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).

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SUMMARY
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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.

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IRAN IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO ISRAEL
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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.

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THE RISE OF HAMAS
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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."

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SYRIA IS WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO STRIKE
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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.

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THE GLOBAL JIHAD IS TRYING TO PENETRATE ISRAEL
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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.

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DEFMIN URGES MORE CT AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY COOPERATION
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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.

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