PRESIDENT AZIZ ON MAURITANIAN RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000569

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS MR
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT AZIZ ON MAURITANIAN RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL

Classified By: Ambassador Mark M. Boulware for reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Ambassador met with President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
on September 8 ostensibly to deliver President Obama's
invitation for a luncheon with sub-Saharan Heads of State on
the margins of UNGA (SEPTEL) and to deliver REFTEL demarche
on the eve of the Arab League summit. Ambassador expanded
on the REFTEL request for concrete actions by Arab states in
support of the Middle East peace process in order to broach
the question of Mauritania's frozen relations with Israel.
The Ambassador told Aziz we understood the Israelis were
urgently looking for indications of whether Aziz planned to
restart the relationship or not -- understanding this might
not happen immediately. The Ambassador indicated there was
some discussion in Israel of withdrawing their remaining
personnel (housed at the Israeli residence) and simply
abandonning the physical presence.


2. (C) President Aziz told the Ambassador that the presence
of the Israeli embassy in Nouakchott had always been polemic
for Mauritania. He noted that the first Al Qaeda action in
Mauritania was the 2008 attack against the embassy (Comment:
Seeming to suggest that the increase in AQIM activities in
Mauritania had at least started as a response to the
relations with Israel. End Comment). The fact that
Mauritania was isolated in the region in having relations
with Israel has been a source of constant and strong pressure
from neighboring states. Mauritanian public opinion remained
strongly "90 to 95%" opposed to the relationship.


3. (C) President Aziz said "the relationship has to be
justified (to the population and neighbors) by actions." The
constant escalation of violence in the region including
incursions into Gaza had made the Mauritanian position harder
and harder to support on a political front. Material
benefits from the relationship were limited to the
refurbishment of a hospital -- insufficient to counter the
political costs of the relationship. Aziz noted, "we are
open to a continued relationship, but the Israelis have to
help us justify it." He stressed he was "not talking about
money" but political actions. He added, "I know that the
Palestinians also need to do a lot too." Drawing on the fact
that relations are "frozen" and not broken, Aziz noted "there
is more to a relationship than a building and a flag pole."


4. (C) Comment: President Aziz' comments indicate he is
comfortable with the status quo -- neither returning to a
quasi-normal relationship with Israel nor actually breaking
relationships. While making no substantive comments, he
responded "yes" to the main points of REFTEL calling on all
parties to work towards peace between Israel and the
Palestinians and normal full relations between Arab states
and Israel. He reinforced "we have no problem with Israel"
but made clear his domestic and regional political
calculations do not justify "unfreezing" relations quite yet.
We believe Mauritania may follow the lead of other Arab
states if they have a rapprochement with the Israelis, but
Aziz will not get out in front on this issue. End Comment.
BOULWARE