US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS4419

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 004419 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA, EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2009 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, IS, UNSC, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU'S SOLANA:  1967 BORDERS ARE STARTING POINT FOR 
MID-EAST PEACE 
 
 
Classified By: USEU/POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary.  In an October 13 speech before the 
European Parliament, EU High Rep Solana harshly criticized 
recent remarks by Israeli PM Sharon's cabinet chief, Dov 
Weisglass, that the Gaza disengagement plan was designed to 
freeze negotiations leading to a Palestinian state.  Solana 
also called for a Quartet effort to begin discussion of the 
borders of a Palestinian state, and challenged Israel to 
agree that the 1967 borders should be the basis for that 
negotiation.  End Summary. 
 
Solana to European Parliament:  Roadmap is stalled 
---------------------- 
2.  (SBU) In an October 13 address to the European 
Parliament, EU High Rep Javier Solana said events in the 
Middle East since the last Quartet meeting have stalled 
progress on the Roadmap.  In Gaza, the situation has 
deteriorated.  Rocket launches from the Palestinian side had 
triggered a disproportionate Israeli response.  The EU and 
others worked hard, but in vain, for a ceasefire.  Then came 
the attacks in Taba, which have generated a sense of 
"revulsion" among all.  The PA, Solana said, "needs a 
government;" much needs to be done on security. Arafat needs 
to delegate power to the Prime Minister.  Israel complains 
about not having a negotiating partner; this issue needs to 
be resolved so Israel does not have an "alibi" for not 
"trying" to move negotiations forward. 
 
Taking a Swipe at Weisglass 
-------------- 
3.  (SBU)  Israel, Solana said, is also politically unstable. 
 The recent Knesset vote against Sharon's Gaza plan and the 
issue of financing disengagement are causing problems in 
Israel.  Solana said there could be further political 
realignment, perhaps a coalition government, and elections 
could be moved up from 2006 to 2005.  With the Roadmap 
stalled, Solana said, "recent Israeli political declarations" 
(a reference to Weisglass) were "disgraceful" and "totally 
unacceptable."  The EU cannot accept Israel saying "no" to 
the Roadmap.  "Dishonesty doesn't help," Solana concluded, 
noting that the remarks in question were made by "someone 
close to the Prime Minister." 
 
What the EU can do 
------------ 
4.  (SBU)  Solana outlined four areas for EU action, all 
guided by the direction given by the Roadmap. 
 
--  Security:  The EU stands ready to help the PA improve its 
police structure to enhance law and order and combat 
terrorism. 
 
-- Reform:  The EU will support PA reform efforts.  But the 
PA needs to carry out reform. 
 
-- Economic:  The EU will do all it can to support Gaza 
disengagement.  But, if Israel intends to disengage only from 
Gaza, it can't count on continued EU support.  Gaza must be 
part of a broader plan leading to a negotiated resolution of 
all issues. 
 
-- Electoral Process:  The PA needs credible elections in the 
territories, and a credible Electoral Commission.  The EU 
will support this so Palestinians can elect the leaders they 
want. 
 
Focus on 1967 borders 
------------ 
5.  (SBU)  Saying it was time to "take a leap," Solana said 
the "step-by-step" approach to Roadmap implementation had 
reached its logical end.  Once the US elections are over, he 
continued, the EU wanted the Quartet to speed up 
implementation.  For example, no one has defined the borders 
of a Palestinian state yet, but their basic outline was 
"quite clear-- the 1967 borders."  The two parties can 
negotiate exchanges of territory as they see fit, but this 
must be on the basis of the 1967 borders as the starting 
point.  Solana concluded that it was imperative to "move 
forward speedily" to final settlement talks, and "get beyond 
the irresponsible statements of Israeli leaders." 
 
Comment 
------ 
6.  (C) Council Secretariat sources indicated to us in 
advance of Solana's speech that, despite press reporting that 
Solana would announce a major initiative, in fact there would 
be little that was really new.  They described this as the 
result of an effort by the Dutch presidency and Solana to 
pre-empt individual member states from launching trial 
balloons of their own, either out of anger over Weisglass's 
remarks or out of frustration over lack of progress on the 
Roadmap.  The Israeli mission in Brussels told us today that 
PM Sharon's office was upset with Solana's remarks but, in 
the words of the Embassy officer with whom we spoke, "There's 
nothing much in what Solana said to get upset about -- what 
Weisglass said was inexcusable." 
 
7.  (C) Comment continued.  We interpret Solana's remarks as 
an attempt to pin Sharon down on whether Gaza disengagement 
is in lieu of disengagement in the West Bank, or is part of a 
process that could ultimately include the West Bank and lead 
to a negotiated settlement of all final status questions. 
The 1967 borders is simply the vehicle Solana chose to 
achieve this.  We expect the EU will press this issue in any 
future Quartet meetings. 
 
McKinley