Cablegate: Germany Tracks U.S. Message On Israel's Settlement

VZCZCXRO7936
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHRL #1544 3381429
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041429Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5979
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS BERLIN 001544

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/IPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL PREL KWBG IS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY TRACKS U.S. MESSAGE ON ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENT
MORATORIUM

REF: STATE 122214

1. (SBU) MFA Near East division deputy Sibylle Sorg told
Poloff December 3 that the MFA agrees fully with reftel
points on Israel's settlement moratorium. She said that
reftel points are helpful for the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs
Council meeting which will have conclusions on the Middle
East. According to Sorg, the FAC aims to facilitate the
current U.S. efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.
She noted that FM Westerwelle had issued a statement after
Israel's settlement moratorium announcement describing
Israel's move as an "important first step" that "could bring
movement into the settlement question." She indicated
Germany's concern about what she described as the exemption
of East Jerusalem from Israel's announced moratorium.

2. (SBU) With regard to PA budget support, Sorg noted that
Germany already provides about 20 percent of the EU's 353
million euros of what she described as budget support plus 25
million euros of bilateral support in fuel assistance. She
said that she would be providing a paper to Poloff listing
the amounts and types of assistance that Germany is currently
providing the PA. Post will forward the paper directly to
NEA/IPA upon receipt.
MURPHY

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