Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RABAT290
2009-04-06 18:36:00
SECRET
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

MOROCCO,S ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE

Tags:  PREL KPAL KWBG IS MO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0858
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHRB #0290/01 0961836
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 061836Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9929
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000290 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE MITCHELL
STATE ALSO FOR S, P, S/P, NEA, NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
NSC FOR SHAPIRO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG IS MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO,S ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000290

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE MITCHELL
STATE ALSO FOR S, P, S/P, NEA, NEA/MAG AND IO/UNP
NSC FOR SHAPIRO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG IS MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO,S ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Senator Mitchell, we warmly welcome your
proposed trip to Morocco. King Mohammed VI and his
government are anxious to exchange ideas with you. Morocco
can play an important, if secondary, role in the Middle East
Peace Process. The Government of Morocco (GOM) is supportive
of the Annapolis Process, has been a strong backer of
President Abbas and is perhaps the sole Arab state to refuse
any dealings with HAMAS. It also has cordial, open and
high-level, if irregular, contacts with Israeli officials.
Moroccan Jews living in Israel, many of whom support Likud,
maintain strong ties to Morocco. However, internal anger
over recent Israeli actions in Gaza forced the GOM and Palace
to temper their public support for Israel although
back-channel communication continues. The King, as Chairman
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,s (OIC,s)
Al-Quds Committee, is in a position to use his influence and
good offices to positive effect, and he has called the first
Committee meeting in seven years for May 1 and 2. End
Summary.


2. (C) Morocco can play an important, if secondary, role in
the Middle East Peace Process. A population of hundreds of
thousands of Moroccan Jews in Israel (historically key
supporters of Likud) continues to maintain some ties to the
one percent of the original Jewish population that remains
here. The pillars of Moroccan society have been vocal about
their tolerance toward that remaining community, stressing
the historical and continuing contribution of its Jewish
citizens to the Moroccan state. Even members of Islamist
parties that complain about the depth of continuing ties with
Israel stress their appreciation of the Jewish community.
Their policy critiques have failed to disrupt continuing
trade ties. Then-Prime Minister Shimon Peres, trip to
Morocco in 1986 helped energize the peace process and take
the heat off Egypt and Jordan. Post-Oslo, Israel opened a
liaison office here, but the Government of Morocco (GOM)
closed it during the Intifada.



3. (S) We have briefed the Foreign Minister (FM) on details
of the Annapolis negotiations, and he has been supportive.
He and his colleagues in the government believe an agreement
is possible, although they are uncertain where the process
will go with the new Israeli government. The GOM has been a
strong backer of President Abbas and perhaps the sole Arab
state to refuse any dealings with HAMAS. It may have some
ideas of how to move forward.


4. (S) Recently, Morocco has continued to maintain quiet
diplomatic contacts with Israel. It has been a supporter of
President Sarkozy,s Union for the Mediterranean and the
inclusion of Israel in the structure. It continues to permit
and even invite Israeli representatives to attend
international conferences here.

--------------
Aborted Outreach to Israel
--------------


5. (S) In November 2008, former Israeli Foreign Minister
Sylvan Shalom (of Moroccan origin) and several current
Israeli senior officials, including an adviser to then
Israeli Foreign Minister Livni, attended a public conference
on the Mediterranean that was sponsored by a think tank run
by the son of Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri. The Minister had
an unannounced bilateral meeting with the Israelis, whom he
has met in international settings, including with Livni
during the Fall 2008 Quartet meetings in Sharm el Sheikh. At
that time, Moroccan officials acknowledged they were looking
at enhancing their relations, but discussions about a
possible dramatic step, including a possible visit here by
Livni, were put on hold following the Israeli intervention in
Gaza.

--------------
The Gaza Factor
--------------


6. (S) The fighting caused the same widespread public
outrage as was felt across the region. Party leaders from
both government parties and the opposition participated in
increasingly large protests. The Islamists, both the legal
Party for Justice and Development and the tolerated Justice
and Good Works religious-political movement (Adl Wa Ihssane)
helped swell the crowds and used the demonstrations to
increase their own popularity, until they were checked by the

RABAT 00000290 002 OF 002


government. The end of the incursion and change of U.S.
administrations defused the protests, but the fighting and
lingering issues appear to preclude any near-term public
action by the GOM, absent major progress on the
Israeli-Palestinian front (including Gaza).

--------------
The Jerusalem Committee
--------------


7. (SBU) King Mohammed VI inherited his father,s mantle as
Chairman of the Al-Quds or Jerusalem Committee of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The Committee
is responsible for preserving the Islamic holy places in
Jerusalem and the Islamic character and population of the
ancient city. The Committee has a related Fund, based in
Rabat and headed by Abdelkebir Alaoui M,daghri, a former
Minister of Islamic Affairs under the late King Hassan II.
The Fund runs relatively modest projects to support sites and
the people of Jerusalem, some of which also benefit citizens
of other religions.


8. (SBU) King Mohammed VI long kept a relatively low profile
on this issue but has increased activity of late with a
further increase post-Gaza, in part to keep him ahead of the
rising curve of public anger on the issue. In this capacity,
King Mohammed wrote then-President Bush protesting Government
of Israel (GOI) plans to demolish some Palestinian Homes in
Jerusalem, and then raised it again with the new
Administration. We understand the Secretary raised this with
the GOI; recalling this will be appreciated by the Moroccans.
We also understand that the King has called for a meeting of
the full Committee, possibly at the head-of-state level, at
the beginning of May, to discuss threats to the holy city,
and perhaps, future prospects for peace. As an OIC entity,
the Committee can potentially be a mechanism for mobilizing
support from the broader Islamic world, along the lines of
the Arab Peace Initiative.


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Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************

Jackson