ISRAELI DEFMIN MOFAZ DISCUSSES IRAN, TERROR THREAT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 001582 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA (MAHER) STATE FOR S/CT (AMBASSADOR CRUMPTON) AND NP/RA (ODLUM) PENTAGON FOR OSD ISRAEL DESK OFFICER (ANDERSON) E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PINS MASS MNUC EG SY LE IR IS GOI EXTERNAL COUNTERTERRORISM SUBJECT: ISRAELI DEFMIN MOFAZ DISCUSSES IRAN, TERROR THREAT WITH SENATORS COCHRAN, DODD AND GREGG Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) In a meeting April 20 with Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS),Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Judd Gregg (R-NH),Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz expressed Israel's gratitude for U.S. support in the Global War on Terror, and its cooperation in military and defense industry matters. Mofaz listed the threats to Israel -- beginning with the greatest -- as Iran, Palestinian terrorism, Syria and Lebanon, and the Global Jihad. On Iran, he said that he is against military action at the moment, preferring the route of effective UNSC sanctions with the hope they will inspire internal pressure on Ahmadinejad's extremist regime. He explained that Palestinian terrorist groups have increased their attacks against Israelis since Hamas took control of the Palestinian Authority, and said that Israel considers the PA a terrorist state. Mofaz described how Syria uses Hizballah to keep Israel tied up on its northern border, and sends direction, know-how and financial support to terrorist groups in the Occupied Territories. As for the Global Jihad, Mofaz warned that Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad are trying to penetrate Israel. Senators Cochran, Dodd and Greg assured the Defense Minister of America's support for Israel. END SUMMARY. -------------- IRAN IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO ISRAEL -------------- ¶2. (S) DefMin Mofaz said Iran is currently the greatest threat to Israel, and noted that Tehran had announced in March its successful enrichment of uranium as part of its R&D program. In Israel's view, Iran is "running quickly" to achieve a nuclear weapons capability -- a prospect which threatens not only Israel, but also the region and international security. Mofaz said he would take any chance to stop Iran from acquiring such a capability -- as long as the cost merited the risk -- but stressed that he is against military action at this stage. "Let the UN Security Council impose effective sanctions on Iran. My hope is that after 1-2 years, the Iranian people would rise up against the regime" and pressure it to abandon its program. Mofaz suggested that the U.S. should ask for a "deep and large" inspection of all of Iran's nuclear sites. He added that he had doubts about the effectiveness of a military strike against Iran at this time, saying that while much is known about Iran's overt, civilian nuclear program, there are gaps in intelligence about its covert military program. Drawing analogies to Hitler, Mofaz stressed that Iranian President Ahmadinejad appears outrageous in his behavior and claims, but must be taken seriously. He said that Iran is dangerous also because of its missile program, and the leadership role it plays in radical Islamist movements in the region. He feared Iran would use a nuclear arsenal as a shield to enable it to step up its destabilizing efforts. -------------- THE RISE OF HAMAS -------------- ¶3. (S) Mofaz said that the Hamas-led PA's outrageous response to terrorist attacks -- including the April 17 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv that killed 9 and injured dozens -- justifies Israel's decision to make no distinction between the PA and Hamas. "The PA and Hamas are one entity, and they share the same address," he added. He noted that the PA government to date has refused to accept the three conditions the Quartet has set for the resumption of peace process negotiations, and that the PA failed to condemn the April 17 suicide bombing -- describing it instead as a "defensive action." He added that the PA had never reacted on information on planned terrorist activity that the Israeli security services gave it in the past. Mofaz said attacks have increased since January because terrorist groups are inspired by Hamas's victory in the January elections, and because groups like the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) wish to demonstrate that they "represent the Palestinians' true aspirations for freedom." Mofaz claimed that PIJ and other terrorist groups in the Occupied Territories have received USD ten million dollars, and direction and know-how from Iran and Syria since the beginning of the year. ¶4. (S) When Senator Dodd noted that he would be traveling on to Egypt, Mofaz asked him to tell the Egyptians to stop the smuggling of terrorists and weapons from Egypt into Gaza through the Rafah passage. Senator Dodd praised Israel for showing restraint in its response to the April 17 suicide bombing. Mofaz replied that he believes that Israel needs to be patient and balanced in responding to terrorist attacks. He added that Israel is trying to ease the Palestinian people's suffering, and does not wish to see a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He said that it is important that USAID continue its work with the Palestinians to address their humanitarian needs. Mofaz added that Israel keeps the Karni passage between Israel and the Gaza Strip open in the face of constant terrorist threats so that the Palestinian people can receive goods. The Defense Minister added that Israel is ready for a dialogue with the Palestinians according to the Roadmap "the moment Hamas accepts the Quartet's conditions." -------------- SYRIA IS WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO STRIKE -------------- ¶5. (S) Mofaz said that Syria is under incredible pressure from the international community, and is looking for any opportunity to open up a second front on Israel's northern border with the hope of deflecting attention away from its own problems. He said it would accomplish this by unleashing Hizballah and the other terrorist groups that it is harboring in Damascus. Mofaz recounted that Hizballah continues to launch Katyusha rockets into Israel, and has tried to infiltrate into northern Israel with the aim of kidnapping soldiers. He claimed that Hizballah possesses Fajar-5 and Fajar-7 long-range rockets with ranges of 40 kilometers. Mofaz said that Syria is allowing Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad terrorists to cross Syria into Iraq so that they can strike at U.S. and coalition forces there. -------------- - THE GLOBAL JIHAD IS TRYING TO PENETRATE ISRAEL -------------- - ¶6. (S) Mofaz claimed that Al Qaeda and the Islamic Jihad are patiently working to penetrate Israel, and have already established contacts with sympathetic Palestinians. He said that both groups have been very active in Egypt and Jordan over the last two years, and claimed that they were behind the launching of Katyushas from southern Lebanon into northern Israel in recent months. Mofaz noted that Israel has ongoing strategic dialogues with the U.S., Egypt and Jordan regarding the Global Jihad and the Iranian nuclear threat, but urged more intelligence cooperation with the U.S., especially on the ground. -------------- -------------- DEFMIN URGES MORE CT AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY COOPERATION -------------- -------------- ¶7. (S) In response to a question from Senator Dodd, Mofaz said that the U.S., Israel and European intelligence agencies need to cooperate more on Iran. He added that he plans to make this point when he visits the U.S. "in the next few months." Mofaz praised the results of long-standing U.S.-Israeli joint defense projects -- e.g., the Arrow and Patriot anti-missile programs, reactive armor, and the means to detect and destroy IEDs -- and said that more should be done in this area, especially in counterterrorism technologies. MOD Director General Jacob Toren cited the State Department's Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) program as an excellent program that yields effective CT technologies in a short period of time. He noted that the products are co-produced, and are being fielded by U.S. and Israeli military and CT forces to their countries' mutual benefits. Toren said Israel seeks continued political and financial support from both the Administration and Congress for these kinds of "win-win" programs. ¶8. (S) Senators Cochran, Dodd and Gregg made it clear that the reason for their visit was to reassure Israel of America's steadfast support, especially in light of the current situation with Hamas running the Palestinian Authority. They said that the Iranian missile and nuclear threats demonstrate the need for continued U.S.-Israel cooperation. The senators said that the USG has spoken clearly and forcefully on all of these issues, and expressed their hope that Congress's involvement will contribute to U.S. policy and deter -- if not prevent -- Iran from acquiring a nuclear capability. ¶9. (U) Senators Cochran, Dodd and Gregg did not have an opportunity to review this cable. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES