(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

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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
.