US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1898

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001898 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014 
TAGS: KWBG, EAID, PREL, NL, UN 
SUBJECT: SETTING THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER'S AHLC MEETING - 
WHY THE WORLD BANK LEAD? 
 
REF: SECSTATE 162864 
 
Classified By: Andrew Schofer, PolCouns, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.   (C)  Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Gerard Steeghs, 
MFA Deputy Director for the UN and IFIs, on July 28.  Steeghs 
quickly focused on the large role for the World Bank outlined 
in the points.  Characterizing the Palestinian/Israeli 
disengagement project as "hyperpolitical," he observed both 
that the Bank normally eschews a major political role and 
that it is not known for doing such work well.  Steeghs was 
"surprised at the confidence that the Bank is getting." 
 
2.  (C)  Steeghs noted the prominence in the paper of 
Palestinian obligations on security and suggested it would be 
useful to mention the Israeli obligations with equal 
prominence.  Poloff drew on reftel's extra points for Quartet 
capitals to explain Israel's desire to be flexible and 
creative to make the plan work. 
 
3.  (C)  Steeghs will be in Washington later this week for WB 
meetings on other matters. He has good connections inside the 
WB Netherlands constituency office, where he worked 1992 - 
1995 and which represents Israeli interests at the Bank.  He 
promised to consult colleagues there, including an Israeli in 
the office, to learn more about WB plans and then get back to 
us next week. 
SOBEL