VZCZCXRO7123
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHMD #0178 0501738
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191738Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0237
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3828

UNCLAS MADRID 000178 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, NEA/IPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S EFFORTS SUPPORTING MARCH 2 GAZA DONOR'S 
CONFERENCE IN EGYPT 
 
REF: STATE 14575 
 
¶1.  Per reftel demarche, sources at the Spanish MFA have said 
that FM Moratinos spoke recently with Benjamin Netanyahu and 
Tzipi Livni, telling them that Spain will cooperate with new 
Israeli administration as soon as a coalition government is 
formed.  Spain will continue its focus on multilateral 
efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. 
 
¶2.  Soraya Rodriguez, MFA Secretary of State for 
International Cooperation, traveled to Jerusalem, Gaza and 
Ramallah on February 15 and 16 to assess reconstruction needs 
in the area.  In Jerusalem she met with the technical 
cooperation experts in the Palestinian territories, the 
European Commission Humanitarian Assistance office and NGOs. 
Her other scheduled meetings included Palestinian Chief 
Negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian Information Minister 
Riad al-Malki.  So far, Spain has donated 6.5 million euros 
in humanitarian aid for Gaza,s population. 
 
¶3.  The MFA is determining what other funding could be tapped 
for additional pledges at the March 2 Donors Conference in 
Sharm al-Sheikh.   Foreign Minister Moratinos may be able to 
share more details with Secretary Clinton during their 
scheduled February 24 bilateral meeting in Washington. 
 
 
 
 
 
CHACON