Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV480
2006-02-01 17:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

RIGHT-WING LIEBERMAN UNABASHEDLY ADVOCATES

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000480 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWBG KPAL KISL EG IR IS JO ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: RIGHT-WING LIEBERMAN UNABASHEDLY ADVOCATES
TRANSFER OF ISRAELI ARABS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000480

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWBG KPAL KISL EG IR IS JO ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: RIGHT-WING LIEBERMAN UNABASHEDLY ADVOCATES
TRANSFER OF ISRAELI ARABS


1. (SBU) Summary: Right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party leader
Avigdor Lieberman told the Ambassador January 31 that
separation of Israeli Jews from Israeli Arabs is necessary in
order to promote Israeli security and maintain Israel's
Jewish identity. To accomplish this, Lieberman proposes that
Israel redraw its border with the West Bank through
negotiations to place some Israeli-Arab population centers
that are close to the Green Line within Palestinian
territory, and to include some Israeli settlement blocs
within Israel. He also would require that all Israelis --
Jews and Arabs -- take an oath of loyalty to the state or
lose their citizenship. Lieberman expressed concern that
support for Hamas is growing among Israeli Arabs and asserted
that most Israeli-Arab Muslims are not loyal to the State of
Israel. What he termed a "coalition" between Hamas,
Hizballah, Iran, and Syria presents a dangerous prospect for
the region's future, Lieberman asserted. End summary.

-------------- -
Lieberman Fears Dangerous Coalition in Region
-------------- -


2. (SBU) The Ambassador met the leader of the right-wing
Yisrael Beiteinu ("Israel, Our Home") party, Avigdor
Lieberman, January 31 in Lieberman's modest Jerusalem office
at Lieberman's request. Lieberman emphasized that he seeks
what he termed creative solutions to Israel's problems,
arguing that the "traditional" approaches, including the Oslo
Accords, did not work. Israel is now in a worse security
situation than prior to the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Lieberman
asserted, and is threatened by a "coalition" between Iran,
Syria, Hizballah, and Hamas. Lieberman expressed concern
over the instability in the region and the damage done by
corruption in the Palestinian Authority (PA). He
characterized PA President Mahmud Abbas as "very weak," and
predicted that Hamas will "use" Abbas as a fig leaf of
legitimacy for two-to-three years and then "throw him out."
The Ambassador said that Arafat had left a lasting negative
impact on the evolution of Palestinian society.



3. (SBU) Lieberman predicted that Hamas would only grow
stronger in two-to-three years, and he characterized Hamas as
disciplined, with a track record of delivering services, and
less corrupt than Fatah. The Ambassador said that Hamas may
not be able to deliver on the national level, especially if
there are cuts in international assistance. Lieberman
asserted that, in this case, Iran will become more active in
assisting Hamas, including through oil subsidies. The
Ambassador noted that while Iran may be able to help Hamas
financially, it could not actually deliver services to the
Palestinians, such as electricity, water, and fuel. The
Ambassador emphasized USG concern over Iran and its nuclear
program.

--------------
Hamas and Israeli Arabs
--------------


4. (SBU) Lieberman said that he now worries about the
influence of Hamas in Israel. "Within two years," Lieberman
said, "Hamas will take over" the Israeli-Arab population. He
characterized Sheikh Raed Salah, a leader of the Northern
Islamic Movement that rejects Israeli-Arab participation in
the government, as Israel's version of a Hamas leader.
Lieberman asserted that the only reason most Israeli Arabs
want to remain in Israel is to receive their social benefits.
Lieberman said that the Druze, a sect of Arab Muslims who
have a history of loyalty to Israel and who perform mandatory
military duty, are, by contrast, loyal citizens. He
questioned the loyalty of Israeli Arabs who define themselves
as "Palestinian." The Ambassador made mention of Lieberman's
campaign for better law enforcement, and suggested that
effective law enforcement in Arab communities could prevent
strong-arm tactics by extremist elements, give political
space to moderates, and help win Israeli-Arab loyalty to the
state. The Ambassador also suggested that providing quality
education to the Israeli-Arab sector could encourage moderate
views in that community.

--------------
Only Solution is Separation
--------------


5. (SBU) Lieberman underlined his view that to avoid
conflict, a separation of Israeli Jews from Israeli Arabs
must occur. He said his proposal for such a separation is
based on the Cyprus model, where, he said, the island's Turks
are separated territorially from the island's Greeks.
Lieberman said that the roadmap makes a mistake by advocating
a two-state solution, wherein Israel retains two peoples
within its borders, Jewish and Arab, while the Palestinian
state retains only Palestinians. Lieberman asserted that
states that are composed of different "nations" continue to
experience conflict. The Ambassador noted that the United
States maintains its diversity without experiencing such
conflict. He also pointed out that the roadmap does not
specify borders, which would be subject to negotiation by the
paties.


6. (SBU) Lieberman said that under his proposal, Israel
would negotiate a shift in its borders with the West Bank to
place Israeli-Arab population centers, such as the city of
Umm el-Fahm, in the Palestinian territories, and some Jewish
settlement blocs near the Green Line within Israel. (Note:
Lieberman did not indicate what would happen to Jewish
settlements, such as Ariel, located deeper within the West
Bank. End note.) Lieberman claimed he has had meetings with
Palestinian leaders and that they expressed willingness to
consider this type of land swap. In response to the
Ambassador's query, Lieberman said that the actual border
would be the result of negotiations with Egypt, Jordan, and
the PA. He said that the plan would also require the
endorsement of the U.S. and at least one other member of the
Quartet. His proposal would "not be a unilateral move," but
one negotiated with "several partners." He added that Egypt
should also be a part of the solution by providing some of
its territory to Gaza, which Lieberman described as too
densely populated. Jordan needs to be involved, Lieberman
said, asserting that the Hashemite Kingdom will be directly
threatened by the rise of Hamas. Asked if his plan was to
negotiate with Hamas, Lieberman said negotiations could take
place with Abbas, since Abbas would remain as head of the PA.



7. (SBU) Asked about the status of Israeli Arabs living
throughout Israel and in mixed cities, Lieberman acknowledged
that this is "more complicated." He advocated that all
Israelis be required to take a loyalty oath, and that those
who refuse be stripped of their citizenship. Lieberman
emphasized that under his proposal, Israeli Jews would also
be subjected to the same requirement. Lieberman said that
some ultra-Orthodox religious Jews who do not accept Zionism
may have a problem with such an oath. He also said his
proposal would also require that ultra-Orthodox Jews who
decline to serve in the military sign up for alternative
national service. Lieberman asserted that "very few" Muslim
Arabs -- except for the Bedouin in the North -- would sign a
loyalty oath.

--------------
Election Prospects
--------------

8 (SBU) In response to the Ambassador's query, Lieberman
said he would consider it a "great success" if Yisrael
Beiteinu receives anywhere from nine to 11 seats in the March
28 elections. He questioned whether the Kadima Party has a
real identity, since it is composed of some Likud and some
Labor members. "Everyone feels we're going in the wrong
direction now," Lieberman claimed. "We need radical
changes," he asserted. If not, he said, "we are heading for
big troubles."

--------------
Bio note
--------------


9. (SBU) Lieberman's office is manned by several young,
Russian-speaking staffers. Lieberman, a 46-year-old
immigrant from Moldova, was dressed in a suit and tie --
unlike most Israeli politicians -- and appeared confident and
friendly -- quick to smile and joke. Lieberman is a strong
nationalist and settlement supporter who lives in the West
Bank settlement of Nokdim with his wife and three children.
Lieberman is not currently an MK.

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