GERMANY TRACKS U.S. MESSAGE ON ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENT

UNCLAS BERLIN 001544 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAL PREL KWBG IS GM SUBJECT: GERMANY TRACKS U.S. MESSAGE ON ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENT MORATORIUM REF: STATE 122214 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Near East division deputy Sibylle Sorg told Poloff December 3 that the MFA agrees fully with reftel points on Israel's settlement moratorium. She said that reftel points are helpful for the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting which will have conclusions on the Middle East. According to Sorg, the FAC aims to facilitate the current U.S. efforts between Israel and the Palestinians. She noted that FM Westerwelle had issued a statement after Israel's settlement moratorium announcement describing Israel's move as an "important first step" that "could bring movement into the settlement question." She indicated Germany's concern about what she described as the exemption of East Jerusalem from Israel's announced moratorium. ¶2. (SBU) With regard to PA budget support, Sorg noted that Germany already provides about 20 percent of the EU's 353 million euros of what she described as budget support plus 25 million euros of bilateral support in fuel assistance. She said that she would be providing a paper to Poloff listing the amounts and types of assistance that Germany is currently providing the PA. Post will forward the paper directly to NEA/IPA upon receipt. MURPHY