Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MUSCAT481
2009-05-26 11:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
how-toVZCZCXRO2588 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0481 1461100 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 261102Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0439 INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000481
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/05/26
TAGS: PREL IS MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FM SPEAKS OUT ON JERUSALEM
CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000481
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/05/26
TAGS: PREL IS MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FM SPEAKS OUT ON JERUSALEM
CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (U) According to press reports on May 24, Yusuf bin Alawi bin
Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, rejected
Israeli attempts to make Jerusalem a Jewish city. While in
Damascus for the Organization of the Islamic Conference, he
publicly reacted to Israeli PM Netenyahu's statements on Jerusalem
saying that the international community and Islamic countries
should work together to end Israel's aggressive policy. Bin Alawi
stressed that Netenyahu's statements are not convincing and will
not alter Jerusalem's position in Islamic civilization.
2. (C) Comment: Bin Alawi's statements appear to give voice to a
hardening of the Arab lines with Israel, as Oman reacts to the
policies of the new Israeli government. However, in the past, the
Sultan has permitted bin Alawi to express positions beyond the
bonds of Oman's official positons, and this may be an example of
using that approach to manage domestic constituents. On the other
hand, during the Ambassador's farewell call on the minister, bin
Alawi expressed a profound frustration with the state of
Israeli-Palestinian affairs to a degree not previously experienced.
In this light, bin Alawi's comments in Damascus represent a
personal dimension. End Comment.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/05/26
TAGS: PREL IS MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FM SPEAKS OUT ON JERUSALEM
CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (U) According to press reports on May 24, Yusuf bin Alawi bin
Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, rejected
Israeli attempts to make Jerusalem a Jewish city. While in
Damascus for the Organization of the Islamic Conference, he
publicly reacted to Israeli PM Netenyahu's statements on Jerusalem
saying that the international community and Islamic countries
should work together to end Israel's aggressive policy. Bin Alawi
stressed that Netenyahu's statements are not convincing and will
not alter Jerusalem's position in Islamic civilization.
2. (C) Comment: Bin Alawi's statements appear to give voice to a
hardening of the Arab lines with Israel, as Oman reacts to the
policies of the new Israeli government. However, in the past, the
Sultan has permitted bin Alawi to express positions beyond the
bonds of Oman's official positons, and this may be an example of
using that approach to manage domestic constituents. On the other
hand, during the Ambassador's farewell call on the minister, bin
Alawi expressed a profound frustration with the state of
Israeli-Palestinian affairs to a degree not previously experienced.
In this light, bin Alawi's comments in Damascus represent a
personal dimension. End Comment.
GRAPPO