GDR Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department Near and Middle East, 'On the Question regarding a Short-term Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Israel'

[GDR Ministry for Foreign Affairs]

Department Near and Middle East

Berlin, 17 March 1989

On the Question regarding a short-term establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel

1. Fundamental Position

1.1. According to the decision by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the SED “Visit of Comrade Löffler to Israel” from 14 February 1989, steps will be undertaken by the GDR to establish diplomatic relations with Israel depending on Israel’s position regarding conflict resolution in the Middle East.

This is requiring that changes in the Israeli position will occur in the following direction:

- Israel declares its willingness to talk with “independent” Palestinians and/or the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization].

- Israel is participating in preparatory talks for an International Middle East Conference.

- Israel is declaring its willingness to participate in an International Middle East Conference.

- Israel is presenting its own plan, which is also considering interests of the Arab states and the Palestinian people, and by which a process of resolution can be initiated.

1.2. In its decision=making, the GDR is taking into account the position of the USSR resp. other socialist states since those are based on similar positions. A direct dependence on decisions of those states to re-establish diplomatic relations with Israel, however, is not supposed to be established by the GDR.

Due to the current conditions Israel has to deal with, tentative changes in the approach of its government are gradually possible. They could offer connecting factors for our intentions how to proceed. So far, no changes are visible in official Israeli policy. Therefore steps by the GDR to establish diplomatic relations with Israel are currently not appropriate.

2. Factors in favor of such steps

2.1. The Israeli Minister of Religion, [Zevulun] Hammer, stated to Comrade Löffler [the GDR State Secretary for Church Affairs] that his government will reacted positively without preconditions to any steps by the GDR to establish diplomatic relations. This is the first official statement by Israel on the question of relations with the GDR in years. It has to be seen in the context of the growing international pressure on Israel because of its Middle East policy. In contrast, there also is the widely shared position in Israeli government circles that the GDR has to step up first to its historical responsibility, for instanced through so-called reparation. An exact assessment of the position of the Israeli government does require to hold targeted talks. Contacts with Hammer and steps beyond that, like for instance the continuation of unofficial Foreign Ministry contacts on mid-level, can be used in this regard.

2.2. The PLO is aiming at a soon opening of official dialogue with Israel. This position, which is noted and used by the socialist states for the development of its contacts with Israel, is facilitating further steps by the GDR which does maintain especially close relations with the PLO.

2.3. By the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel, the GDR could favorably impact the development of its relations with the United States and the other capitalist states. Chances of the Jewish World Congress to have an impact on the further normalization of relations between the United States and the GDR could grow, as well as pertaining to the granting of most-favored nations status by the Unites States. At the same time, however, the chances of Jewish organizations to exert influence on the GDR with regard to Israel would decline in relative terms. The maneuvering space of the GDR would expand especially vis-a-vis Western states and forces.

2.4. The socialist state first re-establishing, respectively establish diplomatic relations with Israel at all (GDR), could receive concessions by Israel. The [Yitzhak] Shamir Government might be possibly willing to honor this as a breakthrough. This could mean in the case of the GDR (statement by Ministry of Religious Affairs Hammer) that Israel will not link the establishment of diplomatic relations with the known problems like compensation and reparation demands.

3. Factors weighing against this

3.1. Israel would use the fact of the establishment of diplomatic relations to internationally upgrade its status and thus justify its policy. It will attempt to use in its favor the close relations of the GDR with the PLO and the Arab states, as well as the active role of the GDR on their side in the Middle East Conflict. Thus Israel could obtain arguments in order to counter further pressure.

3.2. The establishment of diplomatic relations could endanger interests of the GDR in Arab states since their interests are affected. Limited reactions by some Arab states (Syria, Libya) cannot be excluded. Efforts by the GDR to establish relations, including diplomatic relations with states of the GKR [“Golf Kooperations-Rat,” or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Saudi-Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman], could become more difficult.

3.3. Israel might be hardly willing to fulfill the conditions expected by the GDR: - renunciation of high material and financial reparation and compensation payments; - imports of Israeli high technology; - significant export increase for GDR products to the Israeli market.

Conclusion

Currently it does not appear appropriate to undertake concrete steps towards the establishment of diplomatic relations. The downsides might prevail.

Based on the general decision that the GDR will establish diplomatic relations with Israel, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs should continue with direct contacts on mid-level as well as through mandated envoys in order to maintain the lead on this issue. Contacts in the areas of culture, academy, religious affairs, et cetera, are, if necessary, also to be used in an appropriate way in close coordination with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. However, they are supposed to be focused in general on issues of concrete subject-oriented cooperation.

[Signed] R. Neumann

R. Neumann