(C) SHARON TO CODELS: KEY TO PROGRESS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000227

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2010
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS XF ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: (C) SHARON TO CODELS: KEY TO PROGRESS WITH
PALESTINIANS IS SECURITY


Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for Reasons 1/4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In separate meetings with Senators Kyl,
Martinez, Murkowski, Sununu, and Biden, and Congressman Adam
Smith January 9 and with Senator Kerry January 10, Prime
Minister Sharon emphasized that progress with Palestinians
depends fundamentally on whether terrorism, violence and
incitement stop and whether Palestinians start making a one
hundred percent effort to uproot terrorist organizations and
infrastructure. Sharon made clear he intends to proceed with
disengagement from Gaza and four settlements in the northern
West Bank, and said he would coordinate disengagement to the
extent the Palestinians exercise security responsibility. On
Iran, Sharon argued for tougher diplomacy, including
reference to the UN Security Council and the imposition of
sanctions so as to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear weapons
program. End summary.


2. (C) Sharon opened both meetings by thanking the
Congressional delegations for the strong support the United
States has provided to Israel and our bilateral strategic
cooperation. He said Israel had committed itself to
facilitating Palestinian elections and had, in fact, taken
the necessary steps to enhance freedom of movement and
mobility. In the January 9 meeting, Sharon noted the
positive role played by former President Carter in resolving
some issues related to Palestinian voting in Jerusalem.


3. (C) Sharon said that, once Abu Mazen has taken office,
Israel expects concrete steps on security, without which
nothing would advance. Sharon's requirements included:

-- A complete cessation of terrorism and violence.

-- One hundred percent effort to prevent terrorism, including
acting upon intelligence, arresting perpetrators, and
punishing convicted terrorists.

-- Thorough reform of the Palestinian security services,
especially the consolidation of the more than a dozen such
organs into three bodies, as called for in the Tenet and
Zinni work plans.

-- The collection of illegal weapons and their transfer to a
third party for removal from the area.

-- The dismantlement of terrorist organizations.

-- The complete cessation of incitement and beginning
"education for peace."


4. (C) Sharon said that these steps by Palestinians will
open the door to renewed security and intelligence
cooperation with Israel. Also, in emphasizing his
determination to proceed with the disengagement plan, Sharon
said that Palestinian security actions would pave the way for
cooperation and coordination on disengagement. On the other
hand, Sharon made clear that, without these steps by
Palestinians, "nothing will happen here."


5. (C) Sharon repeated his willingness for "painful
compromises" but said that he will not compromise on the
issue of Israeli security or the security of Israeli
citizens. "There will be no compromises now or in the future
on these issues." Sharon also warned against any attempts to
apply pressure on Israel to compromise on what Israel
determines to be its security requirements. He said it is
his historic responsibility to provide security to Israelis
and he will not be pushed into compromises on this.


6. (C) Sharon said he is ready to meet with Abu Mazen and
that security will be at the top of the Israeli agenda.
Sharon plans to tell Abu Mazen that it is absolutely critical
that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza not take place under fire.
Sharon promised a "very hard reaction" if Palestinian groups
attack or fire on the Israeli convoys evacuating settlers
from Gaza.


7. (C) Sharon said that the Israelis and Palestinians are
not currently working on the roadmap but that disengagement
could pave the way to return to the roadmap. In this regard,
as Israel disengages, Palestinians must take steps that
create the opportunity to return to the roadmap following
disengagement.


8. (C) Asked about Israel's relations with Jordan and
Egypt, Sharon said Israel enjoys "close strategic relations"
with Jordan, but a "cool peace" with Egypt. In both cases,
relations between governments have not been matched by
relations between peoples. Unions and popular organizations
in both countries continue to boycott Israel. Sharon said he
does not foresee real peace with the Arab world until the
Arabs "recognize the birthright of the Jewish people to an
independent Jewish state in the cradle of Jewish
civilization." He said that he maintains contact with
President Mubarak and King Abdullah and noted that relations
with Egypt have been improving in the past few months, noting
in particular the importance of Egypt's having released Azzam
Azzam.


9. (C) Asked about Palestinian economic prospects, Sharon
said it is important that there be investment in the
Palestinian economy in order to produce jobs. He warned,
however, against providing money directly to the Palestinian
Authority until the donors are sure that the money would not
be channeled into uses other than those specified. Sharon
said that Palestinians need several mega-projects which
should absorb much of the aid of the donors such as power
stations, water desalination, infrastructure, a seaport and
an airport. Sharon also called for donor support for the
construction of housing for refugees currently in camps in
the West Bank and Gaza.


10. (C) Sharon said that he recognizes Palestinians are
likely to try to arrange a ceasefire, but he stressed that
Israel will not be a party to any ceasefire. Rather, Israel
will respond to quiet with quiet. Until now, Sharon said,
Palestinians have not taken any measures against terrorism,
despite the fact that 30,000 Palestinian security personnel
in Gaza have been untouched by the Intifada. Sharon assessed
that Palestinians are capable of taking steps, such as
preventing Qassam rocket attacks, but they need to deploy and
take action. Sharon advised the Congressional
representatives not to be misled by the apparent reduction in
Palestinian terrorism. He said there are constant attempts
by Palestinians to conduct terrorism, but increasing Israeli
capabilities have had more success in stopping the terrorism
before it can succeed.


11. (C) Sharon lamented what he termed 120 years of lost
opportunities by Palestinians to end the conflict with
Israel. He said the dispute between Israelis and
Palestinians did not start with Israel's occupation of the
West Bank and Gaza. Palestinians now have another chance to
make peace. By the end of 2005, there will be no Israeli
"villages or towns" (i.e. settlements) in Gaza, and four
settlements will also be removed from the West Bank. If
Palestinians do their part on security, Israel and the
Palestinians can return to the roadmap. A final settlement
might take a few years, but it can be achieved. Sharon said
it was "not clever" to fix a timetable for such progress,
since many timetables were announced previously to no avail.
Asked whether he had a broader vision of peace, Sharon said
that the vision of peace is the same as stated by President
Bush and incorporated in the roadmap. If the Palestinians do
the necessary steps, they can achieve a provisional state,
and then negotiations could begin on final status.


12. (C) Asked about settlements, Sharon's aide, Dov
Weissglas, said that the issue of settlements is not being
dealt with now, and will await final status negotiations. He
continued that no land is being taken by Israel for new
settlements, and that construction is only taking place
within the lines of built-up areas inside the settlements.
Weissglas said "one hundred" outposts had already been
removed and that action would soon be taken on the remainder.
Sharon commented that building continues within some
settlements because "they have many children." He said
Israel will continue to build within the settlements until
the final status negotiations. Sharon noted that the removal
of outposts, which he promised to President Bush, would
continue but that it was very hard to accomplish.


13. (C) Asked whether Israel would seek U.S. assistance for
Gaza disengagement, Weissglas said there have been "initial
contacts" with the Administration but no sums have been
discussed. Sharon noted that President Bush had committed to
help support the Palestinians and Israel. He summoned the
Director General of the Prime Ministry, Ilan Cohen, who said
that the cost to Israel for security issues related to
disengagement is estimated to be NIS 2-2.5 billion
(approximately 450-550 million dollars). The cost to Israel
for civilian issues of disengagement, such as settler
compensation and relocation, is estimated to be NIS 3 billion
(approximately 670 million dollars).


14. (C) On Iran, Sharon said that he intends to warn Abu
Mazen that the greatest danger to Palestinians comes from
Iran, Syria and Hizbollah, not Israel. Hizbollah, with
Iranian support, has been active in Gaza smuggling.
Hizbollah has also made inroads in directing and financing
terrorism in the West Bank. The other danger from Iran is
its intention to build a nuclear weapons program, coupled
with missiles that can reach Israel, Europe and Russia. The
Iranians have stated publicly their intention to destroy the
State of Israel and yet no one reacts to those statements.
Sharon said he wants diplomacy to succeed, but said that the
Iranian issue must be referred to the United Nations Security
Council and that sanctions must be imposed, such as a ban on
Iranian flights, an embargo of Iranian oil, and the like.
Sharon said he fears that the Europeans, even those countries
that are leading the negotiations with Iran, have more or
less accepted that Iran will become a member of the "nuclear
club." He said Europe appears "tired" and does not show any
real determination to act. Sharon was asked whether their
was a military option against Iran if diplomacy did not work.
Sharon responded that Israel's 1981 attack on Iraq had
postponed Iraq's nuclear capability for many years. He said
Israel knows where the Iranian program is being worked but
repeated that nothing should be done until the Iranians had
reached "the point of no return."


15. (C) Sharon told the visiting delegations that Syria
remains a "center of terror." Terrorists headquarters are
located in Damascus, there are training bases, orders to
commit acts of terrorism emanate from Syria, and weapons are
smuggled from Syria to terrorists. Sharon said that Syria
has allowed Iranian revolutionary guards into Lebanon, does
not allow the Lebanese Army to deploy to the border, and has
now become a training and logistics center for terrorists
operating in Iraq. Sharon claimed that Syrian statements of
readiness to negotiate with Israel are designed to reduce
pressure on Syria to change its policies in these other
areas. While he is ready to negotiate with every Arab
country, Sharon said he has not seen the slightest sign from
Syria of their intention to negotiate seriously, and thus
does not see why Israel should help Syria escape U.S. and
international pressure.


16. (U) The CoDels did not clear this message.

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