SPANISH SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000282 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018 TAGS: KMPI KPAL PREL IS SP SUBJECT: SPANISH SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS REF: STATE 22352 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) March 4, Spanish MFA Deputy Director General for the Middle East Alberto Ucelay reviewed Spain's support for the Israel-Palestinian peace process, particularly in advance of the March 10-11 EU Foreign Minister's Meeting (GAERC). He said that Spain believed it was critically important to advance the themes of the Annapolis Conference. In Spain's view, negotiations must continue and progress, however small, must be shown to the local populations. Reflective of their commitment to the process, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved payment of a 20 million euro contribution to the Palestinians through the EU support mechanism on February 29 (disbursement of pledge made at Paris Donors Conference). ¶2. (C) According to Ucelay, proposals highlighting the need for a cease-fire, while ensuring that access and movement are normalized, will be introduced at the GAERC. The proposals are likely to call for accordance with 2005 agreements to provide movement for Palestinians; plans that should be developed in coordination with Israel and Egypt. Ucelay stressed that the parties should not be allowed to link events in a never-ending stream of "tit-for-tat" responses. ¶3. (C) "Every kidnapping can not result in closure and the right response for a rocket launch is not closure," Ucelay emphasized. When asked, "what is the right response to continuing rocket attacks against Israel," Ucelay demurred and acknowledged that the situation was quite complex. Spain's chief concern is that the Gaza closure and economic devastation have been turned to an advantage for Hamas. In order to provide support for moderate Palestinians while reducing the influence of Hamas, redundancies should be established so that if one access point had to be closed for security reasons, another point could remain operational. He described the 2006 Shalit kidnapping and Israeli reaction as derailing the EU effort, similar to the mission operating in Lebanon, to provide international military observers to protect the civilian population on both sides. He suggested that when the situation allowed, Spain would consider sending back international observers back into Gaza. In the meantime, reopening the Rafa border crossing should be a first priority and Ucelay said Spain would support Egypt on a comprehensive package. ¶4. (C) Noting FM Moratinos' great interest in the issue, Ucelay said that the Gaza situation was a campaign issue in the Spanish election scheduled for March 9. The Spanish MFA has received hundreds of letters calling for Spain and the EU to act and end the escalating violence in Gaza. As part of his campaign rhetoric, FM Moratinos has been calling for action to protect civilian populations and to end the escalating violence. March 2, the Spanish MFA issued a communiqu calling for an end to rocket attacks against Israel and calling for Israel to respect international humanitarian law, avoid civilian casualties and reestablish movement in and out of Gaza for both people and goods. March 6, an estimated 500 people rallied outside the EU offices in Madrid, calling for steps to be taken against Israeli actions in Gaza, as well as an end to the "blockade" and "genocide". ¶5. (U) March 7, the Spanish MFA issued an official communiqu condemning the terrorist attack at the Jerusalem Yeshiva. The communiqu also expressed condolences and wished a speedy recovery for the injured victims. AGUIRRE