US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI545

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000545 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E; 
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IO, IS, SY, DJ 
SUBJECT: MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE: REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR 
ADVANCING THE PEACE PROCESS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 97599 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Stott for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Pol/Econ delivered demarche per reftel 2 June to 
Director of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Mohamed Ali Hassan. Hassan replied the peace process 
was a sensitive issue to all Arab states. He continued that 
he believed Israel had a great deal of responsibility to take 
in the peace process. He stated that Arab countries have 
already taken the step of making a proposition to Israel 
during the Beirut Summit in 2002, that it was a decisive 
decision on the part of the Arab League and it was up to 
Israel to respond. He said he was optimistic with the new 
Palestinian leadership. Hassan said he believed the U.S. has 
shown an increased commitment to resolving the issue and that 
move has been appreciated by the Arab countries. He said it 
is very essential for this problem to be solved and each time 
the Arab League holds a summit, the mood is for positive 
movement forward on the issue. He continued that major issues 
such as settlements and the continued building of the wall 
could not be skipped. He commented that a comprehensive and 
sustainable solution is needed, but there is a great deal of 
responsibility that lies on the shoulders of Israel. He 
finally added that Djibouti has always supported the U.S.'s 
leadership role in this issue, but would like to see more 
commitment to finding a resolution. 
 
2. (C) Hassan said he was not familiar with the Magen David 
Adom issue and would defer this to MFA's Director for 
International Organizations. 
RAGSDALE