Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV1534
2005-03-15 11:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

PERES MEETS TELLS CODEL CORZINE "WE ARE STILL

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001534 

SIPDIS

CODEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015
TAGS: KWBG OREP PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: PERES MEETS TELLS CODEL CORZINE "WE ARE STILL
WALKING ON THIN ICE"

Classified By: Ambassador Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001534

SIPDIS

CODEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015
TAGS: KWBG OREP PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: PERES MEETS TELLS CODEL CORZINE "WE ARE STILL
WALKING ON THIN ICE"

Classified By: Ambassador Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. In a March 13 meeting with Senator Corzine
and the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said
there are three crucial events in the next several months:
the passage of the budget, the Palestinian Legislative
Council elections in July, and the evacuation from Gaza, also
scheduled for July. Peres also praised the efforts of Abu
Mazen, but cautioned that the situation is still fragile. He
advocated Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners. Peres
also applauded the U.S. decision to go to war with Iraq. End
summary.


2. (U) Senator Jon Corzine and the Ambassador met with Deputy
Premier Shimon Peres on March 13. Mada Liebman and Evan
Gottesman of the Senator's staff, and staff aide (notetaker)
attended the meeting.

--------------
Israeli-Palestinian Relations
--------------


3. (C) Peres pointed to many recent positive developments in
Israeli-Palestinian relations, but commented that "we are all
still walking on thin ice." Peres said that Abu Mazen has
shown strength and courage. "I think he has not made a
single mistake. However, the merits of leadership are not
enough." At this point "we have a too-weak political system
meeting a momentous event. We will see...."


4. (C) In response to Senator Corzine's question about the
release of Palestinian prisoners, Peres defended the
Palestinian posture, saying, "For them it is very important,
and I say rightly so. Palestinians say, 'We send them in to
fight. The ones we sent in are in prison, and we who sent
them are negotiating freedom.'" Peres added, however, in
response to Senator Corzine's question, that he would not
release Marwan Barghouti because "right now it is too fresh,
and he has not expressed regret."

--------------
Three Crucial Events
--------------


5. (C) Peres pointed to three crucial events in the next
several months: the passage of the budget, the July
Palestinian Legislative Council elections, and the evacuation

from Gaza. Noting that the Knesset must pass the 2005 state
budget by the end of March to prevent the Sharon government
from falling, Peres stressed that the Labor party will vote
for the budget because it is united in its view that
disengagement is the most important GOI priority. Peres said
Labor is willing to "sacrifice all" to ensure that
disengagement goes forward: "It is almost a crime to let the
most important issue go by the side." Regarding the voting
of other MKs, however, Peres observed that "the mathematics
are not very encouraging, but we may make it."


6. (C) Peres underlined the danger of a strong Hamas showing
in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in July,
"not because they throw bombs, but because they build
charities." To counteract the appeal of Hamas, he said, the
PA needs help immediately "to do something for their
(Palestinians') stomachs." Peres assessed the Palestinian
people to be hopeful, but skeptical, about peace. He
stressed the need to provide economic assistance directly to
Palestinian families, and expressed satisfaction at returning
from Madrid with pledges of $120 million.



7. (C) In addition to the budget, Palestinian elections and
disengagement, the Ambassador pointed to a fourth event,
occurring June 28, that is of significance: the internal
Labor party elections. Senator Corzine asked about the
future of the Labor Party, and Peres responded that one of
the great mistakes of Labor is that it made the party around
the leader, and not around the cause. He said its future
will depend on whether new leaders emerge to mold the party
around great causes.

--------------
Events That Changed the Middle East
--------------


8. (C) Peres pointed to three recent events that changed the
Middle East: President Bush's decision to go to war with
Iraq, the passing of Arafat, and the change within Sharon's
Likud party to agree to a Palestinian state and to settlement
removals. In response to Senator Corzine's question about
why he attributed so much importance to Iraq, Peres responded
that Saddam Hussein would have eventually developed WMD.
"Occasionally what you prevent is as important as what you
achieve." Peres saw other successes resulting from the Iraq
war as well: "When you face force, you cannot respond just
with declarations. Syria would not listen to Bush as
seriously if he had not attacked Iraq. I'm not a Republican,
but I have always thought that Bush was right."


9. (C) In response to Sen. Corzine's question about the
importance of Darfur, Peres replied that the world faces two
major challenges today: Africa as a continent, and the Muslim
religion. "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all
terrorists are Muslims." Peres expressed hope about the
future, however, saying "We will win the war on terror, but
it will be costly."


10. (U) Senator Corzine did not clear this message.

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