US embassy cable - 04ROME4404

C O N F I D E N T I A L  ROME 004404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR, NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2024 
TAGS: IS, IT, KPAL, PREL, EUN 
SUBJECT: EU STRATEGY ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE: ITALIAN VIEWS 
 
 
Classified By: POL MC THOMAS COUNTRYMAN, REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Italian MFA Middle East director outlined the 
state of discussion among EU members for an initiative on 
Israeli-Palestinian peace.  Italy is seeking to insert 
stronger messages to the initiatives: for Israel, the need to 
publicly declare readiness for negotiation, and for the 
Palestinians, the need to declare no tolerance for violence. 
Like other EU interlocutors, he emphasized that any EU 
initiative can succeed only in coordination with the Quartet 
and with a more active role from the United States.  End 
summary 
 
2.  (C) On November 16, MFA Director for the Eastern Med, 
Luca Ferrari, described to POL MC the Brussels state of play 
on the Middle East initiative proposed by EU High 
Representative Solana and enthusiastically supported by the 
Dutch Presidency.  All EU members agree that the EU must 
seize the opportunity afforded by Arafat's passing to push 
for renewed activism -- by the EU alone and by the Quartet. 
The initiative should be decided by EU Foreign Ministers at 
the November 22-23 GAERC.  Current discussion, continuing 
among EU Missions in Brussels, is focused on four sets of 
messages: to the Palestinians, Israel, the US, and other 
Arabs. 
 
-- Messages for the Palestinians: The EU will support, 
financially and with monitors, Palestinian elections, which 
must be held on schedule in January.  Reform of the 
Palestinian Authority must be accelerated, particularly as 
concerns the security services.  The PA should seek to broker 
a cease-fire with Hamas to avoid attacks in the Territories 
or within Israel.  The PA should resume security cooperation 
with Israel. 
 
-- Messages for Israel: Do everything possible to facilitate 
the holding of Palestinian elections.  Do not undertake new 
military activity in Gaza.  Do anything possible to improve 
the living conditions of Palestinians (handing over tax 
revenues, pulling back military presence in at least some 
population centers).  Resume Security cooperation with the 
Palestinian Authority. 
 
-- Messages for the United States: Hold a Quartet ministerial 
meeting as soon as possible (possibly on the margins of the 
Sharm al-Sheikh meeting).  Reinforce the EU message to 
Israel.  Increase financial assistance to the Palestinians. 
 
-- Messages to other regional states: Commit to increased 
funding for the Palestinians through the Ad Hoc Liaison 
Committee (particularly the Gulf states).  Egypt and Jordan 
to continue and increase their coordination with Palestinians 
in support of security forces reform.  Syria and Iran to show 
restraint and avoid interference in the Palestinian 
succession process. 
 
3. (C) Ferrari commented that all these messages are correct, 
but that Italy is pushing to include two more.  The 
Palestinians should be strongly advised to make a clear 
statement that there will be no resumption of intifada 
violence during an (unspecified) period.  And in turn Israel 
should be encouraged to state publicly that it is prepared to 
coordinate its Gaza withdrawal plan with the Palestinians in 
the context of the Roadmap.  Ferrari noted that Sharon had 
said exactly this during his meeting last week with Deputy 
Prime Minister Fini (shortly to become Foreign Minister). 
Fini urged Sharon to make exactly that comment publicly, in 
order to make clear that Israel recognized that something had 
changed with Arafat's death. 
 
4. (C) Ferrari lamented that many EU members are prepared to 
give tough messages to Israel, but not to the Palestinians. 
Without a strong puh from the EU for a pause to the 
intifada, Ferari said, the rest of the initiative will be oQ 
little value.  Italy will continue to push f/r a stronger 
message for both Israel and the Palestinians. 
 
5. (C) POL MC asked how important the issue 
of Israel alllestinian residents 
ari said the EU would prhe same arrangements as i 
elections.  If Israel drecedent, it 
would Qf Israel'@e `@he peaity that may not recur Q 
 
expectations of a more active US role in the process are 
elevated (particularly after the President's meeting with PM 
Blair), but so are their fears that Washington is not ready 
to speak strongly to both Israel and the Palestinians.  It is 
crucial, he concluded, that the next meeting of the Quartet, 
whether at Sharm or soon thereafter, conclude with a strong 
and united appeal to Israel and the PA along the lines of the 
initiative described above. 
 
 
SEMBLER 
 
 
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 2004ROME04404 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL