Cablegate: Egyptian, Arab League Reactions to Iranian

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

010944Z Nov 05

UNCLAS CAIRO 008365

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EG IZ IR IS MEPN
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN, ARAB LEAGUE REACTIONS TO IRANIAN
PRESIDENT'S PUBLIC REMARKS ON ISRAEL

REF: A. STATE 199863

B. STATE 199225

1. Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly.

2. (SBU) The GOE position on Iranian President
Ahmadi-Nejad's recent comments calling for Israel's
destruction (reftels) was expressed by Foreign Minister Ahmed
Aboul Gheit to reporters October 30. Aboul Gheit told
journalists that "the United Nations, in which Israel and
Iran are both members, has never witnessed the dismantling of
any state." Remarks of this nature, Aboul Gheit added, "did
not help the peace process between Israel and the
Palestinians." Aboul Gheit used the opportunity to highlight
Egypt's "maximum efforts" to establish a Palestinian state.
(Note: Egyptian opposition newspaper Al Wafd criticized
Aboul Gheit October 31 for "defending Israel" and for
"getting involved in the war of words between Israel and
Iran." End note). Foreign Ministry contacts confirmed the
accuracy of press reporting on Aboul Gheit's public
statements on this subject.

3. (SBU) Similarly, Arab League Secretary General Moussa
distanced himself from the Iranian President's statements
during a taped television interview with Egyptian TV October
30 -- to be aired November 1 - according to his Chief of
Staff, Hesham Youssef. Youssef shared October 31 that Moussa
responded to a question on this issue by saying that the Arab
League was focused on implementation of the Arab peace
initiative and progress on the Roadmap, not elinimation of
any state. "While nothing can justify the statement by the
Iranian President," Youssef told poloff, it appears that the
Iranian government is now "backing down" from its bellicose
statements and is now seeking to "clarify" Ahmadi-Nejad's
comments.

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