Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV379
2005-01-21 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

FM DEFENDS BREAK WITH PA, DENOUNCES IRAN AND SYRIA

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000379 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2015
TAGS: IS KPAL PREL GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: FM DEFENDS BREAK WITH PA, DENOUNCES IRAN AND SYRIA
BEFORE DIP CORPS


Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000379

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2015
TAGS: IS KPAL PREL GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: FM DEFENDS BREAK WITH PA, DENOUNCES IRAN AND SYRIA
BEFORE DIP CORPS


Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: At a political/diplomatic briefing for
foreign ambassadors, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom defended
Prime Minister Sharon's decision to suspend contacts with the
Palestinian Authority until the PA takes action against
terrorist infrastructure in the territories. Shalom said
that Abu Mazen had the capability to stop attacks on
Israelis, but questioned the new PA President's will to do
so. Shalom stated that Israel was willing to make painful
concessions but would not negotiate while under attack. He
said that Israel was willing to return to September 2000
positions and follow the roadmap, but the PA had to fulfill
its Phase I commitments. He claimed complicity of PA
security forces in the recent attack at the Karni Crossing.
Shalom denounced Syria for hosting Hizballah and Islamic
Jihad, and called for concrete goodwill gestures by Syrian
President Asad. He asked the assembled envoys to urge a
complete cessation of Iran's nuclear program. The FM praised
the broad support for this month's special UN session
commemorating the liberation of the concentration camps, and
asked for senior representation at commemorations at Yad
Vashem in March. End Summary.

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

2. (C) At a briefing for foreign ambassadors at the MFA
January 17, FM Shalom defended Prime Minister Sharon's
decision to suspend contacts with PA officials following the
January 13 attack at Karni. He said that Prime Minister
Sharon was committed to disengagement, but not under fire.
Israel was willing to coordinate on disengagement and
incitement whenever the PA was willing to oppose terrorism.
Israel went along with burial of Arafat in Ramallah rather
than in Gaza, and had cooperated with the PA and
international observers on the recent elections. Abu Mazen
had a very clear mandate and the time for excuses was coming
to an end.

-------------- --------------
"Abu Mazen has the capability -- but does he have the will?"
-------------- --------------

3. (C) Shalom said that despite doubts to the contrary, PA

President Abu Mazen possessed the capability to crack down on
Palestinian terrorists. He questioned whether Abu Mazen had
the will to do so. Israel was very unhappy with Abu Mazen's
campaign statements and believed "he means what he said."
"Arafat made a very extreme speech at the White House in 1993
at the time of the Oslo Accords and never moved an inch from
what he said." Israel could not accept statements like
"Israel is the Zionist enemy." Abandoning terrorism is a
Phase I commitment under the roadmap. Abu Mazen had said
that Qassams and the Intifada were against the interests of
the Palestinians -- but he didn't say that they were wrong.
The terrorists were not just hurting Israelis; they were
hurting Palestinians too. Shalom asked his audience of
ambassadors to urge the PA to fully implement Phase I of the
roadmap. That meant rooting out the infrastructure of
terrorism, not just a ceasefire. It also required a range of
reforms, including civil, budgetary and security, and
reduction of the number of security structures to three from
"14 or 20." Israel was in favor of the London Conference as
a means to assist the PA in meeting its Phase I commitments.
Shalom called for the countries represented to help rebuild
Gaza and the West Bank, noting that he had asked the Japanese
Foreign Minister to reestablish the committee on the
environment to address related infrastructure, sewage and
water issues.

--------------
Comments on Resettlement, Arab World
--------------

4. (C) Shalom asked that other countries assist Palestinian
refugees. He said that some wanted to move the Palestinian
Diaspora to Israel rather than to their own country. "They
must have other intentions; no one will accept it." He asked
his audience to ask Arab countries to assist the refugees,
and mentioned some of Israel's recent efforts to intensify
consultations with Egypt and Jordan. He noted a "change in
the Arab world," with Saddam and Arafat gone, and Qaddafi
showing a change in attitude. Only the threats of Iran and
Al-Qaeda were left, he said.

--------------
No "Two Tracks of Terrorism and Talks"
--------------

5. (C) Prime Minister Sharon had declared that there would be
no talks until Israel saw concrete actions by the PA. Israel
could not accept two tracks of "terrorism and talks." It
needed the Palestinians to show that the era of Arafat is
over. Israel could not accept daily missile attacks. Sderot
had lost seven people in recent weeks. PM Sharon had a new
and more stable coalition and a huge majority in the Cabinet
in favor of the disengagement plan. It was time to show the
world that the Palestinians were able to take over.
Terrorists could not fire missiles from the West Bank because
Israeli forces had been there since 2002. The recent attack
at the Karni Crossing could not have taken place without the
assistance of PA security forces, Shalom claimed, because the
terrorists could not have moved kilos of bomb material
through the crossing gate without assistance. He called 2005
a "year of hope" for disengagement and PA reforms, and said
that if those processes succeeded it would be possible to
move to implementation of the roadmap. Because of the
Intifada, there was no confidence and trust. As the sides
disagreed on all final status issues, it was impossible to
jump right to negotiations. Depending on the PA's actions,
Israel was willing to withdraw to September 2000 positions.

