C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002206

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: OMRI SHARON SEES HARD WORK AHEAD ON DISENGAGEMENT
REFERENDUM; DISMISSES GREEK ISLAND SCANDAL

REF: TEL AVIV 2199

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) PM Sharon's son and Likud MK, Omri Sharon, told
poloff on April 14 -- before the PM's White House meeting --
that the main problem facing the pro-disengagement campaign
is getting enough Likud members out to vote in the May 2
Likud referendum on the unilateral withdrawal plan. Sharon
worries that those opposed to the plan will be more motivated
to vote than the plan's supporters. When asked about
specific tactics to motivate supporters to vote, Sharon could
only stress that it would take hard work, including getting
out and talking to Likud members. He also noted that Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz would be leading the campaign to instill
confidence among Likud voters that the disengagement plan
would not compromise Israel's security (reftel). While he
would not speculate whether the plan would receive a majority
of Likud support, Omri Sharon seemed confident that with
enough hard work at convincing the rank-and-file to vote for
the plan, the pro-disengagement campaign would be successful.
Sharon did not hide his high hopes for what assurances
President Bush would provide his father later that day. He
asserted that Likud members' support for disengagement would
hinge in part on the support the PM's plan would receive from
President Bush. Sharon predicted that if the plan receives a
majority in the referendum, most Likud ministers will decide
to support it.


2. (C) Omri Sharon belittled the significance of the
so-called "Greek Island Affair," stressing that "there is
absolutely nothing to it," and dismissed any prospect that AG
Menachem Mazuz would recommend PM Sharon be indicted on
related bribery charges.

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LeBaron