CODEL WOLF AND PM OLMERT DISCUSS ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000146 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KIRF KWBG IS SUBJECT: CODEL WOLF AND PM OLMERT DISCUSS ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN PEACE PROCESS REF: 2007 SECTO 14 TEL AVIV 00000146 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On January 8, Congressmen Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Joe Pitts (R-PA) -- accompanied by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, former Ambassador and Congressman Tony Hall, and DCM -- met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to discuss the efforts of the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land (Interfaith Council) to promote coexistence among Muslims, Christians and Jews in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The brief meeting was warm and cordial, and focused on efforts to bring the Interfaith Council into the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace process, as well as improving GOI relations with the Holy See. See para 7 for Interfaith Council background. End Summary. -------------- Seeking a Role in the Peace Process -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Prime Minister Olmert opened the meeting by expressing optimism on the upcoming visit of President Bush and satisfaction with the good meetings he had earlier in the day with Tony Blair and PA President Abbas. Olmert agreed with the codel that it was important for people of all religions to learn to live together in peace. He emphasized that he had learned much about the diverse religious beliefs present in Israel and their impact on politics while he was mayor of Jerusalem. He stressed that the very diversity which was potentially divisive in Jerusalem was in fact its strength, and was key to moving forward in the difficult peace process. ¶3. (SBU) Congressman Wolf congratulated Olmert on his leadership and wished him the best in the upcoming meetings. He noted that the Interfaith Council was asking all religious leaders in the U.S. to pray the first Sunday of every month for peace in the Middle East. He also recounted the positive steps the Interfaith Council had accomplished in just a year since its creation, including a series of constructive joint statements and the establishment of a mechanism to monitor and respond to religious incitement directed at the adherents of any faith. ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Hall asked Olmert if he would be willing to meet with the Interfaith Council and its lead Israeli coordinator, Rabbi David Rosen. Ambassador Hall argued that such a meeting would go a long way in reinforcing the council's credibility and would allow the council to continue bringing religious leaders together to further the peace process. Olmert responded that he would be delighted to meet with the council and he could see nothing but "benefits" from such a meeting. Olmert went on to praise the council's work and promised to support their efforts. ¶5. (SBU) Congressman Pitts suggested that the Interfaith Council could play a role in the monitoring process that would accompany the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. In particular, he thought the council could add value by monitoring textbooks and the educational curriculum in the West Bank. Olmert responded that this was a good idea and that he would explore the possibility. -------------- Visa Restrictions for Christian Clergy -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Cardinal McCarrick pointed out the Vatican and the GOI have had a formal and "very special" relationship since the signing of the Fundamental Agreement over 14 years ago. Echoing earlier statements by other senior Vatican officials, McCarrick said he was concerned that the relationship was being strained due to the inability of both sides to reach a consensus on the visa issue. The Vatican understood and respected the GOI's legitimate security concerns with regard to granting visas for people to enter Israel or the Palestinian territories. However, the policy of restricting visas for Christian clergy and laypeople of Arab origin was unnecessary and damaging to Israel's international reputation. McCarrick expressed concern that many Catholic as well as Lutheran and other Christian projects were jeopardized due to a lack of progress on the visa issue. Olmert thanked the Cardinal for bringing this issue to his attention and promised to work with the MFA to resolve the issue. Olmert promised to find a solution and bring the "special relationship" back to where it should be. -------------- Background on the Interfaith Council -------------- ¶7. (U) The Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land was established in late 2006 at the initiative of Cardinal McCarrick and Ambassador Hall, with financial support from USAID and the Norwegian Government. The council is comprised of the leaders of the three Abrahamic faiths in Jerusalem, as recognized by the Israeli and PA TEL AVIV 00000146 002.2 OF 002 governments. Its stated purpose is to make the religions of the Holy Land an instrument for peace rather than an excuse for conflict. The council meets in or near Jerusalem on an ad hoc basis (every 1-2 months),sometimes with the participation of McCarrick, Hall or other international supporters. Secretary Rice met with the council during her October visit to Jerusalem (reftel). ¶8. (U) The Council consists of: Jewish: Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yonah Metzger Chief Rabbi of Haifa Shear-Yashuv Cohen, Chief Rabbinate Rabbi David Rosen, Chief Rabbinate, American Jewish Committee Inter-religious Affairs Director Oded Weiner, Chief Rabbinate Christian: Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem Suheil Dawani Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem Munib Younan Muslim: Sheikh Taysir Al-Tamimi, Supreme Judge of the Islamic Courts, Palestinian Authority Minister Jamal Bawatna, PA Minister of the Waqf Sheikh Mraish Sheikh Hamed Al-Tamimi Salah Zuheikeh, Director, Fatah for Jerusalem ¶9. (U) Codel Wolf has cleared this cable. JONES