(U) READOUT ON EU HIREP SOLANA'S JAN 19-21 MIDDLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 000283 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL XF LE SY IS EUN SUBJECT: (U) READOUT ON EU HIREP SOLANA'S JAN 19-21 MIDDLE EAST VISIT REF: A. TEL AVIV 266 ¶B. DAMASCUS 79 Classified By: Alyce Tidball, deputy political minister counselor for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. According to EU Council Middle East Director Christian Jouret, Solana's Middle East visit resulted in good, in-depth discussion with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, though there were clear differences on both the pace and scope of possible negotiations. Solana met with Israeli PM Olmert, FM Livni, and Deputy MOD Sneh in Tel Aviv and with President Abbas and Coordinator for Palestinian Security Dahlan in the Palestinian territories. The Palestinians pushed for a strong Quartet statement and real progress toward a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while the Israelis insisted that a peace process now would mean war and called for a careful "stone-by-stone" approach. The EU continues to support Abbas and will work to strengthen the Palestinian security forces. They encouraged Abbas' dialogue with Hamas and his trip to Damascus to meet with Hamas leader Khalid Mish'al, insisting this would either be successful or expose Hamas as unwilling to negotiate. The internal Palestinian situation and Iran and Iraq were also discussed. Solana returned to give a generally positive briefing to the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on Jan. 22. Solana was accompanied by EU Special Representative Marc Otte as well as Jouret. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C/NF) MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS (MEPP) According to Jouret, Solana met with Israeli PM Olmert, FM Livni, and Deputy MOD Sneh in Tel Aviv and with President Abbas and Coordinator for Palestinian Security Mohammad Dahlan in the Palestinian territories. Jouret said that were clear differences between the two sides on both the pace and scope of possible negotiations. On pace, he noted, the Palestinians made clear they wanted a quick process aimed at engaging in real political negotiations as soon as possible, within 2007, The Israelis, on the other hand, want to build the process slowly, stone-by-stone. Olmert reportedly told Solana that this is the time to be smart, patient and sensitive. On substance, Olmert said he would accept the proposed tri-lateral meeting with the Palestinians and the U.S., but would not discuss the peace process itself, only confidence building measures. He insisted on realistic expectations. The Palestinians, however, tolde the EU that they wanted a political process on real issues, and they wanted to move quickly before the US electoral process made it more difficult for the US to engage. ¶3. (C/NF) THE NEXT QUARTET According to Jouret, the Palestinians observed that the next Quartet meeting should put "something serious" on the table. They want to see a strong statement with a clear definition of the end game. Some Palestinians told Solana this should be a restatement of the President's vision of two states living side by side in peace and security, while others said it must include a call for an end of occupation, abandonment of settlements and checkpoints, and other measures that would turn the Palestinian territory completely over to the Palestinians. However, all Palestinians insisted it must not be "another empty statement." PM Olmert, on the other hand, told HiRep Solana not to expect negotiation on permanent issues, saying he just wanted broad, general observations about a political horizon. According to Jouret, Olmert said "When I meet Abbas (in the future) I just want to discuss how to enhance trade and communication and to create an umbrella of encouragement." Jouret professed to being mystified by the latter comment, but surmised that the "umbrella of encouragement" was simply another way of saying Olmert only wants to talk about confidence building measures. ¶4. (C/NF) INTERNAL PALESTINIAN SITUATION Concern about internal Palestinian strife, the importance of strengthening the Presidency and Palestinian security forces, and the restructuring the Fatah party were on the minds of all of Solana's interlocuteurs. The Palestinians were also very focused on the continued discussion of a National Unity Government (NUG) with Hamas. Abbas told Solana that in his meeting with Hamas leader Khalid Mish'al (scheduled for the following day in Damascus) he would ask Hamas to let the Presidency place independent ministers in Interior and Finance and the Deputy PM position. If new efforts at an NUG failed, Abbas said, he would call for elections in six months. Jouret noted that the EU supports Abbas' dialogue with Hamas as a way to expose and pressure Hamas to negotiate seriously. ¶5. (SBU) BRIEFING THE GAERC According to Jouret, Solana gave the GAERC (January 22 meeting of EU foreign ministers) in Brussels a generally positive view of his Middle East meetings. He said that conditions for the MEPP are now "much more mature to give an impulse" to "mobilize the energies" and see "if we can move the process forward to enter into a conflict resolution." In its conclusions the GAERC reiterated support for the Abbas government and the Quartet process. GRAY .