ISRAELIS PLEASED BY MERKEL'S STAND ON HAMAS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000471

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM KWBG KPAL IS GM IR ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: ISRAELIS PLEASED BY MERKEL'S STAND ON HAMAS AND
IRAN; LESS SO ON HIZBALLAH

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz; Reasons: 1.4 (B)
and (D).


1. (C) Summary: German Chancellor Angela Merkel thoroughly
impressed her hosts during her January 29-30 visit with what
the Israelis interpreted as strong stances on Hamas and the
Iranian nuclear program, according to the German charge' and
the Israeli MFA visits officer. Merkel said publicly and to
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Mininster Tzipi
Livni that the international community should not deal with
-- or provide financial support for -- a Hamas-led
Palestinian Authority (PA) unless Hamas recognizes Israel,
disarms, and accepts previous PA agreements. Merkel
counseled patience on the Iranian nuclear issue, assuring her
hosts that the EU-3 are working to obtain Russian and Chinese
support for action by the UNSC and insisting that Germany is
prepared to move ahead even if these efforts are ultimately
unsuccessful. The GOI also requested a tougher EU line
against Hizballah, but did not receive a substantive reply.
End summary.

--------------
Merkel Takes A Strong Stance Against Hamas
--------------


2. (C) The MFA said that Olmert and FM Tzipi Livni asked
Merkel to help convince other EU members to maintain a ban on
contacts with Hamas. In response, the German charge' said,
Merkel had called the international community's response to
Hamas "a matter of principle," on which "we won't waver."
When reporters asked what Germany could do to moderate Hamas,
Merkel flipped the question on its head and asked how anyone
could seriously expect the GOI to deal with a group pledged
to Israel's destruction.


3. (C) In both her official meetings and press events, Merkel
insisted that Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm, and accept
previous PA agreements before it can be accepted as a partner
for dialogue. The MFA said that Merkel's Israeli hosts were
universally pleased with what they interpreted as her strong
stance on the issue.


4. (C) According to the German Embassy, Merkel told the GOI
that the FRG would not provide direct financial assistance to
a PA run by Hamas, although humanitarian and development
assistance would continue, if necessary through NGOs. Merkel
allegedly received conflicting answers from Olmert and Livni
when she asked whether Israel would maintain revenue
transfers to the PA in the period before the Palestinians
form a new government.


5. (C) The German charge' said that Olmert had urged the EU
"not to believe" Abbas's claims that he is too weak to act
against militants. Olmert insisted that he is prepared to go
"a long, long way with the Palestinians" towards peace, but
not with a PA run by Hamas. Merkel later told the press that
President Abbas had "missed a real chance" and, according to
the charge', confided to her staff after returning from
Ramallah that she had been "unimpressed" with Abbas.

--------------
Israelis Press on Iran and Hizballah
--------------


6. (C) The MFA said that Merkel had been "very clear" that
Iran had "crossed a red line" and that the Iranian nuclear
program poses a threat to all democratic states. According
to both the German Embassy and MFA, Merkel agreed that Iran
should be reported to the UNSC, although she urged Israel to
be patient while the international community works to bring
China and Russia on board. Merkel had told Olmert that -- in
the end -- Germany would support action by the UNSC even if
Moscow and Beijing remain opposed.


7. (C) The German charge' said that Livni pressed the Germans
for assistance with other Europeans on cutting contacts with
Hizballah. Merkel took the point, but did not provide a
substantive response, he said.


8. (C) Both the MFA and German Embassy said that Merkel had
made a positive impression on her hosts, especially on
Olmert. She spoke clearly and to the point, avoiding
theoretical arguments favored by the previous German
government. Merkel conducted her meetings in English, but
required translation assistance on several occasions when
improvising or using colloquial expressions.

********************************************* ********************
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