MOROCCO STILL ENGAGED WITH ISRAEL BUT SEES

S E C R E T RABAT 000533


NOFORN

NEA FOR SE MITCHELL, IPA AND MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL XF EAID MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO STILL ENGAGED WITH ISRAEL BUT SEES
NETANYAHU SPEECH AS A SHUFFLE NOT A STEP

REF: A. STATE 62909

B. RABAT 484

Classified By: Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Polcouns met with Moroccan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Director General of Bilateral Affairs Mohammed
Azaroual on June 19th to urge (per ref. A) Morocco to work in
the coming Arab League Ministerial to promote peace efforts
and to consider Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
recent speech a positive step. Azaroual was unenthusiastic
about the request, stating that in light of the language used
in Netanyahu's speech, he "would be stupid" to present this
to his Arab partners, especially Saudi Arabia. Though he
praised President Obama's speech in Cairo as an opportunity
for greater cooperation on the Middle East peace issue, he
remained convinced that Israel must take the first step.
With frankness characteristic of our close relationship, he
confided that many of his Arab League colleagues had been
critical of President Obama's speech, wanting to see actions
not words. Polcouns stressed the importance of the new and
transparent approach embodied in the President's speech.


2. (S/NF) Azaroual was particularly nonplused at the U.S.
characterization of Netanyahu's speech as "a step forward" in
the peace process. To underscore his skepticism, Azaroual
stood up and physically took a step forward. Departing from
his normally open but diplomatic style, he then showed how he
saw Netanyahu's "step forward," by dancing and shuffling
sideways and backwards. He stated that the Moroccan MFA is
ready to work for the peace process, but underscored that
Israel must take a real first step before it can convince
other Arab partners to join. He reminded Polcouns, however,
that Morocco has consistently worked for peace and has been
the most forward leaning Arab State. Most recently he
received the Israeli MFA North Africa chief to discuss
"bilateral issues" (ref. B) with more high level talks in the
works. He had also recently conferred by phone, also on
"bilateral issues," with a senior member of the Knesset
Foreign Affairs Committee.


3. (C) Azaroual, recalling fruitful discussions in April
here with SE Mitchell, was eager to be updated on Mitchell's
impressions following the SE's recent consultations.
Moroccan officials, likely led by FM Fassi Fihri and
including Azaroual, will be in Trieste for the Quartet
meeting on June 26. We recommend that the U.S. delegation
consider holding a sidebar meeting with the Moroccan
delegation to discuss the Middle East and the potential
Moroccan role.


4. (C) On a separate issue, Azaroual, a former Ambassador in
Teheran, expected no give from Khamenei, following the
latter's tough talk earlier in the day.


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