US embassy cable - 02VATICAN4991

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 004991 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI, NEA/IAI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, IS, PHUM, IS, PHUM, IS, VT, VTPREL, VTPREL 
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION 
WITH ISRAEL TO END DESPERATE PLIGHT IN PALESTINIAN 
TERRITORIES 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (D). 
 
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST, PLEASE SEE LAST PARA. 
 
2.  (C)  SUMMARY:  AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE POPE, CATHOLIC 
PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM MICHEL SABBAH MADE AN URGENT PLEA TO 
AMBASSADOR OCTOBER 10 FOR U.S. HELP TO STOP THE VIOLENCE, 
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AMELIORATE THE INCREASINGLY DESPERATE PLIGHT OF THE 
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, AND MOVE THE PARTIES TOWARD MEANINGFUL 
DIALOGUE.  SABBAH HAD MET WITH THE POPE THE DAY BEFORE TO 
CONVEY HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SITUATION IN JERUSALEM AND THE 
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.  ACCORDING TO SABBAH, BOTH THE 
PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI PEOPLE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED THAT 
THE CURRENT CYCLE OF VIOLENCE SERVED NO PURPOSE, BUT THEY 
NEEDED TO BE "SAVED" FROM THEIR CURRENT BLOODY IMPASSE BY 
OUTSIDE PRESSURE.  ONLY U.S. INTERVENTION, HE INSISTED, COULD 
MOVE THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT FROM ITS CURRENT POLICY OF 
REPRESSION.  SABBAH, WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE "ALEXANDRIA 
GROUP" -- AN INTER-FAITH RELIGIOUS FORUM ENCOMPASSING 
CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, AND MUSLIM LEADERS -- ASSERTED THAT THIS 
GROUP HAD CONTACTS WITH HAMAS AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, 
AND COULD SECURE A CESSATION IN TERRORIST ATTACKS OF "MORE 
THAN A MONTH" IF ONLY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WOULD OFFER A 
"REAL PROMISE" OF EASING THE PALESTINIANS' SUFFERING.  SABBAH 
CONDEMNED PALESTINIAN TERRORISM AND "HATE SPEECH", BUT SAID 
IT WAS A MANIFESTATION OF PALESTINIAN DESPERATION THAT WOULD 
STOP ONLY WHEN THE OCCUPATION AND "WAR" ENDED.  SEEING NO 
SIGNS THAT THE SHARON GOVERNMENT WAS INTERESTED IN PEACE, 
SABBAH ASKED THE AMBASSADOR TO CONVEY TO THE PRESIDENT HIS 
URGENT PLEA FOR INTERVENTION FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO 
SECURE SOME MEANINGFUL CONCESSION FROM THE GOI THAT WOULD 
GIVE THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP THE LEVERAGE IT NEEDED TO SECURE A 
CESSATION OF VIOLENCE FROM THE ARAB SIDE AND SET IN PLACE THE 
BEGINNINGS OF REAL PEACE TALKS LEADING TO AN END TO ISRAELI 
OCCUPATION. END SUMMARY. 
 
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MOUNTING DESPERATION IN PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES 
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PAGE 03        VATICA  04991  01 OF 03  141419Z 
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3. (C) AMBASSADOR RECEIVED A CALL FROM VATICAN FOREIGN 
MINISTER EQUIVALENT ARCHBISHOP JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN OCTOBER 10, 
WHO CONVEYED THE POPE'S REQUEST THAT THE AMBASSADOR MEET THAT 
DAY WITH VISITING PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM MICHEL SABBAH, WHO 
WAS IN ROME TO SEE THE POPE ABOUT THE DETERIORATING SITUATION 
IN THE HOLY LANDS.  MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR AND STAFF, 
SABBAH AND THE VICAR OF JERUSALEM MADE AN URGENT, ALMOST 
DESPERATE PLEA FOR UNITED STATES INTERVENTION TO STOP THE 
VIOLENCE AND END THE UNTENABLE SITUATION FOR THE PALESTINIANS 
IN THE HOLY LANDS.  HE SAID THAT THE CURFEW FORBADE THEIR 
MOVEMENT 24 HOURS PER DAY AND DEPRIVED THEM OF BASIC HUMAN 
NECESSITIES.  HE FURTHER SAID THAT BOTH THE PALESTINIAN AND 
ISRAELI PEOPLE NEEDED "PROTECTION" AND "SALVATION" IN THE 
FORM OF A U.S. OR UN MILITARY PRESENCE THAT WOULD PROVIDE 
SECURITY FOR ALL.  SABBAH ASSERTED THAT THE ARAB WORLD WAS 
READY FOR PEACE, THE PALESTINIAN WORLD WAS READY, AND THE 
TIME WAS RIGHT FOR A MOVE TO PEACE.  "THERE IS NO REASON FOR 
THIS WAR TO GO ON," HE INSISTED.  UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARED 
TO HIM THAT THE SHARON GOVERNMENT HAD "NO INTEREST IN PEACE." 
 SABBAH SAID THAT EVENTUALLY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT WOULD 
HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (AND RETURN 
TO THE 1967 BOUNDARIES), AND THAT SINCE PEOPLE WERE DYING 
EVERY DAY, IT WAS POINTLESS NOT TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION NOW 
AND SAVE MANY LIVES. 
 
