US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5903

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 005903 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, IS, MO, SENV, TS, LE, BU, MU, RS, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: NEA DAS DIBBLE'S 9/21 MEETING WITH MFA MIDDLE EAST 
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOCUSES ON ISRAELI-ARAB RELATIONS 
 
REF: MOSCOW 11184 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR NORMAN OLSEN, FOR REASONS 1.4(B AND 
D). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) Israeli MFA Deputy Director General for 
Middle East Affairs Jacob Keidar told Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Elizabeth Dibble September 21 that the GOI hopes, 
 
SIPDIS 
in the aftermath of disengagement from the Gaza Strip, to 
improve its relations with Arab states in the Gulf and 
North Africa.  He asked for USG assistance in this 
endeavor.  DAS Dibble and Keidar agreed that it is 
impossible at this point to have talks with Lebanon on 
water issues because the new Lebanese water minister is a 
member of Hizballah.  Keidar said Israel seeks to expand 
its existing trade relations with Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, 
and to re-establish trade and diplomatic ties with Morocco, 
Tunisia, and Mauritania, all of which have recently made 
conciliatory gestures.  None of these Arab states, however, 
has expressed a clear commitment to improving relations. 
Keidar and DAS Dibble agreed that restarting informal 
multilateral talks on a technical level might create 
positive momentum.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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New Water Minister in Lebanon, from Hizballah 
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2. (C) DAS Dibble and accompanying officers met with 
Keidar, Oded Ben-Haim, director of the Palestinian Affairs 
Department, and Amir Weissbrod, from the MFA,s Middle East 
and Peace Process Division, to discuss the Hasbani/Wazzani 
issue between Lebanon and Israel and recommencing 
multilateral talks between Israel and Arab states. DAS 
Dibble said that the USG cannot speak with the new minister 
of water in Lebanon, as he is a member of Hizballah. 
Israeli MFA Deputy Director General (Middle East) Jacob 
Keidar said he welcomes water studies and aid, but 
expressed understanding, and added, "We cannot do much with 
this minister, either." 
 
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Relations with Arab States in the Gulf and North Africa 
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3. (C) Keidar said the GOI seeks to normalize relations 
with its Arab neighbors, specifically to expand trade and 
political dialogue, and asked for USG assistance to do so. 
"It is the right time to move in this direction, after 
disengagement," he said.  At present, Keidar said, only 
Bahrain and Oman trade directly with Israel.  The FTA 
process with Bahrain, Keidar explained, is moving along. 
Amir Weissbrod said that both Oman and Bahrain have 
publicly announced the end of their primary boycotts of 
trade with Israel.  An Israeli trade mission operates in 
Qatar, Keidar said, but it is isolated and does not have 
diplomatic status. 
 
4. (C) The GOI has not been invited to return to Tunis, 
Keidar said, although the foreign ministers of Israel and 
Tunisia met at the UN, and will meet again at the World 
Summit on the Information Society in November.  He also 
said that the Mauritanian foreign minister met with Israeli 
FM Silvan Shalom at the UN.  Weissbrod noted that Morocco, 
among all of the North African states, has communicated the 
greatest willingness to resume formal ties, and may send a 
government minister to Israel in November, to attend events 
marking the tenth anniversary of the Rabin assassination. 
Keidar said, however, that none of the Arab leaders have 
communicated anything concrete about improving ties with 
Israel in response to Israeli overtures. 
 
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"Re-invent the Multilaterals" 
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5. (C) Keidar said that in order to improve Israel's 
relations with Arab states,  the GOI would like to 
"re-invent the multilaterals" with a more informal and 
flexible approach.  Technical meetings, he said, could 
focus on issues such as science and technology, disaster 
management, disease prevention, and small businesses.  DAS 
Dibble responded that this practical approach, which offers 
hope of measurable benefits, might provide a means to 
"jumpstart" the multilateral process, especially if it 
encourages contact at the working level.  Arab leaders, she 
explained, could then claim to have gained something 
tangible from technical meetings.  Keidar agreed, stressing 
the GOI's intention to view the process this time through 
"Arab eyes." 
 
6. (C) Keidar then said that the Israelis still have 
questions about the Russian-proposed "experts" conference 
(reftel) tentatively scheduled for November in Moscow.  The 
GOI, Keidar explained, is concerned that the purpose of the 
conference remains vague.  DAS Dibble agreed, and stressed 
that the USG and the Quartet are focused on the Wolfensohn 
and Ward missions. 
7. (U) This cable has been cleared by NEA DAS Elizabeth 
Dibble. 
 
JONES 
 
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JONES