Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV2620
2006-06-30 09:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
OLMERT TELLS AG GONZALES THAT AIM IS SAFE RETURN
how-toThis 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 TEL AVIV 002620
SIPDIS
JUSTICE FOR BRUCE SWARTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: OLMERT TELLS AG GONZALES THAT AIM IS SAFE RETURN
OF ABDUCTED SOLDIER, BUT MISHA'AL IS THE PROBLEM
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002620
SIPDIS
JUSTICE FOR BRUCE SWARTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: OLMERT TELLS AG GONZALES THAT AIM IS SAFE RETURN
OF ABDUCTED SOLDIER, BUT MISHA'AL IS THE PROBLEM
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) In a June 29 meeting in his office, a cordial and
receptive Prime Minister Olmert told Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales that:
-- The kidnapping of a solider near Gaza is "a pure act of
terror" and a "clear violation of international law." Olmert
said that no one can any longer argue that Israel occupies
Gaza, and the kidnappers crossed the border to take their
hostage.
-- Israel is undertaking now those actions that can best lead
to the safe recovery of the kidnapped solider and "is
sensitive to not cross a certain line" that Israel "might
have crossed in other circumstances." The GOI aims to bring
the soldier back to his family. That said, however, Israel
has "no information of consequence" on the kidnap victim's
situation and no sense of where the overall situation is
heading.
-- Israel now needs to discuss such terrorist actions with
our Syrian "friends" to let them know that Israel cannot
continue to tolerate such acts or Syria's support for such
acts. The Syrians, he said, "are an enemy of every potential
political development here." Olmert asked rhetorically, how
can we cope with Hamas? Continue tit for tat or "do
something much more fundamental to affect their flexibility
and freedom? He cited Khalid Misha'al -- who "lives in
Damascus under Asad" -- as a major obstacle to the victim's
release.
2. (C) AG Gonzales said he hopes that the kidnapping of the
Israeli soldier by Gaza militants can be resolved quickly and
with as little disruption as possible for the civilian
population, and asked what help the United States might be
able to provide. The United States, he said, is focused on
the issue and wants to see the soldier returned to his
family. Olmert said he has continuous contact with the
Deputy National Security Advisor, the Assistant Secretary of
State for Near East Affairs, and other senior administration
officials. "We have to think about how to deal with the
Syrians when this is done," he said, adding that they leave
Israel "no option but to fight with them." He also accused
Iran of sending tens of millions of dollars to Gaza for
Hamas, and listed Iran, Syria, Hizballah and Hamas as an
"axis of evil."
3. (C) Responding to the Attorney General's expressed
concern for the welfare of non-combatants, Olmert said that
before Israeli forces knocked out several Gaza electricity
transformers, cutting off power to much of the Gaza Strip,
officials checked to ensure that every Gaza Strip hospital
had a back-up electric generator. He acknowledged that, as a
result of such Israeli attacks on infrastructure, he was
"sure the majority of the (Gaza) population is definitely
unhappy."
4. (C) The Attorney General thanked Olmert for Israel's
cooperation in other, non-terrorism-related criminal
investigations and noted the need for additional GOI effort
to improve Israel's record against trafficking in persons.
The Attorney General cited Israel's recent demotion to "Tier
Two Watch List" in the U.S. anti-trafficking ratings, noting
that the demotion related primarily to Israel's inadequate
efforts on labor trafficking. The Attorney General also
called for rapid Knesset passage of the
anti-labor-trafficking bill. Olmert's Chief of Staff, Yoram
Turbowicz, noted that the bill had been carried over from the
previous Knesset and would soon receive its second reading.
5. (U) Attorney General Gonzales did not have an opportunity
to clear this message before departing post.
********************************************* ********************
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
SIPDIS
JUSTICE FOR BRUCE SWARTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: OLMERT TELLS AG GONZALES THAT AIM IS SAFE RETURN
OF ABDUCTED SOLDIER, BUT MISHA'AL IS THE PROBLEM
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) In a June 29 meeting in his office, a cordial and
receptive Prime Minister Olmert told Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales that:
-- The kidnapping of a solider near Gaza is "a pure act of
terror" and a "clear violation of international law." Olmert
said that no one can any longer argue that Israel occupies
Gaza, and the kidnappers crossed the border to take their
hostage.
-- Israel is undertaking now those actions that can best lead
to the safe recovery of the kidnapped solider and "is
sensitive to not cross a certain line" that Israel "might
have crossed in other circumstances." The GOI aims to bring
the soldier back to his family. That said, however, Israel
has "no information of consequence" on the kidnap victim's
situation and no sense of where the overall situation is
heading.
-- Israel now needs to discuss such terrorist actions with
our Syrian "friends" to let them know that Israel cannot
continue to tolerate such acts or Syria's support for such
acts. The Syrians, he said, "are an enemy of every potential
political development here." Olmert asked rhetorically, how
can we cope with Hamas? Continue tit for tat or "do
something much more fundamental to affect their flexibility
and freedom? He cited Khalid Misha'al -- who "lives in
Damascus under Asad" -- as a major obstacle to the victim's
release.
2. (C) AG Gonzales said he hopes that the kidnapping of the
Israeli soldier by Gaza militants can be resolved quickly and
with as little disruption as possible for the civilian
population, and asked what help the United States might be
able to provide. The United States, he said, is focused on
the issue and wants to see the soldier returned to his
family. Olmert said he has continuous contact with the
Deputy National Security Advisor, the Assistant Secretary of
State for Near East Affairs, and other senior administration
officials. "We have to think about how to deal with the
Syrians when this is done," he said, adding that they leave
Israel "no option but to fight with them." He also accused
Iran of sending tens of millions of dollars to Gaza for
Hamas, and listed Iran, Syria, Hizballah and Hamas as an
"axis of evil."
3. (C) Responding to the Attorney General's expressed
concern for the welfare of non-combatants, Olmert said that
before Israeli forces knocked out several Gaza electricity
transformers, cutting off power to much of the Gaza Strip,
officials checked to ensure that every Gaza Strip hospital
had a back-up electric generator. He acknowledged that, as a
result of such Israeli attacks on infrastructure, he was
"sure the majority of the (Gaza) population is definitely
unhappy."
4. (C) The Attorney General thanked Olmert for Israel's
cooperation in other, non-terrorism-related criminal
investigations and noted the need for additional GOI effort
to improve Israel's record against trafficking in persons.
The Attorney General cited Israel's recent demotion to "Tier
Two Watch List" in the U.S. anti-trafficking ratings, noting
that the demotion related primarily to Israel's inadequate
efforts on labor trafficking. The Attorney General also
called for rapid Knesset passage of the
anti-labor-trafficking bill. Olmert's Chief of Staff, Yoram
Turbowicz, noted that the bill had been carried over from the
previous Knesset and would soon receive its second reading.
5. (U) Attorney General Gonzales did not have an opportunity
to clear this message before departing post.
********************************************* ********************
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