4. (C) SABBAH SKETCHED A GRIM PICTURE OF PALESTINIAN DAILY 
LIFE UNDER SIEGE AND CURFEW, WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED, LIMITED 
MOVEMENT POSSIBLE ONLY FOR THREE HOURS THREE TIMES A WEEK, NO 
ECONOMIC LIFE, AND NO PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.  HARSH 
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PAGE 04        VATICA  04991  01 OF 03  141419Z 
ISRAELI REPRESSION, SABBAH NOTED, HAS NOT RESULTED IN GREATER 
SECURITY FOR THE ISRAELI PEOPLE.  ON THE CONTRARY, "EVEN THE 
ISRAELIS" WERE SUFFERING, HE SAID.  WITH PALESTINIANS LIVING 
UNDER SUCH DESPERATION, SABBAH SAID IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE 
THAT SOME WOULD RESORT TO "IMMORAL ACTS" LIKE SUICIDE 
BOMBING.  HE CONDEMNED TERRORIST ACTS AS "MORALLY WRONG AND 
STRATEGICALLY WRONG," BUT ADDED THAT MOST PALESTINIANS CLAIM 
"AS LONG AS THE ISRAELIS ARE IN OUR TERRITORY MAKING WAR ON 
US, WE WILL MAKE WAR ON THEM."  HE LAMENTED THAT PALESTINIANS 
WERE CONDEMNED FOR SUICIDE BOMBINGS, WHILE ISRAEL WAS ABLE TO 
KILL INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND DESTROY PROPERTY BY TRADITIONAL 
MILITARY MEANS THAT EARNED LESS APPROBATION FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
ONLY THE U.S. CAN SAVE US FROM OURSELVES 
---------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) WITH THE VIOLENCE AND OCCUPATION PRESSURES 
UNRELENTING, SABBAH FEARED THAT THE SHARON GOVERNMENT WAS 
DEAF TO ANY DIALOGUE, AND THEREFORE BELIEVED THAT ONLY THE 
 
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                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTO2589 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  04991  02 OF 03  141420Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    CIAE-00  INL-00   USNW-00  DODE-00  PERC-00 
      DS-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   VCE-00   NEA-00   DCP-01 
      NSAE-00  SSO-00   SS-00    DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   SAS-00 
        /003W 
                  ------------------F6E3EA  141420Z /38 
O 141342Z OCT 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 004991 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI, NEA/IAI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, IS, VT 
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION 
WITH ISRAEL TO END DESPERATE PLIGHT IN PALESTINIAN 
TERRITORIES 
 
BUSH ADMINISTRATION COULD GET THROUGH.  WHEN THE AMBASSADOR 
POINTED OUT THAT THE GOI WAS NOT ALWAYS RESPONSIVE TO U.S. 
DEMANDS, SABBAH REPLIED: "IF YOU CAN'T MOVE SHARON, THEN ALL 
IS LOST FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE."  HE NOTED THAT THE ISSUE 
IS HOW MUCH PRESSURE THE U.S. WAS WILLING TO BRING TO BEAR ON 
SHARON.  IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH PRESSURE, HE FEARED THERE 
WOULD BE FIVE OR TEN MORE YEARS OF VIOLENCE UNTIL A NEW 
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PAGE 02        VATICA  04991  02 OF 03  141420Z 
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT BROUGHT IT TO AN END AND BEGAN A NEW 
DIALOGUE.  IN THE MEANTIME THOUSANDS WOULD DIE.  SABBAH 
REITERATED HIS REQUEST THAT WE CONVEY TO THE PRESIDENT HIS 
URGENT PLEA FOR AN INTERVENTION WITH SHARON TO CONVINCE HIM 
TO EASE THE SITUATION IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND JOIN 
IN STEPS TOWARD A LASTING CEASEFIRE.  SABBAH NOTED THAT HE 
AND THE OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF JERUSALEM HAD PREVIOUSLY 
REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND HOPED TO BE ABLE 
TO PRESENT THEIR CONCERNS DIRECTLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 
AMBASSADOR PROMISED TO CONVEY SABBAH'S COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO 
WASHINGTON. 
 
