MOROCCAN KING PROTESTS ISRAELI EVICTIONS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000181

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S AND NEA, NEA/MAG AND NEA/IPA
TEL AVIV FOR SECRETARY'S PARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2029
TAGS: PREL OPDC KISL KWBG KPAL IS MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCAN KING PROTESTS ISRAELI EVICTIONS IN
JERUSALEM IN LETTERS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND OTHERS

REF: JERUSALEM 0319 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: King Mohammed VI, as chair of the
Jerusalem Committee of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC),has written to President Obama and other
leaders asking them to press Israel to halt plans to demolish
88 Arab homes and evict 1,500 Palestinians in the area near
the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. He claimed the evictions
would violate international law and agreements between Israel
and the Palestinians. The King feared that this would lead
to worsening tension and violence, particularly in the
current difficult post-Gaza environment. He also underscored
his personal commitment to a peace process leading to a
two-state solution, and his intent to engage on its behalf.
The King has been increasingly vocal in his Jerusalem
Committee role, in part to head off Moroccan Islamists'
efforts to mobilize support on issue taking. End Summary.


2. (U) According to the official Moroccan press agency
(MAP),on March 2, Morocco's King Mohammed VI sent letters to
President Obama, the leaders of other UN Security Council
permanent member states, Pope Benedict XVI, and to the Czech
Prime Minister as EU President, calling on them to press
Israel to abandon its new plan to demolish 88 homes owned by
Arab nationals, evicting 1,500 Palestinians in the Al Bustan
area adjacent to the walls of the Holy Al Aqsa Mosque. The
King wrote in his capacity as the Chairman of the OIC,s
Jerusalem (Al-Quds) Committee, a role he inherited from his
father.


3. (U) The letter underscored, as he has previously, that
the Israelis are required to "preserve the special character
of the holy city, and avoid changing "the architectural and
demographic realities of the city." He called recipients to
act to compel Israel to desist from implementing its
"unacceptable" plan. The King made clear that the planned
forced removal of Palestinians would only lead to further
tensions and violence, particularly in the current difficult
circumstances in the region and the painful humanitarian
situation in Gaza. He pleaded for the international
community to intercede with the Israelis to stop the
imposition of "facts on the ground."


4. (U) The King reiterated Morocco's continuous efforts to
find a solution that will guarantee the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel
in peace and concord, and in which final status issues,
especially the fate of Al Quds (Jerusalem),would feature
prominently." He also indicated he was eager to pursue his
own efforts to the promote peace and Arab and Islamic rights.


5. (C) Comment: King Mohammed's quick reaction on this
issue underscores the seriousness with which he views his
role as Al-Quds Committee Chairman. Before the Gaza crisis,
Morocco was considering additional initiatives toward Israel.
The letter is also a mark of his determination to stay ahead
of popular reaction to the Israeli actions. Mid-way through
the Gaza crisis he moved both to take the lead on the issue
and to limit local Islamists, ability to mobilize around it
and to prevent them from gaining significant traction.
During the Gaza fighting, much of popular opinion in Morocco
saw the USG as empowering the Israeli effort. That gradually
increasing discontent stopped with end of the incursion and
the arrival of our new Administration. The Embassy has not
yet seen the original letter. End Comment.


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Jackson