AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 005798

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWBG IS ISRAEL RELATIONS GOI INTERNAL GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER
SHALOM

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In their introductory meeting September 25,
Foreign Minister Shalom told Ambassador Jones that the United
States remains Israel's best friend and that he hopes for
continued USG support to expand Israel's ties to the Arab
world, an area on which he has focused. He offered no
prediction on Monday's Likud Central Committee vote, other
than to say that a high turnout would benefit Sharon. He
called for Israel's inclusion in the visa waiver program. He
also thanked the USG for its support in pressuring Iran on
its nuclear program. ED SUMMARY.


2. (C) Shalom was equivocal on the prospects for Prime
Minister Sharon to avoid a Likud Central Committee decision
calling for early primaries. He cited three groups as among
those who are using the primaries issue to oppose Sharon: a
group led by Natan Sharansky that is still angry over
Sharon's refusal to appoint Sharansky head of the Jewish
Agency; the followers of "extremist" Moshe Feiglin; and the
"founders," or elderly Likud founding members who simply
cannot change their fundamental stance. He numbers the total
of those groups at some 500 to 600 of the Central Committee's
2,500 members. He suggested that if more than 90 percent of
Central Committee members vote, Sharon "has a chance" of
avoiding early primaries. If fewer than 80 percent vote, it
will "not be good."


3. (C) Shalom called on PA President Mahmoud Abbas to
dismantle terrorist infrastructure and to stop Hamas and PIJ
attacks on Israel. Shalom said that he has many times
pointed out that progress depends on what happens in Gaza,
and right now, it looks like it's not working. He cited the
risk to progress from even a single high-casualty attack on
Israelis, terming it very risky for the future. He pointed
to recent Hamas statements reiterating the organization's
call for the destruction of Israel and the "full liberation"
of Palestinian lands, arguing that previous agreements with
the Palestinians (the Oslo accords) prohibit the
participation in the political process of parties that call
for Israel's destruction.


4. (C) Ambassador Jones responded that the USG and Israel
need to develop a strategy that weakens Hamas and PIJ and
strengthens the PA, and find a way for those people willing
to take part peacefully in the political process to do so,
while eliminating the violent component. The Ambassador
noted that the Secretary had spoken with Abbas the day
before, calling on him once again to denounce the Hamas
attacks and take action to stop terror. Abbas has responded
with the right words, he added, but words have to be matched
by deeds. Shalom agreed.


5. (C) Shalom pointed out his recent activities to enhance
ties with Arab countries, and indicated without further
elaboration that talks, mostly confidential, are ongoing with
many countries. He said Israel has no conflict with the
broader Arab world -- not on territory and not on economic
issues. He cited the Gulf countries as being the most
promising targets for improved relations -- he cited Bahrain,
Qatar, Oman, and Dubai -- and suggested that Morocco "needs
some push," which he said he hopes the U.S. administration
will undertake. Shalom said he will be traveling to Tunisia
with the Israeli minister of communications for a November
16-18 conference and expects to visit Morocco shortly
thereafter. He also noted Israel's participation in the
Barcelona Process meeting in Barcelona some two weeks after
the Tunis event, referred to positive indications from
Indonesia, and pointed out that Pakistan President Musharraf
faced only minor public demonstrations following public
meetings between Shalom and the Pakistani foreign minister in
Turkey. Asked about the situation in Lebanon via a vis the
LAF taking control of the south from Hizballah, the
Ambassador said he sees little chance for LAF action as long
as President Lahoud remains in office. Lahoud he noted, was
an ally of Syria, and once headed the Lebanese armed forces.
The LAF are thus unlikely to take any action toward Hizballah
without his endorsement.


6. (C) On bilateral relations, Shalom said he hopes for a
Joint Political Military Group (JPMG) session in the near
future and for resumption of the Strategic Dialogue. He
noted that MFA DG Ron Prosor had discussed the resumption of
the Strategic Dialogue recently with U/S Burns in Washington.
He termed the bilateral economic dialogue "very good," and
said he hoped for talks on major issues to move to twice a
year and to involve "daily contact" with USG interlocutors.
For instance, he said, Israel has proposed twice-yearly
meetings with Secretary Rice, an idea that he understands USG
officials view favorably. He also cited as a strong tie the
bilateral trade relationship that he said now amounts to USD
20 billion annually, but added that he hopes for stronger
cooperation in high tech areas.


7. (C) Shalom called for new USG consideration of Israel's
request to be included in the visa waiver program, an issue
he has pushed since becoming foreign minister. Shalom said
that he understands that the 92 to 94 percent issuance rate
precludes Israel's participation in the program, but
suggested that what he believes is a higher refusal rate for
Israeli Arabs is skewing the issuance/refusal rate against
Israel. The Ambassador doubted there was such
discrimination, but observed lower-income applicants
sometimes have a harder time showing lasting ties to their
countries of origin. Shalom was quick to acknowledge this
and distance himself from any allegation of discrimination.
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JONES