Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TELAVIV48
2009-01-08 17:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
FRENCH-EGYPTIAN PROPOSAL "POSITIVE" BUT NOT
how-toVZCZCXRO2447 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHTV #0048 0081724 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081724Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9932 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000048
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS KWBG UNAUS FR EG IS
SUBJECT: FRENCH-EGYPTIAN PROPOSAL "POSITIVE" BUT NOT
ACCEPTED
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000048
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS KWBG UNAUS FR EG IS
SUBJECT: FRENCH-EGYPTIAN PROPOSAL "POSITIVE" BUT NOT
ACCEPTED
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Despite press reports press reports quoting an Elysee
announcement to that effect, Israel has not accepted the
ceasefire proposal made by President Mubarak of Egypt and
President Sarkozy of France on January 7. MOD and PMO
sources confirmed that Israel still has serious concerns
regarding the the sequencing of a ceasefire and the steps
that need to be taken to combat smuggling. MFA contacts
added that the press statement issued by the PMO on January 7
(text below) was intended to make clear that an agreement has
not been reached. All GOI interlocutors separately
emphasized the importance of a credible arrangement on the
Gaza border with Egypt as a virtual precondition to a
ceasefire (Note: Israel conducted an extensive bombing
campaign on the Philadelphi corridor that has continued
thorugh January 7). The MOD's Political Military Director,
Amos Gilad, will meet with EGIS Director Omar Suleiman on
January 8. Press reports indicate that Egyptian President
Mubarak has invited PM Olmert to Egypt, while the MFA told
the DCM that Mubarak has asked Abu Mazen to come to Cairo on
Saturday, January 10.
2. (C) PMO sources told the Ambassador that the GOI was still
considering its options and awaiting the results of Gilad's
trip to Egypt. The discussions between Sarkozy and Olmert
were different in some key respects from what Mubarak
announced following Sarkozy's visit to Damascus, particularly
in terms of sequencing of a ceasefire and steps to combat
smuggling. PMO sources added that part of the original
understanding with Sarkozy was that France, as UNSC
president, would prevent a vote on a Security Council
resolution.
3. (C) Israeli contacts have complained that the French
announcement of a ceasefire agreement, while not true, had
created considerable confusion among surprised Israel
politicians and led to some inaccurate press stories that the
government was in disarray. But our PMO contacts have
asserted that the divisions within the GOI and the IDF are
not a serious as some in the press are playing them.
4. (C) MG Amos Gilad told the Ambassador on January 7 that
he will go by himself to Egypt on January 8 to meet with EGIS
Director Omar Suleiman as a representative of the PM, FM, and
MOD to discuss possible arrangements (Note: Gilad's staff
confirmed on January 8 that he had departed, and press
reports indicate he has landed). While Gilad was not sure
what he would be able to do, he was going at Egypt's
invitation and acknowledged the importance of direct
discussions. Gilad indicated his primary goal is to convince
Egypt of the link between improving border security and
averting a wider military operation. Gilad also believes that
the MOU approach is a mistake because the issue is not
getting an agreement from Egypt, but what Egypt actually does.
5. (C) Finally, as acting COGAT, Gilad told the Ambassador
he believed that real gains had been made on humanitarian
issues. The Ambassador responded that much more needed to be
done, emphasizing that problems on the humanitarian side were
victories for Hamas.
6. (U) The following is the text of the January 7 press
release from the Prime Minister's Office:
BEGIN TEXT
Israel is working to improve the security reality in the
south of the country. Israel thanks Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak and French President Nicholas Sarkozy for their
efforts to advance a solution for halting terrorist actions
from Gaza and the smuggling of war materiel into the Gaza
Strip from Egypt. Israel views as positive the dialogue
between Egyptian and Israeli officials in order to advance
these issues.
END TEXT
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
********************************************* ********************
CUNNINGHAM
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS KWBG UNAUS FR EG IS
SUBJECT: FRENCH-EGYPTIAN PROPOSAL "POSITIVE" BUT NOT
ACCEPTED
Classified By: Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Despite press reports press reports quoting an Elysee
announcement to that effect, Israel has not accepted the
ceasefire proposal made by President Mubarak of Egypt and
President Sarkozy of France on January 7. MOD and PMO
sources confirmed that Israel still has serious concerns
regarding the the sequencing of a ceasefire and the steps
that need to be taken to combat smuggling. MFA contacts
added that the press statement issued by the PMO on January 7
(text below) was intended to make clear that an agreement has
not been reached. All GOI interlocutors separately
emphasized the importance of a credible arrangement on the
Gaza border with Egypt as a virtual precondition to a
ceasefire (Note: Israel conducted an extensive bombing
campaign on the Philadelphi corridor that has continued
thorugh January 7). The MOD's Political Military Director,
Amos Gilad, will meet with EGIS Director Omar Suleiman on
January 8. Press reports indicate that Egyptian President
Mubarak has invited PM Olmert to Egypt, while the MFA told
the DCM that Mubarak has asked Abu Mazen to come to Cairo on
Saturday, January 10.
2. (C) PMO sources told the Ambassador that the GOI was still
considering its options and awaiting the results of Gilad's
trip to Egypt. The discussions between Sarkozy and Olmert
were different in some key respects from what Mubarak
announced following Sarkozy's visit to Damascus, particularly
in terms of sequencing of a ceasefire and steps to combat
smuggling. PMO sources added that part of the original
understanding with Sarkozy was that France, as UNSC
president, would prevent a vote on a Security Council
resolution.
3. (C) Israeli contacts have complained that the French
announcement of a ceasefire agreement, while not true, had
created considerable confusion among surprised Israel
politicians and led to some inaccurate press stories that the
government was in disarray. But our PMO contacts have
asserted that the divisions within the GOI and the IDF are
not a serious as some in the press are playing them.
4. (C) MG Amos Gilad told the Ambassador on January 7 that
he will go by himself to Egypt on January 8 to meet with EGIS
Director Omar Suleiman as a representative of the PM, FM, and
MOD to discuss possible arrangements (Note: Gilad's staff
confirmed on January 8 that he had departed, and press
reports indicate he has landed). While Gilad was not sure
what he would be able to do, he was going at Egypt's
invitation and acknowledged the importance of direct
discussions. Gilad indicated his primary goal is to convince
Egypt of the link between improving border security and
averting a wider military operation. Gilad also believes that
the MOU approach is a mistake because the issue is not
getting an agreement from Egypt, but what Egypt actually does.
5. (C) Finally, as acting COGAT, Gilad told the Ambassador
he believed that real gains had been made on humanitarian
issues. The Ambassador responded that much more needed to be
done, emphasizing that problems on the humanitarian side were
victories for Hamas.
6. (U) The following is the text of the January 7 press
release from the Prime Minister's Office:
BEGIN TEXT
Israel is working to improve the security reality in the
south of the country. Israel thanks Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak and French President Nicholas Sarkozy for their
efforts to advance a solution for halting terrorist actions
from Gaza and the smuggling of war materiel into the Gaza
Strip from Egypt. Israel views as positive the dialogue
between Egyptian and Israeli officials in order to advance
these issues.
END TEXT
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
********************************************* ********************
CUNNINGHAM