6. (C) AMBASSADOR ASKED SABBAH ABOUT THE STATUS OF HIS OWN 
EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT. 
SABBAH SAID HE HAS MET WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MELCHIOR, 
THE ONLY GOI OFFICIAL WHO REGULARLY SPOKE WITH HIM, BUT THAT 
MELCHIOR MAKES CLEAR THAT HE CANNOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE 
GOVERNMENT, AND GENERALLY PROMISES ONLY TO CONVEY SABBAH'S 
CONCERNS.  HE SAID HE HAS HAD A REQUEST IN TO MEET DIRECTLY 
WITH PM SHARON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT THE PM'S OFFICE HAS 
NOT RESPONDED.  HE BELIEVED SHARON WAS NOT INTERESTED IN 
PEACE, AND WAS BENT ON EXPELLING ALL BUT A FEW THOUSAND 
PALESTINIANS FROM THE WEST BANK IN ORDER TO CREATE A GREATER 
ISRAEL. 
 
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ALEXANDRIA GROUP: CEASEFIRE POSSIBLE WITH ISRAELI COMMITMENT 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
7. (C) SABBAH TOLD US THAT THE "ALEXANDRIA GROUP" OF 
RELIGIOUS LEADERS FROM THE MUSLIN, JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN 
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PAGE 03        VATICA  04991  02 OF 03  141420Z 
FAITHS CREATED LAST JANUARY MAINTAINS GOOD CONTACTS WITH 
HAMAS AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.  SABBAH SAID HE HAD 
ASKED HAMAS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND THE 
REPLY WAS THAT AS LONG AS THE OCCUPATION CONTINUED, HAMAS WAS 
AT "WAR"; WHEN THE OCCUPATION CEASED, THE WAR WOULD BE OVER. 
HE SAID THAT AFTER THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH SHEIK YASSIM, HAMAS 
HAD REFRAINED FROM ATTACKS FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS.  DURING THAT 
PERIOD, HE SAID, THE ISRAELI SIDE HAD CONTINUED ITS 
OCCUPATION AND ASSASSINATION POLICY, AND SO THE TERROR 
ATTACKS WERE RENEWED. 
 
8.  (C)  PRESSED BY THE AMBASSADOR ABOUT CURRENT DIFFICULTIES 
IN ESTABLISHING AN IMPROVED SECURITY SITUATION WITHOUT 
PALESTINIAN SUICIDE ATTACKS, SABBAH INSISTED THAT THE 
ALEXANDRIA GROUP COULD USE ITS GOOD OFFICES TO OBTAIN A REAL 
CESSATION IN THE TERRORIST ATTACKS, FROM HAMAS, THE PA, AND 
POTENTIALLY EVEN HIZBOLLAH, FOR "A MONTH."  BUT THEY COULD DO 
SO ONLY IF THEY HAD SOMETHING CONCRETE FROM THE ISRAELI SIDE 
TO TAKE TO THE TABLE.  AT AMBASSADOR'S QUERY AS TO WHAT WOULD 
TYPE OF STEPS WOULD BE NEEDED FROM THE ISRAELI SIDE TO 
ACHIEVE SUCH A CESSATION OF ATTACKS, SABBAH CONCEDED THAT 
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A REAL PLEDGE FROM THE GOI TO EASE THE 
CURFEWS FOR A WEEK COULD CREATE A FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO 
BUILD, FOLLOWED BY A RETURN TO "A MORE NORMAL LIFE." 
FOLLOWING UP ON SABBAH'S INDICATION THAT THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP 
WOULD BE MEETING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF 
CANTERBURY OCTOBER 24-25 AT LAMBETH HOUSE IN LONDON, 
AMBASSADOR URGED SABBAH TO DEVELOP HIS PROPOSAL WITHIN THE 
ALEXANDRIA GROUP.  WHILE CAUTIONING THAT IT WOULD BE A 
DIFFICULT TASK TO SET THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP OF RELIGIOUS 
LEADERS ON A POLITICAL PATH, HE EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO 
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PAGE 04        VATICA  04991  02 OF 03  141420Z 
EXPLORE WAYS IN WHICH THE GROUP COULD PROMOTE A CESSATION OF 
VIOLENCE AND CREATE SOME SPACE FOR A RESTORATION OF DIALOGUE. 
 
