ISRAELI FM LIVNI TELLS CODEL BERMAN: ABBAS CANNOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000879

SIPDIS

CODEL

DEPT FOR H

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG IS CH IN EAGR ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS COUNTERTERRORISM
SUBJECT: ISRAELI FM LIVNI TELLS CODEL BERMAN: ABBAS CANNOT
BE ALLOWED TO BE "FIG LEAF" FOR HAMAS


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR NORMAN H. OLSEN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Codel Berman met on February 26 with FM
Livni and representatives from the MFA. Livni raised two
main issues: aid to the Palestinians and U.S. treatment of PA
President Abbas. She voiced concern that Abbas could be a
"fig leaf" for Hamas. In a briefing prior to convening in
Livni's office, Berman was asked about the potential for
Israeli agricultural cooperation with India and China,
facilitated by the United States. END SUMMARY.

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When to Stop Funds to the PA?
--------------


2. (C) Codel Berman met on February 26 with Israeli FM
Livni, Deputy Director General for North America Yoram Ben
Ze'ev, North American Affairs representative Iris Sapir, and
MFA staffers. Livni said that Israel considers the PA a
terrorist entity now that Hamas controls a parliamentary
majority. She said her major concern is that the
international community is trying to find a way to work with
the situation rather than confronting the difficulties Hamas
presents. Berman replied that the EU and Russia are talking
about ways to offer assistance -- some helpful, some not --
and asked Livni how she feels the U.S. is doing in addressing
Hamas's new role. Livni answered that the U.S. is strong
about the need to stop assistance to a terror organization
and that the only difference of opinion relates to timing,
with the U.S. refraining from calling the PA a terrorist
entity until the new Hamas government is formed. According
to Livni, Israel accepts the U.S. approach.


3. (C) Berman raised the possibility that the EU would
transfer funds to the PA. Livni responded that while Israel
would not transfer funds, it would not -- at this point --
try to convince the international community to stop
assistance because Israel doesn't want to "open a new gap in
discussions." She indicated that the more important issue
will be to stop such assistance once Hamas forms a government.

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Abbas as Partner vs. Abbas as "Fig Leaf"
--------------


4. (C) Livni said that some elements in the international
community are trying to "find a partner" in the PA, and thus
are embracing Abbas. Israel, she said, does not distinguish
between "good" and "bad" elements within the PA. Livni
expressed concern that Abbas will become a "fig leaf" or
"mask" for Hamas. In response to a question from Codel
Berman, Livni acknowledged that she had raised this issue
with A/S Welch in her meeting the day before, adding that she
understands the U.S. is not going to transfer any money to
the PA nor to any PA faction, including the president, once
the new government is formed. Berman said he understood,
from his discussion with A/S Welch, that Welch was trying to
dissuade independently elected Palestinians from joining the
Hamas government. Livni replied that while this is good
news, the idea that independently elected Palestinians could
act as partners is a problem and that as long as there is a
Hamas government, "there is no legitimate partner."


5. (C) According to Livni, Abbas does not believe that Hamas
will be accepted by the international community as a
legitimate governing authority. That lack of acceptance will
then allow him to claim that he, as president/head of the
PLO, rather than as PA president, is the legitimate
interlocutor with Israel on behalf of the Palestinians.
Berman responded that if Abbas does not control all of the
security forces, then this claim will be "total fiction."
Livni concurred, adding that "Abu Mazen is fiction." She
voiced concern that the situation with Abbas and Hamas is a
"slippery slope" due to the international community's need to
see hope for the peace process, and its belief that Abbas
represents that hope.

-------------- --------------
Potential for U.S. to Facilitate Israeli Agricultural
Cooperation With India and China
-------------- --------------


6. (C) In a briefing prior to convening in Livni's office,
Nadai asked Berman about the potential for Israeli
agricultural cooperation with India and China, facilitated by
the United States. Nadai suggested that Israel would like a
role in the reported upcoming MOU signing between the U.S.
and India. He said that Israel also seeks agricultural
cooperation with China in an effort to improve bilateral
relations strained by the Harpy drone issue. Berman
responded that both issues would require more thought and
that there were several people with whom he could raise the
India issue.


7. (U) CODEL Berman did not have the opportunity to clear
this message prior to departing post.

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