SHALOM OUTLINES GOI REACTION TO ATTACK, BLAMES PA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006799

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KWBG KPAL IR IS LE SY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL ISRAEL RELATIONS
SUBJECT: SHALOM OUTLINES GOI REACTION TO ATTACK, BLAMES PA
PRESIDENT ABBAS

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told the
Ambassador December 6 that in response to the December 5
Netanya terrorist attack, the Security Cabinet decided to
cancel special travel privileges for Palestinian VIPs, to
resume targeted killings, and to combat terrorism and arms
smuggling into Gaza by other security measures. Shalom
called on the international community to pressure Abbas to
act against terrorist infrastructure. On other matters,
Shalom expressed satisfaction with the resumption of the
Strategic Dialogue between Israel and the U.S., and
underlined his view that the USG must act to prevent Iran
from producing nuclear weapons. Within the context of his
recent visit to Tunisia, Shalom noted the GOI's intention of
developing ties with Muslim countries, including through
"trilateral" relationships involving third parties. Building
on an idea presented by MFA's DG Ron Prosor during the
November 28 Strategic Dialogue meeting in Washington, Shalom
asked for USG assistance in developing a "trilateral"
relationship with Lebanon. The Ambassador asked for a more
detailed presentation of GOI thinking in this area, but also
offered to explore possibilities on the U.S. side. Shalom
also took credit for solving the tax issue concerning the
Jerusalem Consulate annex construction project and asked the
Ambassador to inform the Secretary. End summary.

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Shalom: Israel Will "Do The Work" if Abbas Will Not
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2. (C) Shalom met with the Ambassador directly after he
participated in a special morning Security Cabinet meeting to
discuss what actions the GOI should take in response to the
Netanya terrorist attack in which five people were killed and
over 50 wounded. The meeting began with a short press
availability during which Shalom -- in Likud candidate mode
-- criticized the PA for not acting against terrorism and
discussed measures the Security Cabinet decided to take in
response to the attack. He called on the international
community to pressure PA President Mahmud Abbas to act
against terrorism. Shalom said that the GOI will convey
information to the USG and other countries on what he claimed
is a large amount of weapons that have been smuggled into
Gaza from Egypt since Israel left Gaza in August. He also
criticized Syria for what he said is its role in supporting
terrorism in Israel. As part of the press availability, the
Ambassador offered his condolences to the Israeli people and
stressed that such attacks not only take innocent Israeli
lives, but damage the hopes and dreams of the Palestinian
people.


3. (C) Shalom told the Ambassador that the Netanya attack
had "damaged efforts to move forward" with the Palestinians.
He noted that when he was in Tunisia in mid-November, he met
twice with PA President Abbas and "begged him" to do
something against terrorism. Shalom said that Abbas
complained about being too weak to act. Comparing Abbas to
Arafat, who, Shalom claimed, used the same complaint, Shalom
also noted that Abbas refuses to bar Hamas from the upcoming
Palestinian Legislative Council elections. Shalom outlined
what decisions the Security Cabinet took earlier in the day
as a response to the attack, including:

-- canceling Palestinian VIP travel privileges;
-- restricting access into Israel of Palestinian workers;
-- resuming "targeted killings" of "ticking bombs."


4. (C) Commenting that the situation "looks very bad,"
Shalom said that "it's election time now...everyone's blaming
Sharon for leaving Gaza and not getting anything in return."
The Ambassador noted that all indications show that the
perpetrator of the Netanya attack was from the West Bank and
not from Gaza.

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Strategic Dialogue
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5. (C) Turning to other matters, Shalom expressed
satisfaction with the resumption of the U.S.-Israel Strategic
Dialogue in Washington last week. He said he is happy that
the next meeting will take place in Israel. Shalom
underlined his concern over Iran's nuclear program.
Asserting that Iran is "very close" to producing nuclear
weapons, Shalom cautioned that the USG should not
"subcontract out" to other countries the job of dealing with
Iran.

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GOI Seeks Trilateral Plans
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6. (C) Discussing the GOI's ongoing efforts to enhance
relations with certain Muslim countries, Shalom said he was
very well received in Tunisia. Shalom said he was treated as
a head of state, and joked that it was as if they already
knew his future. Shalom said that at a state dinner, he sat
with several Muslim heads of state, including the presidents
of Algeria, Sudan, and Mauritania. He said he also met with
the president of Mauritania and the foreign minister of
Tunisia. In recounting some of the Muslim countries with
which the GOI had made contact, Shalom listed Pakistan,
Indonesia, Qatar, and Oman, and said that he will "keep
confidential" the names of other countries. He said that

SIPDIS
Saudi Arabia is one of the only countries with which Israel
has had no contact. The GOI has noted a difference in
relations with Pakistan since his meeting with Pakistan's
foreign minister, with Israeli diplomats in various countries
now receiving social invitations from Pakistani embassies.
Shalom said that Israel once had a channel with Malaysia, and
suggested that USG assistance could be useful in
re-establishing contact. Shalom also claimed that Iraq has
been interested in establishing ties to Israel -- more so
than vice versa.


7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query as to whether
the GOI has a larger plan to develop relations with Muslim
countries, Shalom said that the GOI is now using "trilateral"
approaches, whereby it provides technological, agricultural
or other support to Muslim countries with the financial
support of a third country or party whose involvement
provides necessary political cover. He gave the example of
Israel providing Tunisia with technological support for a
project that is being funded by UNESCO. He also mentioned a
project the GOI is doing in Egypt funded by the Japanese
Government. Shalom said that it is easier for Israel to
undertake projects in Muslim countries through third parties.
Building on an idea presented by MFA's DG Ron Prosor during
the November 28 Strategic Dialogue meeting in Washington,
Shalom asked whether the USG could help establish a
trilateral dialog with Lebanon. He asked the Ambassador for
project ideas and personal contacts in Lebanon with whom the
GOI could meet "outside the region" to discuss such a
project. The Ambassador asked for more details of the GOI's
thinking in this area and said that he would consult within
the USG on how we might be of help.

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Other Issues
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8. (C) Turning to other matters, Shalom told the Ambassador
that he had "solved" the tax problem that Secretary Rice had
discussed with him during their November 14 meeting and that
this is not a problem for the USG anymore. He asked the
Ambassador to convey the news to the Secretary.


9. (C) In response to an earlier query by Shalom, the
Ambassador noted that the visa waiver program is only
available to countries that have a two percent or less
refusal rate. Since Israel has approximately an eight
percent refusal rate, it would not be eligible. Shalom said
that he believes that the Israeli-Arab applicants raise the
refusal rate for Israel due to their relatively low
socio-economic status.

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