--------------------------------- 
PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP AND REFORM 
--------------------------------- 
 
9. (C) RESPONDING TO U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF 
POLITICAL REFORM AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE 
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, SABBAH DISMISSED THESE AS "SECONDARY 
CONCERNS."  "EVEN WITH THE BEST ADMINISTRATION, FREE FROM 
CORRUPTION, VIOLENCE WILL STILL BE THERE IF NOTHING IS DONE 
ABOUT THE OCCUPATION," HE OBSERVED.  ON THE LEADERSHIP ISSUE, 
SABBAH CAUTIONED THAT U.S. AND ISRAELI PRESSURE TO GET RID OF 
ARAFAT WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.  "THE MORE YOU SAY THAT 
ARAFAT IS IRRELEVANT, THE MORE RELEVANT HE BECOMES."  WHEREAS 
IF THE U.S. AND ISRAEL JUST IGNORED HIM AND LET THE 
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF IT, "YOU WILL GET THE 
LEADERSHIP YOU WANT," HE ADDED.  HE DESCRIBED ARAFAT AS 
"PRISONER," WHO COULD DO NOTHING, AND TO WHOM NO ONE LISTENS, 
BUT WHO GROWS IN POPULARITY THE MORE HE IS HUMILIATED. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ0374 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  04991  03 OF 03  141420Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    CIAE-00  INL-00   USNW-00  DODE-00  PERC-00 
      DS-00    VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   VCE-00   NEA-00   DCP-01 
      NSAE-00  SSO-00   SS-00    DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   SAS-00 
        /003W 
                  ------------------F6E3F1  141420Z /38 
O 141342Z OCT 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 004991 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI, NEA/IAI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, IS, VT 
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM PATRIARCH PLEAS FOR U.S. INTERVENTION 
WITH ISRAEL TO END DESPERATE PLIGHT IN PALESTINIAN 
TERRITORIES 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
10.  (C) SABBAH'S MEETING WITH THE POPE AND THE POPE'S 
RECOMMENDATION FOR A MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR REFLECT THE 
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PAGE 02        VATICA  04991  03 OF 03  141420Z 
POPE'S INCREASING CONCERN FOR THE SITUATION IN THE HOLY LANDS 
AND CONSISTENT OPPOSITION TO HEAVY HANDED ISRAELI REPRESSIVE 
MEASURES.  WHILE WE ARE CONFIDENT SABBAH MAINTAINS TIES TO 
BOTH HAMAS AND THE PA, AND MAY BE ABLE TO PLAY A USEFUL ROLE 
IN CONSTRAINING ATTACKS, WE LEAVE IT TO WASHINGTON, TEL AVIV 
AND JERUSALEM TO ASSESS WHETHER THESE TIES WOULD BE STRONG 
ENOUGH TO HELP ACHIEVE A CESSATION OF SUICIDE ATTACKS, AS HE 
MAINTAINS.  GIVEN THE CURRENT IMPASSE, HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE 
THAT INTER-FAITH RELIGIOUS EFFORTS SUCH AS THAT OF THE 
ALEXANDRIA GROUP CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF SOME 
DIALOGUE IN A SITUATION WHERE VERY LITTLE EXISTS.  IN ANY 
EVENT, SABBAH'S DESPERATE PLEA FOR GREATER U.S. ENGAGEMENT -- 
A PLEA ECHOED IN EVERY MEETING WITH SENIOR HOLY SEE OFFICIALS 
-- REFLECTS A STRONGLY HELD VIEW HERE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF 
GREATER U.S. PRESSURE ON SHARON, THERE IS NO HOPE FOR AN END 
TO THE TRAGIC CYCLE OF VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.  SABBAH, 
A PALESTINIAN NATIONALIST AND A CATHOLIC CLERGYMAN, 
UNDERSCORED TO THE AMBASSADOR HIS CONDEMNATION BOTH OF 
TERRORISM AND THE HATE SPEECH THAT EXISTS IN PALESTINIAN 
MEDIA AND SCHOOLS.  HE SAID HE PREACHES TO HIS OWN FLOCK TO 
"LOVE THE ISRAELIS, EVEN THOSE WHO DRIVE TANKS OVER YOUR 
HOUSES."  THIS WAS "HARD TO DO," HE ADDED, "BUT IT IS THE 
CHRISTIAN THING TO DO."   ACTION REQUEST: EMBASSY IS PREPARED 
TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOLY SEE ON THIS TRACK IF THE 
DEPARTMENT BELIEVES IT WILL BE HELPFUL IN ENCOURAGING 
DIALOGUE AND REDUCING VIOLENCE. PLEASE ADVISE IF FOLLOWUP 
ACTION IS REQUIRED.  POST WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN ANY 
READOUT OF THE LONDON MEETING OF THE ALEXANDRIA GROUP. 
NICHOLSON 
 
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 2002VATICA04991 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL