ISRAEL: CODEL ACKERMAN AND FM LIVNI DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001113 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR H AND NEA /IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL KWBG IR IS SUBJECT: ISRAEL: CODEL ACKERMAN AND FM LIVNI DISCUSS PALESTINIANS AND IRAN Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, Reasons: 1.4 (B and D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During a meeting in Tel Aviv on April 12 with Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni explained Israel's belief that it is impossible to distinguish between Hamas and non-Hamas members of the Palestinian government. She urged the international community to "empower" moderates by demanding action against the radicals, and said the GOI would continue to maintain contact with Palestinian President Abu Mazen (Mahmud Abbas). Rep. Ackerman noted the importance of both supporting Abu Mazen and simultaneously challenging him to act. When asked about Iran, Livni replied that sanctions are having a real effect. Rep. Ackerman was accompanied by Majority Professional Staff Member Howard Diamond and Staff Director David Adams from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Livni was joined by special assistant Hillel Newman and U.S. legislative branch director Eyal Sela. END SUMMARY. -------------- --- GOI Policy Towards the National Unity Government -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Livni explained the GOI's policy decision against distinguishing between Hamas and non-Hamas members of the Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG). She disagreed with the USG and others on this issue, cautioning that meeting with the non-Hamas ministers "is the beginning of a process of legitimization" for the NUG even though it does not accept the Quartet principles. She had previously met with current NUG Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, but no longer does so since such meetings would only increase his access to funding and ability to implement NUG policies. ¶3. (C) Livni said Abu Mazen had told her he needed the NUG to gain time to strengthen Fatah. In her analysis, the NUG had not helped Fatah, although it had reestablished an element of stability among Palestinian factions. Abu Mazen had not confronted Hamas or even stuck by his insistence that abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit be freed. In response to a question by Rep. Ackerman, Livni said she believes that Palestinians see the NUG as a Hamas government, just as Israelis view their own coalition as a Kadima government. Rep. Ackerman noted that the Palestinian foreign minister had expressed a different viewpoint during a meeting earlier in the day. He asked if Hamas would be blamed by Palestinians for the lack of progress, just as Fatah had been criticized for its corruption and inability to deliver a better life. -------------- -------------- Dealing with Abu Mazen and Strengthening Moderates -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Although the GOI had been tempted to "close the door" on Abu Mazen after formation of the NUG, Livni said that contact would be maintained. PM Olmert and Abu Mazen will meet on April 15 to discuss practical issues and a political horizon for a future Palestinian state. Livni reiterated that Israel intends to take steps to improve the standard of living for the Palestinian population. ¶5. (C) Rep. Ackerman stressed the importance of obtaining Palestinian acceptance for the Quartet principles and asked if cutting assistance would have a negative impact on this goal. He also asked if the GOI or USG had a plan to help avoid the radicalization of the broader Palestinian population. Livni responded that in the Middle East "we have to choose between bad options." The GOI had hoped the disengagement from Gaza would signal its seriousness about peace. The Palestinian response was to elect Hamas. Afterwards, the GOI had tried to distinguish between Hamas and moderates in Fatah led by Abu Mazen, offering the latter security assistance, funding, and a political horizon for a Palestinian state. Livni said that the NUG meant that such a strategy is no longer feasible. ¶6. (C) Livni urged the international community to "empower" moderates by demanding action against the radicals. She suggested that weak politicians could use outside pressure as an excuse for taking tough steps they know they must take in any case, such as acknowledging that the "right of return" will only be valid to the territory of a Palestinian state. She expects Palestinians to show leadership and confront radicalism in their own society. In her opinion, a failure to do so will shift the Israeli-Palestinian dispute from a national to a religious conflict, something that is not in anyone's interest. ¶7. (C) Rep. Ackerman noted that we are dealing with a well-intentioned Palestinian President, but one who is not TEL AVIV 00001113 002 OF 002 adept at politics or effective at implementing his own policies. With no alternative to his leadership at present, it is important both to support Abu Mazen and to challenge him to act. Livni agreed, adding that it is also essential to speak plainly when he makes mistakes. Allowing Hamas to participate in the 2006 elections had been one such case, and his current focus on final status issues is another. In Livni's view, such a focus would doom any talks to failure and result in a new Intifada. ¶8. (C) Rep. Ackerman mentioned that some non-Hamas members of the NUG are unambiguous on the need for a two state solution. He suggested that these individuals could use their clout in the Arab world to advance peace. Livni replied that she had met with a number of Arab leaders and believed they understand both the need for a two-state solution and the fact that Iran -- not Israel -- is the threat to the region. At the same time, if Arab League foreign ministers decide that only Egypt and Jordan will speak about peace with Israel, then they are missing the point. Accordingly, Israel is lobbying for a larger Arab group to help guide the Palestinians towards peace. -------------- The Limits of Democratization -------------- ¶9. (C) In response to a question by Rep. Ackerman about the January 2006 Palestinian elections, Livni said that "I believe in democratization when it comes with certain preconditions," i.e., an acceptance of the rule of law and democratic principles. She noted that established democracies have banned non-democratic parties through constitutional means. She regretted that Hamas had been permitted to contest the 2006 elections despite their rejection of democratic principles, a step that Abu Mazen had insisted he needed. She drew a parallel to Lebanon, asking what would happen if Hizballah gains power there. -------------- Iran: Sanctions are Useful -------------- ¶10. (C) When asked about Iran, Livni replied that Israel believes that extended and more effective sanctions are having a real effect. She praised the constructive role of Russia during the UNSCR 1747 debate. The Israeli assessment is that the Iranians lied when they declared that they had passed the point of no return in their nuclear enrichment program. Livni also acknowledged that Ahmeninijad's fiery rhetoric had convinced many doubters of the seriousness of the Iranian threat. ¶11. (U) CoDel Ackerman has cleared this cable. ********************************************* ******************** 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