--------------
Terrorism "Not Just Israel's Problem"
--------------

6. (C) Elaborating on the subject of terrorism, Shalom said
the world had come to understand that terrorism was not just
Israel's problem. He then stated that "all those committing
terrorist acts are Muslims, but most Muslims are moderates
and want better relations with the West and Israel." (Note:
In the later question and answer period, the Egyptian charge'
took issue with Shalom's characterization of all terrorists
as Muslims. End note). He characterized Al-Qaeda, Islamic
Jihad, Hizballah and Hamas as extremists driven by the idea
that Islam should rule the world. Israel was working to
improve its relations with the Muslim world and trying to
isolate such extremists.

--------------
Comments on Iran and Syria
--------------

7. (C) Shalom said it was especially important to recognize
the role of Iran and Syria in supporting terrorism. He
called Iran "the enemy of all of us" and said Iran was behind
25 percent of the attacks against Israel. Although Israel
had been able to prevent 22 attacks by Hizballah, Hizballah
had carried out 64 successful attacks and was increasing its
efforts since Arafat's passing. (Note: Shalom did not give
a time frame for these figures. End Note). Countries
shouldn't try to distinguish between Hizballah's political
and armed efforts, Shalom said, asking "Do you know a party
with 12,000 missiles, a party that carries out attacks
against civilians?" He urged all countries represented at
the briefing to include Hizballah in their lists of terrorist
organizations. He said there were fewer attacks by Hamas due
to cutoffs of funds, and funds to Hizballah needed to be cut
as well.

-------------- --------------
FM Calls for Iran to Cease All Nuclear Development
-------------- --------------

8. (C) Turning to Iran's "development of a nuclear bomb,"
Shalom said that the international community was talking
about using carrots and sticks, but he saw "only carrots."
He said Iran would never abandon efforts to develop a nuclear
bomb. Any "suspension" of efforts was by definition
temporary, and the UNSC should address the problem if Iran
was unwilling to fully halt its nuclear development program.
The FM said that some of the countries represented at the
briefing had their own intelligence on Iran's efforts, and
Israel had provided its intelligence to other countries. He
concluded his remarks on Iran by saying, "Before, Iran was
Israel's problem, but now Paris, Berlin, London and the south
of Russia are within range of the missiles Iran is
developing."

-------------- --------------
Syria: President Asad Needs to Match Words with Deeds
-------------- --------------

9. (C) Shalom said not only was Syria hosting the
headquarters of Hizballah and Islamic Jihad, but missiles
from Iran intended for attacks against Israel were transiting
Damascus and the port of Latakiya. President Asad had been
saying he wanted better relations with Israel, but "there was
a big gap between words and deeds." Asad was now facing
pressure from the U.S. and the UN Security Council. The 1976
occupation should come to an end. Lebanon could have been
the second Arab country with diplomatic relations with
Israel, but Syria had blocked that possibility. Syria should
make concrete gestures towards Israel, including returning
the remains of Israeli spy Eli Cohen and providing
information on an Israeli soldier who had disappeared near
the Syrian border.

--------------
Ambassadors Ask Israel to Give Abu Mazen Time
--------------

10. (C) The ambassadors or charges from the Netherlands,
South Africa, Egypt and the Czech Republic spoke during the
question and answer period. The Dutch representative asked
whether Israel's unwillingness to withdraw from Gaza under
fire wasn't giving a veto to the terrorists. Shalom replied
that Abu Mazen and the leaders of his security forces could
stop attacks "in a moment." They needed to move against the
terrorist infrastructure as Arafat had done in 1996 when
pressured. The South African ambassador suggested that
suspending talks weakened "the elements for peace." Shalom
replied that Israel was willing to make "very painful
concessions" for the sake of peace, and Abu Mazen would
actually be strengthened by moving against perpetrators of
terror. The Egyptian charge' took issue with Shalom's
statement that all terrorists are Muslims. Shalom replied
with a restatement of Israel's efforts to engage with the
Arab World, and noted that there were mosque sermons in Gaza
that called Jews "animals" and worse. He said that Israel
was simply asking Abu Mazen for "best efforts." In response
to a question from the Czech representative about actions
Israel could take, Shalom said that Israel had quietly
removed over 100 illegal outposts and repeated that Israel
was prepared to withdraw to September 2000 positions
following steps on security by the PA. (Note: GOI data
contradict Shalom's claim on outpost removals. Data show
only 29 outposts removed since early 2003; the total number
of outposts has gone from 146 in 2003 to 117 today. End
Note). He said that without PA action against terrorist
infrastructure, "every aircraft" taking off from Ben Gurion
Airport could be targeted if Israel withdrew from the West
Bank prematurely. In closing remarks, the Dean of the Corps
praised Israel's support for the recent elections and asked
that Israel continue to support Abu Mazen as the leader of
the Palestinians.

-------------- --------------
Atmospherics: Foreign COMs Deputized as Israeli Ambassadors
-------------- --------------

11. (C) Shalom began his remarks by asking his audience of
COM's to "be Ambassadors of Israel," saying they and their
families recognized the reality of terrorist attacks in
Israel. He expressed his condolences to the families of
Tsunami victims, noting that Israel had been trying to assist

SIPDIS
within its limited resources. Shalom thanked those countries
that supported the UN special session to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps
scheduled for January 24. He asked the ambassadors to urge
high-level representation from their countries at the special
session and at March commemorations at Yad Vashem in Israel.
He said that anti-Semitism was still flourishing in Europe,
but praised France and other European governments for their
recent efforts to combat anti-Semitism.


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