Saeb Erekat Uses Brookings Event to Address Netanyahu

UNCLAS DOHA 000245 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAL KPAO IS QA SUBJECT: Saeb Erekat Uses Brookings Event to Address Netanyahu ¶1. (U) Speaking at an event organized by the Brookings Doha Center on March 31, Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, addressing himself to the Al Jazeera camera taping the event, conveyed several messages to new Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Obama, the Quartet, Hamas, and Arab leaders. ¶2. (U) Message to Prime Minister Netanhayu: You missed a big opportunity in your Knesset speech to commit yourself to a two-state solution. There is no other choice, so just accept it. You can make peace with Shas and Avigdor Lieberman and Labor, but peace with me is much more important to the stability of the region. ¶3. (U) Message to President Obama: Do not adopt a policy of trying to accomplish what is possible for the Israelis; instead, go after what is needed for both parties. Americans must realize that their borders are no longer with Canada, Mexico and the two oceans, but with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, China, and Pakistan. With 200,000 of your kids in this region, you have a stake in stability. ¶4. (U) Message to the Quartet: If Netanyahu refuses to abide by his Road Map commitments, I hope you will treat him the same way you did Hamas when it refused to abide by previous Palestinian commitments. ¶5. (U) Message to Hamas: No one is asking you to recognize Israel, abide by previous agreements or give up resistance. As a political party, you can believe whatever you want, but as a government, we must act responsibly no matter who is in charge, and that means accepting previous agreements and dealing with Israel. Let us organize legislative and presidential elections, and solve our differences by ballots, not bullets. ¶6. (U) Message to Arab Leaders: Palestine and Jerusalem are bigger issues than any of your countries or capitals, but my shoulders are not big enough for all of you to tap dance on. Help us, but do not use us as political pawns in your own arguments. LEBARON