UAE HOSTS ARAB DISCUSSION ON PA SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000133 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/FO, AND NEA/IPA/ALENTZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG EFIN AE SUBJECT: UAE HOSTS ARAB DISCUSSION ON PA SUPPORT REFS: A) ABU DHABI 115, B) STATE 8722, C) ABU DHABI 0021 Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) As previewed with the Ambassador (ref A),UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ) hosted a gathering of nine Arab foreign ministers February 3 in Abu Dhabi to discuss coordination of Palestinian issues. Eight countries and the PA attended (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia), representing what the UAEG characterized privately as the "moderate camp" and clearly designed to exclude less helpful Arab voices. (Kuwait and Iraq were reportedly invited but unable to attend.) A number of the ministers had convened the evening of February 2 together with ministers of information to discuss how to regain a PR advantage through more effective "messaging." Goals of the meetings -------------- ¶2. (C) The February 2 dinner was characterized by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash as focused on "strategic messaging" in hopes of energizing the public voice of moderate Arab states to reclaim ground from radical voices exploiting public opinion in their favor. Iran's negative role in stirring public sentiment against moderate Arab regimes was also noted. Actual aid to the PA was also discussed in separate UAE and Saudi bilateral meetings with the PA on the margins of that dinner. ¶3. (SBU) Reports characterizing the February 3 gathering of ministers focus on key goals: 1) solidarity with the PA (and solidarity among Arab ranks, although this meeting was clearly designed to exclude unwanted Arab voices),2) endorsement of recent Egyptian and Saudi initiatives related to the peace process (including Egyptian efforts at a truce in Gaza and Saudi statements at the Kuwait economic summit),3) rejection of foreign intervention (an apparent slap at Iran, but also at Doha for inviting Iran to its recent summit),and 4) looking ahead to a March 2 donors conference in Cairo (plus reconstruction and reconciliation events in late February) at which an expanded Arab consensus is desired. Official UAE news agency reports quote AbZ citing "similar meetings in the upcoming weeks" to include "additional ministers from the Arab world," to gather with the aim of boosting Arab solidarity (with an agenda defined by the moderates) and bolstering "support for the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas and for the PLO -- the sole representative of the Palestinian people." The ministers also called for a stop to Israeli settlements, particularly around Jerusalem. ¶4. (SBU) An editorial in semi-official Arabic daily al-Ittihad (by a Saudi writer) goes somewhat further in stating the objectives of the "moderates" in sidelining Iran's influence and weaning Syria away from its support for Hamas (Syria being Iran's "on gateway" through which it wields influence over Arabs). Next steps -------------- ¶5. (SBU) AbZ stated that "we are engaging with additional Arab countries and consulting with them" in preparation for further efforts to unify Arab action. The goal is clearly to establish the "moderate" position as the mainstream Arab approach to Palestine, an effort that builds upon initial (but smaller) meetings in Riyadh last week. As the group potentially expands to include more Arab states, practical questions of budget support for the PA will hopefully be addressed -- not awaiting the March 2 donors' meeting in Cairo. Also reportedly on the agenda are a Gaza reconstruction event on February 22 and a Palestinian reconciliation meeting Egypt hopes to host in the final days of February. UN SecGen also in Abu Dhabi -------------- ¶6. (SBU) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was also in Abu Dhabi February 3 for talks described in general terms as focused on regional stability, "with emphasis on the Palestinian cause and the Middle East peace process" (official WAM news agency). (Some foreign ministers departed Cairo before Ki-Moon's arrival, so there was no group interface between the UN and the Arab ministers.) Comment: A more active UAEG? ABU DHABI 00000133 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶7. (C) By hosting a continuation of talks among Arab leaders, the UAEG is clearly supporting the moderate agenda and particularly willing to promote events that have an underlying goal of limiting Iran's regional influence. Incensed by Iran's overtures to the non-moderates and bellicose language in general, and unhappy with Qatar's role as a spoiler (in what the Egyptian DCM called a polarizing Qatari move to create "a counter-alliance against the mainstream"),the Emiratis can be expected to play a stronger role in peace efforts going forward to counterbalance the spoilers' influence. Playing host also helps the UAEG evidence to its public that the leadership is actively engaged in the interests of regional stability and peace for the Palestinians -- a critical optic in the wake of Gaza-inspired public emotions. OLSON