LIVNI IN TOKYO: NEW MIDDLE EAST, TRILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000320 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM EAIR JA IS SUBJECT: LIVNI IN TOKYO: NEW MIDDLE EAST, TRILATERAL ASSISTANCE WITH MODERATES, AND NO ARMS TO CHINA REF: TOKYO 0356 Classified By: Political Counselor Marc Sievers; Reasons 1.4 (B and D). ¶1. (C) Summary: According to both the Japanese Embassy and Israeli MFA, FM Livni used her January 17-18 visit to Japan to outline her views on the current situation in the Middle East and stress the importance of opposing Iran and supporting moderates (including Palestinian President Abbas). She also asked Japan to consider trilateral aid projects to bring Israel and the moderate Muslim states closer together. PM Abe expressed strong concerns over Israeli arms sales to China; the Japanese said Livni replied that no significant arms sales will take place in the near future. Livni was unable to obtain landing rights for El Al in Tokyo. End summary. -------------- - Strengthening Moderates in the New Middle East -------------- - ¶2. (C) Reading from the Tokyo reports, the Japanese Embassy told us that Livni had explained her view of new realities in the Middle East, specifically the confrontation between moderates and extremists. In her meeting with PM Abe, she maintained that moderate Arab states share many of Israel's concerns -- especially about Iran -- but cannot publicly admit it without progress on the formation of a Palestinian state. She told FM Aso that a failure by the international community to confront Iran would force moderate Arab states into acquiescence with Tehran's drive for hegemony for their own safety. Livni also called any attempt to engage Syria "naive and wrong," because talks would boost Asad without obtaining concrete results. ¶3. (C) According to the Japanese, Livni urged her hosts to strengthen Palestinian President Abbas. She stressed that any Palestinian National Unity Government must fully accept the Quartet principles and cautioned that slippage on these points would only provide Hamas with legitimacy. As she has done elsewhere, Livni also clearly rejected any Palestinian refugee right of return to Israel. ¶4. (C) In discussions with FM Aso and JICA President Ogawa, Livni asked Japan to consider possible trilateral aid projects with third countries. The Japanese maintained that she was referring primarily to moderate Muslim states, and that she specifically mentioned Indonesia and Malaysia. The Israeli MFA would only confirm that she had discussed "states in Asia and Africa." The Japanese gave Livni a positive answer, with the caveat that the countries in question must first agree to such arrangements. Other discussions on assistance focused Japan's Corridor of Peace and Prosperity initiative, which seeks to use Japanese aid to improve Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian cooperation on transportation and agri-business projects in the Jordan River valley. -------------- -------------- Japanese Concern Over Israeli Arms Sales to China -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) According to the Japanese Embassy, PM Abe expressed serious concern about what he called the rapid rearmament of China, and asked the GOI to consider these views before selling weapons in the region. Livni reportedly replied that there will be no significant sales to China in the near term. The Japanese also sought and obtained Livni's commitment to support their efforts to contain North Korea's military programs and seek the return of kidnapped Japanese nationals. -------------- Civil Aviation, Space, and other Issues -------------- ¶6. (C) Both governments confirmed that Livni had requested permission for El Al to fly from Tel Aviv to Tokyo. The Japanese Embassy said that such a move is impossible due to capacity problems, and urged El Al to fly to Osaka instead, where landing rights have already been approved. The MFA had no further details on Livni's request for Japanese cooperation on space projects. ¶7. (C) As noted in reftel, other "deliverables" from the Japan trip included an agreement to elevate the annual official dialogue to the director general (Japanese Vice FM) level, an invitation for PM Olmert to visit Japan in the spring, an invitation to FM Aso to travel to Israel, and agreement on sending Japanese business and cultural delegations to Israel. The Japanese also decided to lower TEL AVIV 00000320 002 OF 002 their travel warning for parts of the region. The Japanese Embassy explained that Israel had long complained that warnings for Jerusalem were different from those pertaining to green-line Israel. -------------- Bio Note -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Livni broke with her usual custom and brought her husband on the Japan trip. She has also taken him on other official visits to New York and Davos. The couple scheduled cultural and tourist events in addition to the official program. ********************************************* ******************** 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