Cablegate: Netherlands/Israel: "Dismayed"

VZCZCXRO4173
PP RUEHSL
DE RUEHTC #0707/01 3241537
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201537Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3498
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 2942
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0837
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1468
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4623

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000707

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS PINR KPAL NL EU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISRAEL: "DISMAYED"

REF: A. SECSTATE 118799
B. THE HAGUE 668
C....

235918

2009-11-20

09THEHAGUE707

Embassy The Hague

CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN

09SECSTATE118799|09THEHAGUE615|09THEHAGUE668

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000707

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS PINR KPAL NL EU
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISRAEL: DISMAYED

REF: A. SECSTATE 118799
B. THE HAGUE 668
C. THE HAGUE 615

Classified By: PolEcon Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.4(b,d)

1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: The Dutch will support EU consensus on the
anti-Israel resolutions at UNGA, having negotiated a strong
Explanation of Vote (EOV) by the EU. FM Verhagen was
dismayed by the latest Israel decision on settlements in
Gilo, and angered by the surprise announcement of new
settlements in Gilo shortly after a visit and phone call with
Israeli FM Lieberman. FM Lieberman's visit on November 11
was a demonstration of how to irritate people and lose
friends. In contrast with an earlier meeting of the two
ministers, however, Lieberman seemed fully in charge. END
SUMMARY.

2. (C) ANTI-ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS AT UNGA: Post delivered reftel
A points to key MFA contacts on UN, human rights and Middle
East affairs. In a November 19 discussion with Dorine Wytema
and David Zeverijn, senior policy officers in the Middle East
department, Zeverijn indicated the Netherlands would support
the EU consensus position on the anti-Israel resolutions.
This year's resolutions are significantly worse than last
year's. However, the Dutch were satisfied that their firm
position within the EU yielded a strong EOV with language
addressing the Goldstone report, the blockade language, the
rocket attacks and Israel's right to self defense. Within
the EU, we found ourselves needing to pick our battles and
therefore opted to support consensus, said Zeverijn.
(COMMENT: The Dutch have been criticized for their tough
position on Serbian accession to the EU, among other issues,
and may be seeking to take a more conciliatory approach
within the EU. END COMMENT.) Zeverijn added that Dutch
domestic politics, with some parties highly critical of
Israel, also made it difficult for Verhagen to buck EU
consensus (reftel C). Finally, Zeverijn suggested it was
best to avoid a repeat of the EU split that occurred during
the Geneva debate over the Goldstone report.

3. (C/NF) REACTION TO NEW SETTLEMENTS: Wytema advised
confidentially that FM Verhagen was angry about the Israeli
decision to approve settlements in Gilo. Some of his anger
stemmed from the fact that FM Lieberman did not reveal the
settlement plan during a December 11 visit to The Hague or in
a thank you call afterward. In public comments, Verhagen
said he was dismayed by the new settlements. (NOTE:
Verhagen used the Dutch word onthutst, which one
commentator translated as flabbergasted, and onthutst
probably sounds slightly stronger than dismayed to Dutch
ears. However, Zeverijn indicated the FM's remarks matched
the U.S. language indicating dismay. END NOTE.)

4. (C/NF) VISIT BY FM LIEBERMAN: Zeverijn described
Lieberman's visit as a demonstration of how to irritate
people and lose friends. Wytema noted that Lieberman
started first and spoke for 20 minutes without giving
Verhagen the opportunity for a back-and-forth dialogue.
Lieberman also had dinner with far-right Freedom Party leader
Gert Wilders during his visit. According to Wytema,
Lieberman made no movement on peace settlement issues, was
pessimistic and cynical about every Palestinian, including
Abbas, and asserted the ball was in Palestine's court because
the problem was not with us. Lieberman also expressed
distrust of Turkey, suggesting the Turkey-Iran-Syria
Qdistrust of Turkey, suggesting the Turkey-Iran-Syria
rapprochement is part of a plan to divide Iraq after the
Americans depart. Verhagen told Lieberman you need
friends, and emphasized his friendship, but noted that the
Netherlands cannot go on defending Israel without helpful
actions by the Israelis. Verhagen urged movement on the
settlements issue, noting that the Netherlands viewed them as
illegal and a violation of obligations under the roadmap. A
good gesture, even a temporary moratorium, would help.
Verhagen also urged Lieberman to strengthen Abbas -- Israel's
best partner. He asked Lieberman to lift border
restrictions against the Palestinians to better address
humanitarian concerns, while reaffirming Dutch support for
anti-smuggling efforts. Finally, he urged further
investigations of the Gaza conflict, noting that he would try
to keep international resolutions in New York fair, but
that Israel could help with more transparent efforts and more
publicity with its investigations. Zeverijn concluded that
the visit had one benefit -- it deflected criticism from the
Dutch parliament away from Verhagen and toward Lieberman.

5. (C) LIEBERMAN IN CHARGE: Wytema noted that Leiberman
seemed fully in charge in the meeting, and that D/FM Ayalon

THE HAGUE 00000707 002 OF 002

and other staff did not speak. (NOTE: This contrasts with a
previous meeting in Jerusalem, where Lieberman appeared
frustrated and deferred to his staff. END NOTE.)
GALLAGHER

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