. (U) Israeli leaders have made numerous public statements recently calling for talks with Arab states. In the Cabinet communique from April 15, PM Olmert "reiterated that Israel is prepared to hold discussions with any group of Arab countries on their and Israel's ideas and initiatives." In an interview on April 17, Olmert restated his view that there are "positive elements" to the "Saudi plan," adding "I'm ready to sit with them and I'm ready to listen very carefully to their proposals on the basis of this plan and to see how we can work together to find a common ground that will lead us to a more meaningful political process in the Middle East." Following a meeting with Chinese diplomats on April 16, Livni said "as Israel is providing a political horizon for the Palestinians, so should the Arab states provide a political horizon for Israel, now, at this moment in time, even before the end of the conflict." Vice PM Peres told reporters "if Arab states decide to set up working groups, it is important that we talk to them." ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES