CODEL DREIER'S MEETINGS WITH KNESSET MEMBERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002030

SIPDIS

CODEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2015
TAGS: OREP PGOV KWBG PREF PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: CODEL DREIER'S MEETINGS WITH KNESSET MEMBERS

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: In a March 28 meeting immediately following
the Knesset vote against a referendum on disengagement,
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, a disengagement opponent, told
Codel Dreier and the Ambassador that a divided Likud is in a
state of "crisis." He lamented that disengagement could
presage a return to the roadmap, which he also opposes as
"very dangerous for the future of Israel." In a separate
meeting, MKs Colette Avital (Labor) and Avraham Poraz
(Shinui),both disengagement supporters, described the
"bizarre" and "paradoxical" nature of the political path
Israel is following toward disengagement. Avital, who along
with Poraz constitute the Israeli delegation to the OSCE
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, called for an
enhanced Israeli role in the OSCE. End Summary.


2. (U) The delegation consisted of Representatives David
Dreier, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Alcee Hastings, Doc Hastings,
Phil Gingrey, and Ander Crenshaw. MFA North America Division
Congressional Affairs Director Eyal Sela and Knesset
Diplomatic Advisor to the Speaker Yaakov Levy joined the
meetings.

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Rivlin: "Roadmap is Dangerous for Israel"
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3. (C) Codel Dreier arrived in the Knesset for a meeting
with Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin just as the Knesset
plenary was about to vote down the controversial
disengagement referendum bill. Following the vote, Rivlin
led off the meeting by declaring that Likud, "the party of
the President, the Prime Minister, and (that represents)
one-third of the (Israeli) public, is split." He described
the split as "a real crisis for Likud in the near future and
a problem for all of Israel." He said that Likud would have
to "reassess its position" and declared that "everyone is
very confused." Rivlin said that he voted in favor of the
referendum bill because he believes that the issue is "a
matter of life and death for Israel." He underlined that he
split with Sharon over disengagement, which he opposes, and
lamented that "...unilateral disengagement is only the
beginning."


4. (C) Rivlin noted that he also split with Sharon over the
roadmap, which he called "very dangerous for the future of
Israel." Rivlin claimed that Israelis are confused because
"different roadmaps" are being promoted by the UN, the
Europeans, and President Bush. Rivlin stressed his concern
for the future security of Israel, touching upon what he
characterized as the problems posed by "(Muslim)
fundamentalism, nationalism, and the Palestinian refugees."
In the final analysis, Rivlin stressed, Israelis and
Palestinians will have to live together; "no border will
divide us," and for this reason, he concluded, Israel will
need to protect itself.


5. (C) Representative Dreier underlined that both parties of
Congress are "extraordinarily supportive" of Israel, which he
termed the "lone democracy" in the region. He also
acknowledged Likud's internal struggle over disengagement,
but, while recognizing Israel's security needs, he underlined
that the disengagement plan also enjoys bipartisan
Congressional support.


6. (C) In a separate meeting with Codel Dreier, Labor MK
Colette Avital noted the historic nature of the day in the
Knesset, characterizing it as "the stormiest day of the
year." She noted the "paradox" that Sharon's government was
being supported by opposition parties, while part of Sharon's
party "does not support its own government." Poraz
characterized the political dynamics leading up to the
Knesset's vote on the referendum bill as "bizarre." He
complained about his party's treatment by Sharon, charging
that Sharon "kicked out" Shinui from the government in order
to bring in Labor and a religious party.

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Avital: Israel Wants Stronger Role IN OSCE
--------------


7. (C) Avital, along with Poraz, represents Israel in the
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, an observer
delegation in the Organization of Security and Cooperation in
Europe's (OSCE). She underlined that she sees Israel's
participation in the OSCE observer group as an important
opportunity for Knesset members to meet with Arab
parliamentarians. After the death of Yasir Arafat, Avital
said, a greater opportunity exists to normalize relations
with Arab countries, with positive signals already coming
from Egypt and Jordan. Noting that he and Rivlin had just
returned from the Europe-Mediterranean Parliamentary
Conference in Cairo, Knesset Diplomatic Advisor Levy stressed
the importance of Israel continuing to make contact with Arab
parliamentarians. In Cairo, Rivlin met with Egyptian
opposition party representatives, the first time, Levy said,
that an Israeli official has met with representatives from
this group.


8. (C) Avital said that Israel wants to upgrade its observer
status in the OSCE. While the GOI does not have "too much of
a problem" with greater OSCE involvement in the Middle East,
it does want a new status that enables it to participate in
dialogue on issues that concern Israel. As an example,
Avital noted Israel's surprise some two years ago when the
Italian delegation proposed, without Israeli input, a
resolution calling for Jerusalem to be designated as an
international city. Avital also proposed that Israel host an
OSCE forum to which Arab parliamentarians could be invited.



9. (C) Rep. Diaz-Balart underlined that the U.S. wants to be
helpful in facilitating contacts between Israeli and Arab
parliamentarians. Rep. Dreier offered U.S. assistance to
create a "nexus between Israel and Arab countries." He noted
that Congress is in the process of establishing a new
commission that will examine how to assist new and emerging
parliaments. He noted Congressional interest in facilitating
technical and other assistance to emerging parliaments,
including that of the Palestinian Authority.


10. (U) Codel Dreier cleared this message.

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