APPROACHING MAURITANIA REGARDING RELATIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 014163 E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL USAU MR IS SUBJECT: APPROACHING MAURITANIA REGARDING RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL REF: (A) NOUAKCHOTT 118 (B) TEL AVIV 384 Classified By: AF Acting DAS Mark Boulware, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). BACKGROUND -------------- ¶1. (C) The Israeli Embassy in Washington demarched AF/W on February 12. After exchanging views regarding developments in Mauritania, Israeli emboff related concern about Mauritania's recent statements on Israel and its messages to Israel's Ambassador in Nouakchott (reftels). Israel feels without targeted American pressure, Mauritania may soon break diplomatic relations. ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Post is instructed to seek a meeting, at the earliest possible opportunity, between Charge and the Americas Chief at the Foreign Ministry and may draw from the points below. There should be no attendant publicity, which could be counter-productive, but a readout may be shared with the Israeli Ambassador in-country. No non-paper should be left. Please report any readout of demarche via front channel cable. (BEGIN POINTS) --We take note of Mauritania's recent statements and actions concerning your diplomatic relations with Israel. --We assume that these statements and actions do not signal a departure from Mauritania's Israel policy, which dates back through several governments. Rather, we think that they are intended to get our attention. --Moreover, although our relations have been strained since the August 2008 coup, they will only become more difficult if you break diplomatic relations with Israel ) a step that might prove politically impossible to reverse. CLINTON