Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV1753
2006-05-04 15:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

HERZOG TELLS CODEL LIEBERMAN THAT LABOR SUPPORTS

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001753 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: HERZOG TELLS CODEL LIEBERMAN THAT LABOR SUPPORTS
STRENGTHENING ABBAS

Classified By: A/DCM Norm Olsen for reasons 1.4 ( b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001753

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: HERZOG TELLS CODEL LIEBERMAN THAT LABOR SUPPORTS
STRENGTHENING ABBAS

Classified By: A/DCM Norm Olsen for reasons 1.4 ( b,d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Labor MK Itzhak ("Boojy") Herzog told
Senator Joseph Lieberman April 20 that the Labor Party
advocates strengthening Palestinian Authority (PA) President
Mahmud Abbas. Herzog said he supports USG assistance to the
Abbas-controlled Presidential Guard in order to enhance that
body's ability to combat terrorist organizations. Regarding
the then-ongoing coalition talks between Labor and Kadima,
Herzog said he believes that Labor Party Chairman Amir
Peretz, while preferring to lead the Finance Ministry or even
a new super-ministry that includes employment and social
benefits issues, would likely accept the high-profile defense
ministry to enhance his leadership image. (Note: Since this
meeting, Labor has joined a coalition with Kadima, and has
assumed the leadership of seven ministries, including Peretz
as Minister of Defense. End note.) Herzog said that some of
Labor's supporters left the party as a reaction to its more
"blue-collar" orientation after Peretz was elected party
chair and shifted their support to the Pensioners Party. End
summary.

--------------
Abbas - Take a Chance on Him
--------------


2. (C) MK Herzog, number two in the Labor Party faction,
told Senator Lieberman and the DCM April 20 that his party
views PA President Abbas as an "option" that should be
pursued. Herzog said that strengthening Abbas, whom he
described as weak, could help eventually to bring about the
downfall of Hamas. In response to Lieberman's comments about
U.S. legislation that would cut off USG assistance to the
Hamas-led PA, but allow for assistance to Abbas for
administrative and security purposes, Herzog said he supports
USG assistance to enhance the Abbas-controlled Presidential
Guard's ability to combat terror. Herzog said that Labor MK
Ephraim Sneh had recently met with PA chief negotiator Sa'eb
Erekat and that Erekat told Sneh that Abbas needs help in
order to move against terror. Herzog said that this option
is worth pursuing. Senator Lieberman noted that the GOI

opposes USG assistance to Abbas's security forces and
commented that the USG wants to avoid a conflict with the GOI
over this issue. (Note: Senator Lieberman had come to Herzog
directly from a meeting with FM Livni, who expressed
opposition to such USG assistance. See septel. End note.)


3. (C) Herzog noted that a new government will soon be
formed. He stressed his view that FM Tzipi Livni has held an
anti-Abbas view, but that she may be open to changing her
view to avoid a military alternative on which he did not
elaborate. Herzog asserted that Labor was the only party
during the election campaign that had an alternative proposal
for dealing with the Hamas victory. He said that while Likud
rejected any dealing with the PA and Kadima referred to Abbas
as "irrelevant," Labor publicly proposed forming a coalition
of moderate leaders in the region, including Moroccan King
Muhammed VI and Egyptian President Mubarak, to help Abbas.
(Note: Livni used the term "irrelevant" to describe Abbas in
a February media interview. End note.)


4. (C) Herzog stressed the importance of exerting
international pressure on Hamas, and proposed a "carrot and
stick" approach to influencing Hamas. He said that an
important question is whether Hamas could be defeated through
new elections. In response to Senator Lieberman's query,
Herzog said that he could not speculate whether Abbas would
take the initiative and call for early elections. Senator
Lieberman underlined his view that the GOI should ensure that
humanitarian assistance reaches the Palestinian people.

--------------
Peretz Shaky on Defense
--------------


5. (C) Turning to domestic politics, Herzog underlined that
Labor is hoping to be a "major pillar" of the coalition and
that Kadima and Labor are trying to "speed up" the
negotiations. (Note: Since this meeting, Labor has joined a
coalition with Kadima, and has assumed leadership of seven
ministries including Peretz as Minister of Defense. End
note.) Of the major ministries of defense, foreign affairs,
and finance, Herzog said that Peretz prefers finance in order
to pursue his socio-economic agenda. He said that while
Peretz "is not keen on" the defense ministry, since he is, as
Herzog termed, a "dove," Peretz is likely to settle for
defense even though this could thwart his ability to pursue
his social-economic agenda. Herzog said that Peretz could be
offered a new super-ministry that includes employment, social
security, and other social benefits issues, but assessed that
Peretz would opt for defense to avoid the appearance that he
is insecure about dealing with defense issues. He said that
if Peretz accepts defense, he would bring a strong deputy
minister with him. In response to the DCM's query about
whether Peretz, as defense minister, could address his
economic agenda by making cuts in the defense budget, Herzog
asserted that it would be difficult to make significant cuts
from defense without cutting into the labor-intense defense
industries. As to his own aspirations, Herzog -- who had
served as housing minister from January through November 2005
-- is hoping to receive the Justice Ministry, but said he
would also be satisfied with the Ministry of Infrastructure
or that of interior.

--------------
Israelis Voted for Compassionate Government
--------------


6. (SBU) Analyzing Labor's showing in the recent elections,
Herzog assessed that although a majority of voters supported
Labor's socio-economic agenda, many did not vote for Labor
because they did not feel confident that the party could
actually deliver on that agenda. He also said that people do
not view Labor as having a strong enough "stomach" on
security issues. He agreed with a recent Washington Post
article Lieberman cited that assessed that in this past
election, the Israeli public cast their votes based on
socio-economic concerns. Israelis voted for a "compassionate
government," Herzog said. Because the Labor Party became
more blue-collar oriented with the election of Peretz as
party chair, Peretz assessed, Labor lost some of its
traditional support, including to the new Pensioners Party.
Herzog said that the Pensioners Party gained some of its
support from the 18-30 year-old crowd, who are concerned
about the well-being of elderly family members. He estimated
that the Pensioners will have a "centrist" orientation with
regard to the Palestinians and characterized the party as
"the long arm of Olmert," since it presented itself as a
likely coalition partner without engaging in the same
hard-ball politics as other parties. He speculated that
Olmert had offered the Pensioners the health ministry and
perhaps one other ministry, which they accepted.


7. (U) Codel Lieberman cleared this cable on May 2.




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