ISN PDAS MCNERNEY'S DISCUSSION ON PSI AND UNFC

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003516 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017 TAGS: PREL KNNP UNSC UNFC EG RU IS SUBJECT: ISN PDAS MCNERNEY'S DISCUSSION ON PSI AND UNFC ISSUES AT THE ISRAELI MFA (CABLE 5 OF 5) REF: A. TEL AVIV 03385 ¶B. TEL AVIV 03386 ¶C. TEL AVIV 03514 ¶D. TEL AVIV 03515 Classified By: Marc J. Sievers, Political Counselor. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) During an October 24 meeting with an Israeli inter-agency team at the Foreign Ministry that focused mainly on the Iranian nuclear threat, ISN PDAS Patricia McNerney and her delegation also exchanged views on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and various resolutions in the UN First Committee. The Israeli delegation, led by MFA Deputy Director General (Strategic Affairs) Miriam Ziv, made the following points: ¶A. Israel participated in a PSI exercise that took place in Japan 12-15 October. The MFA owes the U.S. side an answer regarding a proposal for Israel to participate in another PSI exercise. ¶B. Israel is analyzing whether Egypt's attitude towards a Middle East Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (MENWFZ) reflects a change in policy. Israel was frustrated that reference to an IAEA resolution made it into Egypt's annual MENWFZ resolution at the UN. ¶C. Israel believes Iran may be behind Qatar's plans to introduce a new resolution on Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) violations and Chapter VI of the UN Charter. In response, PDAS McNerney agreed to continue to consult on Egyptian activism at the IAEA and UN regarding policy on the MENWFZ. She said that the U.S. had tried to discourage the Russians from tabling their resolution on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in Outer Space, and that the U.S. would vote "no" on the annual PAROS resolution. END SUMMARY. -------------- PSI: ISRAELIS SEEKING MORE INFORMATION -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Ziv asked how much the PSI is actually applied in counterproliferation efforts. PDAS McNerney responded by noting an up-tick in interdiction activity since the passages of UNSCR 1718 and 1737. McNerney said that PSI partners along interdiction routes are helping the U.S. on counterpliferation activities. She observed, however, that the "legal disposition" issue (e.g., what to do with seized materials) is a big issue that has seized the attention of the PSI's Operational Experts Group. McNerney said that the U.S. would continue to reach out to PSI countries to stop proliferation. If another resolution were passed, it may strengthen the impetus to get countries to use PSI. ¶3. (C) In response, the Israeli Defense Intelligence (IDI) officer noted that Israeli MOD lawyers are skeptical of the ability of PSI states to enforce various aspects of maritime law. McNerney replied that this is why the current thinking is to have interdicted ships taken into ports where states then do not have to worry about maritime law. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Ziv noted that Israel owes the U.S. an answer regarding a proposal to conduct a PSI exercise with Israeli participation. Ziv sought clarification that PSI focuses on missiles and WMD. She expressed some interest in using terror finance as an element of an exercise. The MFA representative noted that an Israeli team participated in a PSI exercise that took place in Japan 12-15 October. -------------- UN FIRST COMMITTEE AND IAEA CONFERENCE -------------- ¶5. (C) The MFA's new Arms Control Department director, Rodica Radian-Gordon, and her deputy, Tamar Rahamimoff-Honig, led discussion on Israel's UN First Committee agenda. They said that Israel is currently analyzing whether the Egyptian attitude towards the Middle East Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (MENWFZ) is a change in policy or not. Radian-Gordon said that Israel is not pleased that Egypt referred to the IAEA Resolution (which was not adopted by consensus) in its MENWFZ resolution at the UN First Committee. Nevertheless, she said that even though Israel is not happy with this year's proposed resolution, Israel would not break consensus. She said Israel would be happy if other countries would voice their opinion on the Egyptian resolution, either prior to the vote, in Cairo, or as an Explanation of Vote. Radian-Gordon said Israel's assessment is that the Europeans will not act. She explained that other IAEA member states think that there has been a change in Egyptian policy and thus expect more of this in the future. Agreeing with PDAS McNerney's assertion that the Egyptians are irritating everyone with their stance, Radian-Gordon observed that this is why it is so difficult to understand Egypt's agenda on the issue. One GOI paper, she said, suggested that the GOE wants a UNSC resolution that demands Nuclear Suppliers Group members not sell equipment to non-NPT states. PDAS McNerney agreed with the proposal that Israel and the U.S. continue to compare notes on the Egyptian position. ¶6. (C) Discussion turned to Qatar's plans to introduce a new resolution on violations of the NPT and Chapter VI of the UN Charter. Radian-Gordon suggested that this might be a clever way to undermine UNSC action on a third UNSC sanctions resolution on Iran, or at least suggest a third way. Radian-Gordon noted that the resolution would be problematic if the Qataris decide to introduce it. She wondered if Iran is behind the initiative. ¶7. (C) PDAS McNerney noted that the USG remained unsatisfied with modifications made to New Zealand and Switzerland's "de-alerting" resolution. On the resolution on CBMs in Outer Space, McNerney said that we had tried to discourage the Russians from introducing the resolution, but that they had insisted that they would introduce it. Radian-Gordon replied that the Russians told the Israeli MFA twice that they are displeased that Israel will abstain on the CBM resolution. ¶8. (C) Regarding resolutions on Middle East issues, PDAS McNerney said that the U.S. will vote "no" on the risk resolution. PDAS McNerney said that the U.S. would vote "no" on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) resolution. ¶9. (C) Radian-Gordon said that the Russians raised with Israel the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. PDAS McNerney replied that during their two-plus-two meeting in Moscow, Secretary Rice and Defense Secretary Gates agreed to a joint statement with the Russians on the INF treaty. She noted that we welcome positive statements on the INF treaty, but are not interested in any effort to renegotiate it. She reported that the UK and France responded coolly to Russia's joint statement proposal. ¶10. (C) In response to a request from the Israeli side, PDAS McNerney updated them on the status of the agreement with India on civil nuclear cooperation. ¶11. (U) ISN PDAS McNerney was not able to review this cable. ********************************************* ******************** 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