Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANAA107
2008-01-22 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

SALEH CALLS FOR ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT ON GAZA

Tags:  PREL KPAL KSUM PGOV IS YM 
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RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHYN #0107 0221346
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221346Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANAA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8805
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000107 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAL KSUM PGOV IS YM
SUBJECT: SALEH CALLS FOR ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT ON GAZA

REF: A. SANAA 100

B. SANAA 65

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000107

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAL KSUM PGOV IS YM
SUBJECT: SALEH CALLS FOR ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT ON GAZA

REF: A. SANAA 100

B. SANAA 65

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) On January 21, President Saleh called for an emergency
Arab League summit to discuss the blockade of Gaza. While
his Party endorses his idea, at least one opposition figure
dismisses it as an empty gesture. End Summary


2. (U) On January 21, According to Yemen's official news
agency, President Ali Abdullah Saleh called for the Arab
League to hold an emergency summit to discuss the Israeli
lockdown of the Gaza. In a phone call to the organization's
Secretary General, the President reportedly called for a

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ministerial level meeting in early February. Earlier,
Foreign Minister al-Qirbi broached the issue of Gaza with the
Ambassadors of Germany and the United States and the Japanese
DCM (ref A).


3. (C) Mohammed Qahtan, former head of the Political
Department of the opposition Islah Party and current member
of that party's Supreme Council, told the embassy on January
22 that he heard of the President's call but said the Islah
Party had no official position on it. Speaking for himself
he dismissed it as a political stunt. He noted that there
had been no response from other Arab leaders and said that
the lack of response indicated the call was intended for
Yemeni internal consumption. As for the idea of a summit
itself Qahtan said, "if it were held by someone other than
the people we know (meaning the current crop of Arab
leaders),it might be important." He went on to say if it
were held by "the same old people" it would be meaningless.


4. (C) Mohammed Abulahoum, head of the Foreign Relations
Committee of the ruling General People's Congress was more
positive about both the President's call and the idea of a
summit. Where Qahtan had dismissed it as a political stunt,
Abulahoum told PolOff, "he (President Saleh) is always
serious about Gaza and helping the Palestinians." Abulahoum
went on to note that a Summit would be a good time to form a
unified Arab League position on the Hamas government. He
also said that he thought Secretary General Amr Moussa needed
to be "nudged" on Palestine and that the Summit would be a
good opportunity to do so.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Already feeling pressure for his inability to achieve
results on key issues like the return of GTMO detainees and
Sheikh al-Moayed (ref B),Saleh is in no position to be seen
as inactive on as hot an Arab issue as the situation in Gaza.
Qahtan's view that his call was intended for domestic
political consumption rings true. On the GPC side, while
Abulahoum fancies himself a firebrand who revels in
criticizing his government and his party, it is unsurprising
that he would close ranks with his President on this issue.
End Comment.
SECHE