CODEL TAUSCHER"S APRIL 9 MEETING WITH FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000618


FOR NEA AND H

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2029
TAGS: PREL PARM KPAL KNNP IS IR EG QA
SUBJECT: CODEL TAUSCHER"S APRIL 9 MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER ABOUL GHEIT

REF: CAIRO 615

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Matthew Tueller for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Key Points:

-- Israel: Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit said that Egypt has
a long-standing relationship with Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu and can work with him, in contrast to new Israeli
Foreign Minister Leiberman, whom Aboul Gheit labeled a
"problem."

--Aboul Gheit does not see the new Israeli Government as
supportive of the peace process and does not anticipate
progress.

-- Palestinians: Despite three months of Egyptian mediated
talks between Fatah and Hamas, Aboul Gheit was pessimistic
about the prospects for Palestinian reconciliation.

-- Iran/Nuclear Proliferation: Even if the U.S. engages
directly with Iran, Aboul Gheit does not believe Iran will
give up its nuclear weapons program.


2. (C) On April 9, Representatives Ellen Tauscher (D-CA),
Michael Turner (R-OH),Loretta Sanchez (D-CA),Trent Franks
(R-AZ),and Parker Griffith (D-AL) met with Egyptian Foreign
Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Foreign Ministry in Cairo.
The Deputy Chief of Mission, three professional House
staffers and an Embassy notetaker accompanied the delegation.
Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs Naela
Gabr, Cabinet Advisor and Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossam
Zaki, and Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for North
American Affairs Amin Meleika accompanied Aboul Gheit.

--------------
Israel's New Government
--------------


3. (C) Aboul Gheit opened with a discussion of the new
Israeli government. On Prime Minister Netanyahu, Aboul Gheit
said the GoE "knows him well" and will be able to work with
him. According to Aboul Gheit, Netanyahu rejects the idea of
a two-state solution and views the Palestinian issue as a
humanitarian one. Rather than focusing on a political
solution, Netanyahu focuses on improving the lives of
Palestinians, while at the same time continuing settlement
activity. Aboul Gheit said that Netanyahu's approach is
unacceptable to the Palestinians, the Arab world and the
international community, including the United States, and
will "not lead to progress." Aboul Gheit said he does not
expect a breakthrough in the peace process with the current
Israeli government and, moreover, Israeli society is not yet
convinced that peace "is necessary."


4. (C) Aboul Gheit said that recently appointed Israeli
Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman is "a problem." According
to Aboul Gheit, Leiberman has publicly labeled the peace
process "dead," said that if Mubarak would not visit Israel
he "could go to hell," and threatened to "bomb" the High Dam
at Aswan, flooding Egypt. Aboul Gheit said Leiberman's
behavior is unacceptable and he will not meet with him. If
he were to do so, he would be "torn to pieces" by the
Egyptian press and public.

--------------
Palestinian Reconciliation
--------------


5. (C) According to Aboul Gheit and Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Hossam Zaki who also addressed the issue, the
differences between the Palestinian factions are
"intractable." Fatah and Hamas share a vision of an
independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its
capital, but Hamas wants more and believes armed struggle is
more effective than negotiations. Aboul Gheit said that
although talks between Fatah and Hamas have been ongoing in
Cairo for three months, little has been achieved. Three
issues are under discussion: the formation of an interim
Palestinian government, followed by Palestinian elections in
2010; the design of an electoral system that will be used to
select a permanent Palestinian government; and the
restructuring of Palestinian security services. Aboul Gheit
said there has been some progress on the formation of an
interim government, although Fatah and Hamas disagree on
whether the interim government should have a political role,
the approach favored by Fatah, or would merely be a caretaker
government, Hamas' preference. On the issues of selecting an
electoral system and restructuring the security services,
Aboul Gheit said there has been no progress. Aboul Gheit
said this lack of progress is encouraging the "interference"
of outsiders - Iran and Qatar.

--------------
Iran and Nuclear Proliferation
--------------


6. (C) Aboul Gheit speculated that the new U.S.
Administration will engage with Iran, but will be
disappointed in late 2009 or early 2010 when it realizes that
Iran will not stop its enrichment activities. Aboul Gheit
believes Israel may then attack Iran. According to Aboul
Gheit, the "intransigence" of Israel and Iran will place the
U.S. in an awkward position with the Islamic world. Aboul
Gheit said the only real solution is a nuclear free zone in
the Middle East, which would require Israel to give up its
nuclear weapons. He said that while the U.S. may not
perceive a nuclear-armed Israel as a threat, it is so
perceived throughout the Middle East. If the U.S. pushed
Israel to renounce nuclear weapons, the U.S. would be in a
much stronger position to demand that Iran end its nuclear
program.


7. (U) CODEL Tauscher did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable before departure.


SCOBEY