EGYPT/JORDAN FM VISIT POSITIVE, NEXT STEPS KEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002298 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2017 TAGS: PREL EG JO KPAL IS SUBJECT: EGYPT/JORDAN FM VISIT POSITIVE, NEXT STEPS KEY Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Gene A. Cretz, Reasons 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Both GOI and Egyptian diplomatic sources described the July 25 visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdulelah Al-Khatib to Israel as "positive," although substance was limited and the emphasis was placed on future action. During the visit, Israel pressed for more engagement from the wider Arab world. The Arab delegation, which said its mandate came from the Arab Summit, not the Arab League, underlined the need for further progress in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process as a prerequisite for steps toward Arab normalization with Israel. The ministers reportedly discussed with Livni a series of "positive steps" by Israel toward the Palestinians that would then be reciprocated by the Arabs toward Israel. The GOI and the delegation also discussed possible scenarios for the proposed U.S.-hosted meeting in the fall. When PM Olmert reportedly asked if a "Declaration of Principles" would be enough from the meeting, the FM's responded that the principles were clear and that the meeting needed to produce concrete deliverables for the Palestinians. They all expected the agenda and participants in the fall meeting to be clearer following the upcoming visit of the Secretary. End summary. -------------- "Historic Visit" -------------- ¶2. (C) On July 25, Aboul Gheit and Al-Khatib held a series of meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, President Shimon Peres, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Following the visit, PolCouns attended a briefing on the visit by Egyptian Charge Tarek El Kouni, while PolOff met with MFA Jordan Department Director Tuvia Israeli for a readout. At the briefings and in the press, all sides said they were satisfied with the visit. ¶3. (C) The GOI expressed some disappointment that the visitors insisted that they did not represent the Arab League, as Israel had expected, but rather as having a mandate from the last Arab Summit to present the Arab peace initiative. Both sides, however, chose to emphasize the historic nature of visitors representing the Arab world with a message of peace. MFA Dir Israeli noted that many in Israel wondered which Arabs they were representing; in response to questions, FM Al Khatib tried without success at a dinner to clarify this point. At his briefing, El Kouni explained that while it was not an official Arab League delegation, the two Foreign Ministers did have a mandate from the Arab summit to present the Arab Peace Initiative and discuss how the Arabs can support Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The two Foreign Ministers will brief the Arab League Council of Ministers in Cairo on Monday and participate in the GCC Plus Two meeting with the Secretary in Sharm El Sheikh on Tuesday. -------------- It's The Palestinians -------------- ¶4. (C) While Israel pressed for specifics on how to advance normalization with the Arab world, the FM's stressed that the only way for the Arab Initiative to proceed is for there to be real, tangible gains for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people. The FM's supported the steps Israel was taking, but said that moving from security and economic cooperation to political negotiations needed to happen urgently. At the dinner hosted by the Jordanian Embassy for the visitors and attended by Livni, Khatib mentioned the idea of developing an "inventory list" of positive steps that he and Aboul Gheit discussed with Livni. This process would involve Israel taking small steps toward the Palestinians, and the Arabs responding positively in order to gradually build momentum. El Kouni mentioned, however, that when they asked Livni about dismantling outposts, she responded that maybe the GOI could start with one outpost and even that would be politically difficult. Hamas was not discussed during the visit, although the Israelis underscored that they would stop cooperating with Abbas if Hamas rejoined the government. Regarding the possibility of negotiations with Syria, El Kouni said Aboul Gheit and Al Khatib had stressed that while Israeli-Syrian negotiations would be welcome, the urgent need was to focus on the Palestinians. -------------- The Visit is the Message -------------- TEL AVIV 00002298 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Both sides are treating the fact of the visit itself as the message since the Arab foreign ministers delivered an unequivocal message of Arab interest in peace. It is clear, though that little substance was discussed. In his briefing for Tel Aviv-based diplomats, El Kouni said that Aboul Gheit felt Livni and Peres were closest to the Arab position, especially Peres, who shared the Arab sense of urgency. Olmert and Barak, meanwhile, were more cautious, both emphasizing security and the need for Palestinians to prove their capabilities. For the GOI, MFA Dir Israeli told PolOff that Israelis found Al Khatib more friendly and forward leaning than Aboul Gheit, who reportedly pushed hard on the Israelis regarding these contacts and reportedly was not as enthusiastic about Abu Mazen as Al-Khatib was. (NOTE: Aboul Gheit only made a brief, ten minute appearance at the Jordan-hosted dinner, while Al-Khatib and Livni talked throughout the event. End note). El Kouni stressed that the Arabs will review the situation after the upcoming meetings and the Secretary's visit before deciding on next steps. ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** CRETZ