US embassy cable - 04VATICAN1548

C O N F I D E N T I A L  VATICAN 001548 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE: LEVIN; NEA/IPA; IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2014 
TAGS: IS, KPAL, KWBG, PREL, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN RAISES CONCERNS ON PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, 
SHARON PLAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 84066 
 
     B. 03 VATICAN 5748 
     C. VATICAN 1445 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jim Nicholson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Holy See Country Director for Israel Franco Coppola 
told Poloff April 16 that the Holy See had concerns about 
both the Presidential statement issued April 14 and PM 
Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan.  Coppola said that the USG's 
consent for Israel to keep some parts of the West Bank it has 
occupied since 1967 and to deny the right of Palestinian 
refugees to return to Israel left the Palestinians with no 
leverage and left Israel completely "in the driver's seat." 
Although he agreed that the U.S. position on the land and 
refugee issues reflected current realities, he said the move 
was bound to sit poorly with the Arab world and with many in 
Europe.  Coppola was also concerned about language in the 
statement that endorsed what he said might be unilateral or 
excessive Israeli military measures.  He acknowledged several 
ref (a) points, such as the positive nature of the decision 
to remove any settlements, and the need for the Palestinian 
leadership to act more decisively against terror.  Comments 
by Catholic officials in the media contributed to a negative 
buzz on the issue.  End Summary. 
 
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Israel in the Driver's Seat 
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2.  (C) Holy See Country Director for Israel Franco Coppola 
told us April 16 that the Vatican had concerns about the 
Presidential statement issued April 14 and PM Sharon's plan 
to withdraw settlements from Gaza.  Coppola acknowledged that 
it was "unthinkable" for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 
borders, and likewise impossible that Palestinians could have 
the right of return to a future Israeli state.  At the same 
time, he believed that taking these items "off the table" 
left the Palestinians with no leverage and left Israel 
"completely in the driver's seat."  This was bound to sit 
poorly with the Arab world -- and many Europeans, he said. 
Poloff shared ref (a) points with Coppola and emphasized the 
opportunity that existed for progress with Sharon's 
initiative; we pointed out (and he agreed) that the removal 
of settlements would be a historic, precedent-setting 
measure.  In addition, we underlined that the U.S. had no 
intention of prejudicing the outcome of permanent status 
negotiations. 
 
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Israel's Capacity to Deter and Defend 
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3.  (C) Coppola said that further Holy See reaction to the 
plan and the Presidential statement would depend on the 
interpretation of some of the language used.  He was curious 
about the statement's reference to Israel as a "Jewish 
state," and wondered what implications that might have for 
religious freedom in the country.  Coppola expressed concern 
over the implications of the portion of the statement that 
emphasized the USG commitment to "preserve and strengthen 
Israel's capability to deter and defend itself, by itself, 
against any threat or possible combination of threats."  To 
Coppola, this smacked of unilateral and potentially excessive 
action of which the Holy See did not approve.  Further, the 
section on "prevent(ing) the areas from which Israel has 
withdrawn from posing a threat that would have to be 
addressed by any other means" seemed to him ominous and 
vague. 
 
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Leadership Vacuum 
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4.  (C) Coppola also questioned how likely it was that the 
U.S. and others could "foster...new leadership" in Palestine. 
 "You can't force leaders on the people," he said.  "You have 
to work with those who already command the allegiance of the 
people."  We noted the failure of the current Palestinian 
leadership to meet its responsibilities in reform and the 
suppression of terrorism.  Coppola agreed that Palestinian 
leadership had not done enough against terror and admitted 
that it had not been helpful to the peace process. 
 
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Media Plays Negative Catholic Comments 
 
 
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5.  (U) Vatican media have picked up some negative comments 
by Holy See officials and other Catholics in the Holy Lands, 
contributed to the public impression of Vatican concern about 
the Sharon Plan.  Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the 
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and a persistent and 
vocal critic of U.S. policy in the region (ref b), asserted 
that it seemed "unjust" for the U.S. and Israel "not to 
listen to the other side" given that there were two 
contending parties.  Another Catholic church source based in 
the region was quoted by the widely read Catholic News 
Service as declaring that the plan represented an 
"overwhelming victory for Israel and a catastrophic defeat 
for the Palestinians."  "The road map is over," the source 
added, claiming that "Peace (in the Middle East) is doomed." 
 
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Comment 
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6. (C) The Holy See continues to regard the 
Israel-Palestinian conflict as "the mother of all conflicts" 
in the region and a source of anti-Western feeling that 
contributes to the growth of terrorism throughout the Middle 
East.  The Vatican also hears a steady stream of reports from 
religious workers active in the Palestinian Territories of 
humiliations endured by Palestinians and hardships facing 
those who work with them.  A group of American religious 
leaders who called on the Ambassador this week noted that 
they routinely had to allot 3 hours for an 8 mile trip to 
attend a meeting outside of Jerusalem.  Even Vatican 
Cardinals lecturing in the area were sometimes turned back or 
harassed at checkpoints.  All of this has contributed to an 
increasingly tense relationship between the Holy See and 
Israel (ref c).  Resolution of current visa and residency 
issues as recently promised by the Israeli government would 
be an important step forward. 
 
Nicholson 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
 
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 2004VATICA01548 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL