ISRAELI DEFMIN PERETZ SAYS HE WILL TRY TO HELP ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001949 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA (MAHER) STATE FOR GTIP (GAYATRI PATEL) PENTAGON FOR OSD ISRAEL DESK OFFICER (ANDERSON) DIA FOR DHO-6 NSC FOR DPNSA ABRAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM ELAB IS GTIP GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY SUBJECT: ISRAELI DEFMIN PERETZ SAYS HE WILL TRY TO HELP ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) New Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told Ambassador Jones May 17 that, per the Ambassador's request, he will use his influence as a cabinet member to support efforts to have the Knesset proceed with second and third readings on draft legislation concerning labor trafficking. Peretz stressed that in his worldview, each person has value, and that moral aspects of a problem cannot be ignored. He said that the key to combating trafficking is catching employers who violate the law and sending them to jail. ¶2. (C) Other issues covered in the meeting, including Palestinian humanitarian issues, Iran, terrorism and export controls are covered in septels. ********************************************* ******************** 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