US embassy cable - 04ROME4059

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 004059 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NEA/ENA PLEASE PASS TO TRIPOLI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2009 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KIRF, IT, LY 
SUBJECT: TRIPOLI ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET FOR 
ITALIAN-LIBYAN JEWS 
 
REF: ROME 3911 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN, 1.4 (b)(d) 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  The delegation of Italian-Libyan Jews who 
visited Tripoli October 10-14 described their trip as a 
success and were jubilant at having seen and been welcomed in 
their homeland.  The trip provided the Libyans with an 
opportunity to evaluate their visitors; the group did not 
meet with Qadhafi or his sons but saw the Foreign Minister 
and the Secretary General for Foreign Affairs of the General 
People's Congress.  They were offered promises of renewed 
citizenship and encouraged to invest and visit, but actual 
compensation was not discussed.  The group expects to return 
in late November after the end of Ramadan for more 
discussions.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C) The delegation of Italian-Libyan Jews who visited 
Tripoli October 10-14 at the invitation of Qadhafi's son 
Sa'adi provided the Embassy with a readout of what they 
described as a very successful visit.  The Libyans gave the 
group the red carpet treatment, including lavish hotel suites 
and meals. 
 
3.  (C)  According to Shalom Tesciuba, the leader of the 
delegation, they first paid a courtesy call on FM Abdelrahman 
Shalgham, who stressed Libya's desire to return to the fold 
of brotherly nations.  He probed the group for their views on 
Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq but avoided polemics. 
 
4.  (C)  During a meeting with Suleiman Shahoumi, Secretary 
General for Foreign Affairs at the General People's Congress, 
former Libyan Ambassador to Rome al-Obeidi (now in Qadhafi's 
personal office), and Mohammad Zwayy, Libyan Ambasador to the 
UK, discussions centered on offers of citizenship, tourism 
and commerce.  Shahoumi told the group they were welcome to 
return and reclaim their citizenship without losing their 
Italian citizenship.  He indicated that wives and children 
not born in Libya could also expect to receive citizenship. 
Family members who did not want to claim citizenship would be 
welcome to visit Libya's ruins, hotels and beaches.  These 
offers, Shahoumi said, also applied to Libyan Jews who had 
fled to the U.S., UK, France, etc.  When the group asked 
about their actual certificates of citizenship, however, 
Shahoumi indicated that it could be discussed further after 
Ramadan. Shahoumi also urged the group to invest and 
establish commercial enterprises and even offered some 
financial assistance and privileges, although what kind of 
privileges remained unclear. 
 
5.  (C)  The group had hoped for a meeting with Qadhafi, but 
at the last moment, al-Obeidi sent the Colonel's regrets 
saying that he had too many prior appointments.  They did not 
see either Saif or Sa'adi Qadhafi. 
 
6.  (C)  The group also visited the old city and the old 
Jewish community, including a 14th Century synagogue now in 
tatters without a ceiling.  Sadly, the Jewish cemetery is 
gone, and a luxury complex has been built on its former site. 
 They were told there are 44 synagogues throughout Libya and 
there was some discussion of the need for renovations.  In 
visiting the old city, several of the group broke down in 
tears upon seeing their former homes.  Still, as a whole the 
group was elated over their ability to return.  They spoke 
Arabic with people in the streets and the suqs and described 
everyone as friendly and welcoming.  At a restaurant where 
the MFA had arranged a lavish meal, they said the owner 
initially had been unsure of how to act because he had never 
seen or spoken to a Jewish person, but he ended up calling 
them brothers. 
 
7.  (C)  There was no specific discussion of compensation for 
seized monies or property.  The next step will be a return 
trip, probably around November 20-22 for the same delegation. 
 They may consider also bringing lawyers or specialists to 
help evaluate property, but first they will discuss the trip 
with their community.  They thought there would be a 
possibility for American-Libyans to visit as well.  They 
planned to brief the Israeli Ambassador to Rome this week and 
have already briefed their sister community in New York.  The 
group will also meet with Congressman Tom Lantos November 6 
when he visits Rome en route to Tripoli. 
 
8.  (C)  Comment:  Clearly, the Libyans saw the trip as a way 
to evaluate the group before extending any commitments. 
Tesciuba felt that the signals they received were excellent 
and believed the Libyan offers were credible and fully worth 
further exploration.  Overall, the group was jubilant at 
having seen and been welcomed in their homeland.  Both sides 
understand that any offers of compensation will require 
extensive negotiations, and the group continued to believe 
that U.S. recognition of the Libyan initiative would be 
 
 
important to its eventual success. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME04059 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL