GREEK VIEWS ON ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000115

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID OPRC KPAL IS GR
SUBJECT: GREEK VIEWS ON ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES

REF: A. SECSTATE 6152

B. 07 ATHENS 2336

Classified By: DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) This message contains an action request for
Department. See paragraph 4.


2. (C) DepPolCouns and POLOFF discussed ref a points on
Israeli-Palestinian issues with MFA A6 Middle East
Directorate deputy head Giorgos Ayfantis. On the demarche
overall, Ayfantis complemented the author for a well-written
paper, which he characterized as an accurate assessment of
the situation. Indeed, Ayfantis said he intended to use the
points in his discussions with EU colleagues. In terms of
his substantive response, Ayfantis discussed three topics:
assisting Israel with the problem of Gaza, release of Marwan
Barghouti to serve as an alternative Palestinian leader to
Hamas, and the problem of settlements.

GAZA
--------------


3. (C) Ayfantis said Greek FM Bakoyannis was very concerned
about the situation in Gaza, noting that "Israel could not
ignore provocations and should not have to deal with the
situation alone." He said Bakoyannis was urging other EU
members to take action to help relieve the 3 would help convince Is
inattentive or passiv@ssions just after
AnnapQmentioned again the propoQdping force for Gaza, w`ber-states were now
coore going
further, hyannis would like to discuss the
idea with Israel. NOTE: After the Ayfantis meeting, Israeli
DCM Mustaki called DepPolCouns and said Ayfantis had told him
about our discussion on the EU PKO for Gaza. Mustaki said
this was an interesting idea but that it had some problems,
and he asked what our response to the Greeks had been.
DepPolCouns answered that he had not responded to Ayfantis
positively or negatively. END NOTE.


4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy requests Department guidance
on U.S. views regarding an EU peacekeeping force for Gaza.

BARGHOUTI
--------------


5. (C) Ayfantis said Greece was also concerned about
leadership in Gaza. Abbas had "zero credibility" in Gaza and
that was why Palestinians there supported Hamas. Ayfantis
said Greece favored the release from Israeli prison of Fatah
leader Marwan Barghouti, who was "not a fanatic" and
"popular" in Gaza and thus could play a constructive role in
the peace process negotiations. Right now, Ayfantis argued,
Hamas was the only real authority in Gaza and alternatives
were desperately needed.

SETTLEMENTS
--------------


6. (C) On the hot-button issue of settlements, Ayfantis said
the EU believed strongly that there could be no peace without
resolution of the settlement issue. There were, he argued,
already two inter-dependent states de facto existing
side-by-side. The need now was to link them further through
creation of mutual infrastructure -- much as France and
Germany created various interlocking structures following WW
II. As Israel and a Palestinian state became increasingly
intertwined, Ayfantis argued, the issue of settlements would
become less and less important. Ayfantis said other EU
states shared this view and that Greece encouraged them to
take active steps to put this idea into practice.

COMMENT
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7. (C) As we noted just after Annapolis, Greece -- and
particularly FM Bakoyannis -- wants to play an active role in
the Peace Process. Whether this is motivated by a Greek
desire to assuage the U.S. as we grapple with the difficult
issue of Macedonia's NATO invitation or Bakoyannis's personal
interest in a legacy issue over-against Prime Minister and
political rival Karamanlis, Greek activity on the Peace
Process offers opportunities for cooperation. Greece has
often been perceived as being pro-Palestinian in its
orientation. Engaging Greece as a participant in some role
might be useful.
SPECKHARD