US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6546

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006546 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PARM, IS, GOI EXTERNAL, MILITARY RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: ISRAELI REASSURANCES ON NONPROLIFERATION SECTION 
OF THE EU-ISRAEL ACTION PLAN 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: Israeli officials told the Ambassador on 
December 22 that the nonproliferation section of the 
EU-Israel plan of action under the framework of the European 
Neighborhood Policy (ENP) contained "absolutely nothing new." 
 They described the plan as another attempt by the EU to lock 
Israel into a process and undermine other fora such as the 
Arms Control and Regional Security group.  Israel had agreed 
to the text because of beneficial provisions elsewhere in the 
plan (e.g., economic cooperation and combating 
anti-Semitism).  Israeli officials said they would resist 
changes to their nonproliferation policy, even if this stance 
results in delays to the ENP process.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) During a meeting on December 22, Israel Atomic Energy 
Commission (IAEC) Director General Gideon Frank, his 
Principal Deputy for Policy Eli Levite, and Director for Arms 
Control Merav Zafary briefed the Ambassador and poloffs on 
the nonproliferation section of the EU-Israel action plan. 
They also discussed Iran and the upcoming IAEA forum on 
experience with nuclear-weapon-free zones (septels). 
 
3. (C) Levite said that the Israeli cabinet had recently 
discussed the nonproliferation section of the text of the 
joint EU-Israel plan of action under the framework of the 
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).  PM Sharon had explicitly 
asked the IAEC to inform the USG that there is "absolutely 
nothing new" in Israel's arms control policy, despite what 
some EU members may say.  In Levite's analysis, the EU is 
trying to lock Israel into "some sort of process" on arms 
control.  He said Israel's clear preference is to work these 
issues with the USG or on its own. 
 
4. (C) The Ambassador asked if the EU shared Israel's 
interpretation of the action plan.  Frank replied, "some of 
them do."  He noted that the chapeau of the nonproliferation 
section (text available under http://europa.eu.int) clearly 
states that the two sides will develop their dialogue in the 
context of both EU strategy and "Israel's vision of the 
long-term goals of regional security and arms control process 
in the Middle East." 
 
5. (C) Levite speculated that the Europeans are looking for 
creative ways to revive the Barcelona process.  He said the 
EU also intends to supersede the Arms Control and Regional 
Security (ACRS) process -- something Israel would not allow. 
Nevertheless, FM Shalom had told the cabinet that the action 
plan contained many points that would benefit Israel, so the 
government had approved the text. 
 
6. (C) The Ambassador asked if possible differing 
interpretations of the nonproliferation section could 
eventually cause difficulties for Israel in the ENP process. 
Levite said it would be a "political judgment" by the EU on 
whether the action plan commits Israel to certain steps.  His 
view was that the plan contained enough scope for progress in 
other areas that the two sides could move forward.  He noted, 
however, that Israel would not take nonproliferation steps 
that were against its own interests, even if this stance 
results in delays to the ENP process. 
 
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KURTZER