US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6547

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006547 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014 
TAGS: KNNP, PREL, MNUC, TRGY, IS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: ISRAELI VIEWS ON IAEA FORUM ON "EXPERIENCE OF 
POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO THE CREATION OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE 
ZONE IN THE MIDDLE EAST" 
 
REF: STATE 270510 
 
Classified By: Ambasador Daniel C. Kurtzer: Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: Gideon Frank and Eli Levite of the Israel 
Atomic Energy Commission told the Ambassador on December 22 
that the ground rules and agenda for the upcoming IAEA forum 
on nuclear-weapon-free zones reflect understandings between 
Israel and the IAEA.  The only outstanding issue is that DG 
El-Baradei wants the forum to be a more public platform that 
would include the Arab League as an observer.  Israel has 
urged the IAEA to view the forum as "a one-time educational 
event" that will have only an "intellectual" outcome.  Israel 
will be represented at the working level.  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 
their position on the upcoming forum "Experience of Possible 
Relevance to the Creation of a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in 
the Middle East" (reftel).  They also discussed the status of 
talks with the EU on the European Neighborhood Policy and 
Iran (septels). 
 
3. (C) Levite said that the ground rules and agenda for the 
forum reflect understandings between Israel and the IAEA.  He 
said the Israeli view is that the IAEA has no role to play in 
this area, but that Israel wanted to make a "very modest 
gesture of good will."  The only outstanding issue is that DG 
El-Baradei wants a more public platform that would include 
the Arab League as an observer.  The Israelis see Arab League 
participation as "very difficult" and "not consistent with 
the learning process."  Levite said that Israel would speak 
to El-Baradei to urge him to structure the event in a manner 
that does not adversely affect the NPT RevCon. 
 
4. (C) Israel has urged the IAEA to view the forum as "a 
one-time educational event."  Levite said the outcome should 
be "intellectual" without any concrete deliverables.  Israel 
would not send high-level participants, but would probably be 
represented by Director for Arms Control Merav Zafary and 
Ambassador to the IAEA Israel Michaeli.  Frank added that he 
did not think the Israeli delegation would speak, but a 
decision had not yet been taken. 
 
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KURTZER