Excerpt from document
(S/NF) Summary: Morocco and Israel took advantage of
Israeli participation in the June 3-5 Global Initiative to
Combat Nuclear Terrorism seminar in Rabat to re-launch a
diplomatic relationship that had been on ice since the
Israeli military action in Gaza in December 2008 and January
2009.

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PP RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHRB #0484/01 1601750
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 091750Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0242
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000484

SIPDIS
NOFORN

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/MAG AND NEA/IPA
TEL AVIV FOR SE MITCHELL PARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PREL, EAIR, KPAL, MO, IS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DIPLOMATS EXPECT MORE FROM MOROCCO

REF: A. RABAT 0290
B. 08 RABAT 0648

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).

1. (S/NF) Summary: Morocco and Israel took advantage of
Israeli participation in the June 3-5 Global Initiative to
Combat Nuclear Terrorism seminar in Rabat to re-launch a
diplomatic relationship that had been on ice since the
Israeli military action in Gaza in December 2008 and January
2009. The Israeli director of Maghreb Affairs later told
EconOff that Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary
General Youssef Amrani had indicated willingness to resolve
pending issues, including overflight permission, but that the
Government of Morocco (GOM) had not yet delivered, an outcome
she found unsurprising. The diplomat expressed the
Government of Israel's (GOI,s) wish that the GOM more
actively support Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas, and identified other possible "win-win" opportunites
for Morocco-Israel cooperation. End Summary.

2. (C/NF) Eynat Shlein-Michael, Director of Maghreb, Syria
and Lebanon Affairs of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign
Affairs accompanied her MFA colleague Israel Tikochinski of
the Arms Control Department to the Seminar on Preventing
Illicit Trafficking in Nuclear and Radioactive Materials held
in Rabat, June 3-5 under the Global Initiative to Combat
Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT). Not engaged by professional
interest in the seminar, Shlein-Michael told EconOff she
viewed the conference as an opportunity to engage bilaterally
Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFA),
renewing a relationship which had been cut off by the Israeli
military intervention in Gaza.

--------------------------------------------
MFA Eager to Highlight Israeli Participation
--------------------------------------------

3. (S/NF) Shlein-Michael related that MFA Secretary General
Amrani sought her out for a pull-aside meeting during the
June 3 MFA-hosted dinner for seminar participants, and
profusely welcomed her delegation. He also made a point of
introducing her to the French and Russian Ambassadors, she
noted, apparently very pleased to highlight the Israeli
presence. Shlein-Michael assessed, however, that Amrani's
enthusiasm was not shared by all of the MFA, and working
level officials had delayed issuing a letter authorizing
visas on arrival in Morocco for the Israeli delegation until
literally hours before the delegation left Israel. Without
the mission's urging the MFA to act, the visit would have
been impossible, she stated.

-------------------------------------------
Delay in Overflight Permission is "Typical"
-------------------------------------------

4. (S/NF) Shlein-Michael reported that her primary agenda
item with Amrani was finalizing an agreement that had been
pending for over six weeks to allow El Al Airlines to transit
Moroccan airspace en route to Brazil, a routing that would
save hours of flight time and thousands of dollars in fuel
costs, and would also earn Morocco transit fees. Amrani
promised her that the permission would be finalized the next
day, Shlein-Michael stated, but the MFA had not yet finalized
it as of two days later. Shlein-Michael indicated that she
was not surprised by the delay, commenting that Moroccan
diplomats frequently express their agreement with Israel but
then do not complete what they have promised. "They like to
talk a lot, but never deliver," she concluded.

--------------------------------
GOM Was Ready for a Livni Visit?
--------------------------------

5. (S/NF) Shlein-Michael further reported that Amrani
enthused about the progress in bilateral relations that had
appeared to be blooming in November 2008 (Ref A). It was a
shame that former Israeli Foreign Minister Livni's
hypothesized trip to Morocco had not materialized, Amrani
told her, commenting that "we were ready for her to come in
January." Shlein-Michael expressed skepticism of this
statement to EconOff, adding that any thoughts of an
ministerial visit have been scotched since the formation of
the new Israeli government.

-----------------------------------
What Does Israel Want from Morocco?

RABAT 00000484 002 OF 002

-----------------------------------

6. (S/NF) When questioned what Israel would most like to see
from Morocco, Shlein-Michael immediately responded that the
GOI wants the GOM to support the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Morocco "does less than anyone," she complained, commenting
that smaller states like the UAE and Oman were far more
visible in lending support to Abbas. We want Abbas to
succeed, Shlein-Michael continued, and we want Arab
governments to visit him in the West Bank, publicly declare
their support for him, and show the Palestinians that he has
international legitimacy and influence. Shlein-Michael
complained that, while Arab governments were lining up to
demand Israeli facilitation of meetings with Arafat when he
was confined to Ramallah during the second intifada, few are
interested in visiting Abbas now despite the much more
welcoming environment, and the PA's need for support against
its HAMAS rivals. The GOI has made clear to Arab governments
that it will facilitate the visits and that Israel does not
request any bilateral component in such a trip. Morocco "has
the same domestic concerns about HAMAS-type movements" as
Israel and the PA, Shlein-Michael said, and it should have a
keen interest in legitimizing the PA and Abbas against HAMAS.

---------------------
Ideas for Cooperation
---------------------

7. (S/NF) In addition to the most pressing issue of
approving El Al overflight rights, Shlein-Michael suggested
that another "win-win" issue for Morocco-Israel cooperation
is allowing visas on arrival for Israeli tourists. The
inconvenience of seeking a Moroccan visa in a third country
significantly depresses tourism from Israel, Shlein-Michael
asserted. Currently, about 60,000 Israelis visit Morocco
each year despite the inconvenience, but that number would
jump if Morocco allowed visa on arrival. Tunisia gives
Israeli tourists visas on arrival, she noted, "and we have
much better relations with Morocco."

8. (S/NF) Additionally, Shlein-Michael asserted that Morocco
would benefit by engaging Israel on issues involving
international organizations. The GOM does not seek Israel's
support on candidates for positions in international
organizations or votes on Moroccan proposals to host
international events. The GOI would often be willing to
support Morocco's position on many of these issues,
Shlein-Michael asserted, but finds out about them too late
because of the lack of outreach from the GOM.

------------------------
Comment: Slow and Steady
------------------------

9. (S/NF) Amrani's reported enthusiam to renew discussions
with Israeli representatives highlights both the productive
relationship that Morocco has shared with Israel in the past,
as well as the serious damage done to that relationship
following the Gaza fighting and the emergence of the
Netanyahu government. While Shlein-Michael may see tepid
actions by the GOM, public anger over the images of war in
December and January have handcuffed the GOM's ability to
continue business as usual, and it will take some time for
that aversion to abate. Her critique of Moroccan policy
towards the PA does not square with what we have heard from
the Moroccans. The GOM still stands solidly with Abbas and
has consistently ensured that its engagement with the
Palestinians supports the Palestinian Authority against HAMAS
(Ref B). We will continue to encourage the GOM to support
the PA, and hope to see opportunities for the GOM to reach
out to the GOI should conditions permit. End Comment.

*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Moro cco
*****************************************

Jackson