Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TELAVIV3631
2007-12-28 12:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

CODEL SPECTER'S MEETING WITH BINYAMIN NETANYAHU

Tags:  PREL PTER PAL KWBG IR IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHTV #3631/01 3621212
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 281212Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4776
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 003631 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PAL KWBG IR IS
SUBJECT: CODEL SPECTER'S MEETING WITH BINYAMIN NETANYAHU


Classified By: CDA Luis Moreno. Reason 1.4 (B/D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 003631

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PAL KWBG IR IS
SUBJECT: CODEL SPECTER'S MEETING WITH BINYAMIN NETANYAHU


Classified By: CDA Luis Moreno. Reason 1.4 (B/D)

1.(C) Summary: Likud Party Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu told
CODEL Specter December 24 that the United States could help
Israel by "neutralizing" Iran's nuclear program. Arguing
that "nobody in Israel believes Iran has stopped its nuclear
program," Netanyahu said the first step is increasing
economic pressure on the Iranian regime. He suggested that
US state pension funds divest from companies doing business
with Iran and said it was important that the US not take the
military option off the table. Asked about the current
situation in the Palestinian Territories, Netanyahu replied,
"Bring down the Hamas regime." He said Israel should create
an economic peace with President Abbas using concrete
projects that give Palestinians hope in the West Bank and
argued that Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad would be a partner in
this endeavor. Former Israeli Ambassador to the US Zalman
Shoval joined Netanyahu in the meeting. End summary.

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Greater Economic Pressure Is the Way to Stop Iran
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2.(C) Netanyahu told Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and
Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) that Iran is still
working to develop nuclear weapons and said the US should
apply greater economic pressure on the regime in order to
neutralize the Iranian nuclear program. He noted that in the
US, eight states have passed bills requiring state pension
funds to divest from European and other companies doing
business with Iran. Netanyahu suggested Pennsylvania do the
same, adding that intelligence reports show the measure is
having an effect. He told the CODEL that Israel is passing a
similar bill. Senator Specter agreed with Netanyahu that
despite the recent National Intelligence Estimate (NIE),Iran
continues to develop its nuclear program. In response to
Specter's question about other measures the USG could take,
Netanyahu advised checking whether divestment was possible
for federal pensions. He suggested that Congress examine the
recipients of funding and other benefits to ensure the USG is
not aiding companies doing business with Iran, particularly
in the gas and oil industries. Ambassador Shoval noted that
the efforts of international banks and financial institutions
to restrict their dealings with Iran were succeeding as well.

--------------
The International Community's Role
--------------


3. (C) Netanyahu dismissed the idea of letting the Russians
enrich Iranian uranium and said IAEA inspections did not
reveal the true state of Iran's nuclear program. Calling the
nuclearization of Iran "the greatest danger to the world,"
Netanyahu said it was important to convince 4-5 major
European countries to take stronger measures to prevent Iran
from developing nuclear weapons. He emphasized the
importance of preventing not only investment in Iran but also
the transfer of western technology to the Iranians. Adding
that it would be difficult to get the Russians on board in
the wake of the NIE, Netanyahu said that the issue of Iran
was not a "political football" in Israel, as compared with
the US. He noted, however, that he does not believe the NIE
reflects US policy on Iran.

-------------- --------------
Bring Down Hamas, Create Economic Projects in the West Bank
-------------- --------------


4. (C) In response to a question from Senator Specter,
Netanyahu replied that it was necessary to bring down Hamas,
and that leaving Gaza in Hamas' hands was like signing a
death warrant for the Palestinians. Netanyahu argued that
any place Israel leaves will be taken over by Hamas or Iran.
He advocated creating an economic peace with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas using concrete projects to show
Palestinians tangible examples of success in the West Bank.
This would contrast with the negative consequences of Hamas
rule in Gaza. Netanyahu said he believed it would be
possible to have real economic projects underway within
months, and that Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
would be a good partner for such efforts. In response to
Senator Specter's mention of congressional interest in
conditioning aid to the Palestinians, Ambassador Shoval said
there were rumors of a Fatah-Hamas coalition again. He
advocated making it clear to President Abbas and Prime
Minister Fayyad that the US will not provide them with
assistance if they join with Hamas.


5. (U) CODEL Specter did not clear this cable.

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