MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES EFFORTS TO ARRANGE LIVNI

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002788

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MO TS IS
SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES EFFORTS TO ARRANGE LIVNI
VISIT TO MOROCCO, RELATIONS WITH RABAT AND TUNIS

Classified By: A/DCM Marc J. Sievers for reasons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Eynat Schlein-Michael, Israeli Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director of Maghreb, Syria, and Lebanon
Affairs met with Poloff on December 10. She confirmed recent
Israeli press reports of a possible upcoming visit to Morocco
by Foreign Minister Livni, but was pessimistic the visit
would take place. Schlein-Michael characterized Morocco as
unwilling to take concrete steps to move relations forward
with Israel. She briefly outlined Israeli-Tunisian ties,
explaining that they were developing more slowly than those
with Morocco. End Summary.

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MOROCCO UNWILLING TO COMMIT TO LIVNI VISIT
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2. (C) Schlein-Michael confirmed that MFA Director General
Aharon Abramovitch and Deputy Director General Yaakov Hadas
were in Morocco last month to participate in a conference on
European-Mediterranean cooperation and lay the groundwork for
a possible Livni visit. She said that a visit, which the
Israelis have pushed for "for some time," could happen in
January but she was not optimistic because the Moroccans were
unwilling to make a commitment. Schlein-Michael hoped that
an editorial in Egypt's semi-official Al-Ahram newspaper on
December 9, which saluted Morocco for holding the meeting
with the Israelis and said it was time to develop such
contacts, would provide some political cover for Rabat to
expand overt ties to Israel. She added, however, that the
Israeli delegation left Morocco irritated because Moroccan
officials had planned to present an award to Hadas but
changed their minds during the ceremony, apparently concerned
that there would be a negative public reaction if news of the
award leaked.

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RABAT FAILING TO DELIVER ON PROMISES
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3. (C) Schlein-Michael explained that, as a general rule,
Moroccan officials promise to move forward and "do things"
but they never follow through. Instead, they meet with
Israelis, say very positive things without making any
commitments, and then ask the Israelis to assist them with
their own diplomatic issues (e.g. western Sahara). While a
senior advisor to King Mohammed VI was in Israel several
weeks ago, the visit was not made public. Schlein-Michael
said that Moroccan officials refuse Israeli offers to visit
openly, even if only to travel to the Palestinian
territories, for fear of political backlash if the visit is
perceived as benefiting Israel.

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PROGRESS IN RELATIONS WITH TUNISIA EVEN SLOWER
-------------- -


4. (C) Schlein-Michael briefly discussed Israeli ties with
Tunisia, explaining that Israeli and Tunisian ministers meet
occasionally and that the Tunisian Ambassador to the
Palestinian Authority sometimes works with Israeli officials.
She added that otherwise relations with Morocco were "far
better" than those with Tunisia.

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