VZCZCXRO9910
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2730 2491425
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061425Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6803
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002730 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017 
TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS IZ XP
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERS: MIDDLE EAST PEACE MUST BE 
"COMPREHENSIVE" 
 
 
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) During its September 5 annual ministerial meeting, 
Arab League (AL) foreign ministers confirmed their support 
for President Bush's proposed meeting for Middle East peace, 
but stressed a comprehensive approach producing tangible 
results.  AL Secretary General Amre Moussa said in a press 
conference after the meeting that upcoming peace talks must 
provide "solid results" to launch a "true peace process." 
Moussa called for "confidence building" measures from the 
Israeli side and criticized Israeli Foreign Minister Livni's 
recent statements that "lowered expectations" for the 
conference.  Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, who 
chaired the meeting, noted that "Syria's and Lebanon's 
participation in the conference was integral for its 
success."  The AL affirmed that peace depends on an Israeli 
withdrawal to 1967 borders and a negotiated settlement 
regarding Palestinian refugees in line with UN Security 
Council Resolution 194 from 1948, according to regional press. 
 
¶2. (C) Speaking to the Ambassador on September 6, Moussa 
emphasized his belief that the U.S. is serious about peace, 
but that he doubts the Israeli attitude given public 
statements by Livni and other Israeli officials.  The 
Ambassador pressed Moussa to encourage, rather than 
criticize, the Israelis, to which Moussa repeated his public 
call for Israel to "build confidence; they should at least 
declare a moratorium on settlements for six months."  Moussa 
described Middle East Envoy Tony Blair's mission as 
"essential and necessary," in that his focus on economic 
development and security institutions will help with 
confidence building. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Separately on September 6, AL Chief of Staff Hisham 
Youssef emphasized to poloff the importance of addressing all 
issues - Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese - 
"comprehensively."  Accordingly, he said, there can be "no 
exclusion of parties, tracks or subjects" - Syria must 
participate in the proposed conference, and the issues of 
Jerusalem, borders, and refugees must all be on the table. 
 
¶4. (SBU) On the internal Palestinian situation, Youssef 
continued, the League supports a return to the pre-June Hamas 
take-over of Gaza "status quo," and stands ready to assist in 
turning over institutions under Hamas control back to the 
Palestinian Authority.  Returning to the pre-June status quo 
is a prerequisite for further dialog with Hamas, he said. 
Moussa stressed to the Ambassador that the status quo does 
not mean returning to a unity government, but rather that 
Hamas must return government buildings and facilities and 
stand down militarily. 
 
¶5. (U) The AL also discussed other regional concerns, 
according to regional press.  Regarding Iraq, the AL 
ministers affirmed support for the UN role and for efforts 
towards political and security stability, and urged Iraqi 
leaders to work seriously towards national reconciliation. 
AL ministers agreed to open an account to collect donations 
for Iraqi refugees residing various Arab states, Medelci said 
in his press statement. 
RICCIARDONE