LIVNI PUSHES EU RELATIONS UPGRADE AS SIGNIFICANT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002794 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC UN EU IS KPAL PHUM SUBJECT: LIVNI PUSHES EU RELATIONS UPGRADE AS SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Peter Vrooman, reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 8th, the European Union Council of Ministers announced an upgrade in its diplomatic relationship with Israel. The announcement received prominent coverage in both the Jerusalem Post and Ha'aretz, with Foreign Minister Livni calling it a "significant achievement." Director of the MFA Western Europe III Division Tzipporah Rimon, who covers EU relations, told poloff on December 11 that the agreement was not perfect-- Israel was seeking specific schedules for Head of Government summits and more support at the UN-- but Israel did manage to prevent any European peace efforts outside the Annapolis efforts and any direct linkages to improvements in the West Bank. The next step is a new EU action plan in April 2009. Maja Sverdrup, the Jerusalem-based advisor to EU Special Envoy to the Middle East Marc Otte, told PolOff on December 10 that FM Livni seemed to have succeeded in pushing the idea that her election as Prime Minister was in Europe's interest, and this upgrade, with no conditions attached, would help. Full text of the announcement can be found at ww.consilium.europa.eu/newsroom. END SUMMARY. -------------- Political Upgrades a Significant Step -------------- ¶2. (C) Director Rimon explained to poloff on December 11 that the December 8 EU announcement to upgrade relations focused on the political relationship with Israel, and followed a series of technical upgrades that covered areas such as economic and legal cooperation. She said that while the agreement was not perfect, it was a real accomplishment, especially because the EU-required language on human rights included a reference to anti-Semitism, and there was no direct linkage to tangible progress within the West Bank. ¶3. (C) Rimon emphasized that France was extremely helpful in getting the initiative passed, largely because the upgrade helps reinforce France's Mediterranean Union initiative. She also explained that European buy-in to the Annapolis process, especially following the Sharm al-Sheik Quartet meeting in November, allowed Israel to convince the European ministers that they should not risk undermining Annapolis by taking any actions outside the Quartet. She pointed out that the final initiative received unanimous approval, overcoming objects from Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad, other Arab countries, and EU member states UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus, adding that the UK was not a problem in the end. ¶4. (C) Rimon opined that the agreement could have been better, noting that many of the exchange mechanisms were ad hoc and not fixed, as Israel had hoped, especially in the scheduling of Head of Government summits. The GOI also wanted the EU to agree to support Israel's full membership to the WEOG group or WEOG-like groupings of Western states in all international organizations, and not just examine "the possibility of Israeli participation, for voting purposes, in the WEOG, on a temporary basis and within the appropriate bodies." (NOTE: Israel already has WEOG voting rights in many international bodies.) ¶5. (C) Rimon denied that the timing of the announcement was related to the political situation in Israel, explaining that it was the culmination of over a year and a half of intense negotiations. Although many European nations did question why Israel was in a rush to get it passed, she offered that it was important that it happen during the French presidency given the GOF's high level of support. She also underlined that it needed to be completed well before the current EU action plan on Israel expires in April 2009, so they can get build on the agreement when preparing the successor action plan. -------------- Livni's lobbying reaps dividends -------------- ¶6. (C) Maja Sverdrup, advisor to EU Special Envoy to the Middle East Marc Otte, told poloff on December 10 that the agreement simply gives a public endorsement and political framework to an upgraded relationship that is already a reality based on previous technical agreements. Sverdrup commented that FM Livni seemed to have succeeded in her extensive lobbying of EU governments, both in bilateral meetings and on the sidelines of various conferences. Sverdrup said Livni's main argument to her EU counterparts had been that getting this agreement, without conditions, would bolster her chances in the February 10 elections against Benjamin Netanyahu. Livni reportedly asserted that TEL AVIV 00002794 002 OF 002 she would advance the peace process, a key EU interest, more than Netanyahu. Sverdrup added that many European states believe that drawing Israel closer can give the EU more leverage in the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM