MUBARAK ON PEACE, TUNNELING, AND ISRAELI POLITICS

S E C R E T CAIRO 000032 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2018 TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS XF SUBJECT: MUBARAK ON PEACE, TUNNELING, AND ISRAELI POLITICS Classified By: ECPO Minister-Counselor William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: President Mubarak told the Ambassador and visiting Congressman Steven Israel (D-NY) on January 6 that President Bush should focus on the Palestinian problem during his upcoming visit to the region, and put pressure on both sides to find a solution, including pressuring Israel to stop settlements. Egypt is doing all it can to stop the tunneling under the Gaza border, but stressed that it is impossible for any country to perfectly seal its borders. The important thing now is to ratchet down the public rhetoric between Egypt and Israel. Mubarak put a presidential jet at Congressman Israel's disposal and phoned Israeli DefMin Barak in our presence to enable the congressman to reinforce this message with the Israelis. End summary. ¶2. (C) Relaxing on the open-air veranda of his Sharm El Sheikh golf course retreat, President Mubarak told the Ambassador and Congressman Steven Israel on January 6 that President Bush should keep the focus on solving the Palestinian problem during his upcoming regional tour. (ECPO Min-Couns and Israel staffers Ryan and Hersh also attended as notetakers). Mubarak stressed the need for POTUS to keep the pressure on both sides to resolve their differences, including pressuring Israel to stop constructing and expanding settlements. ¶3. (C) Concerning tunneling under Egypt's border with Gaza, Mubarak insisted that Egypt is doing all it can to stop the tunneling and smuggling. We have a problem, he admitted, "like you and Mexico." But the main point now is that Israel is "making a big public fuss" about the border problems, "for no good reason." The Israelis do not understand how much their public statements hurt us. If they want to discuss tunneling or any other issue, Mubarak said they can contact us directly any time they want. "Issuing public statements does nothing but arouse public anger." ¶4. (C) Mubarak said that he attributed the Israeli public posturing to internal politics and upcoming elections. Nonetheless, "(Israeli FM Tzipi) Livni crossed the red line" when she publicly criticized Egypt's counter-smuggling efforts. "Who is Livni to evaluate Egypt?" Mubarak asked. "If she wants to talk to us, she can call my foreign minister any time she likes," but going to the media helps no one. The main thing now, Mubarak stressed, is for everyone, especially the Israelis, to lower the public volume. ¶5. (S) Following up on Mubarak's reference to Israeli politics, Congressman Israel asked for his assessment of upcoming Israeli elections. While Netanyahu is "elegant and charming," Mubarak said, he never keeps his promises. "I have told him so personally," Mubarak asserted. "Remember Wye River? He never did what he said he would." On the other hand, other Israeli leaders were "good men" who "kept their word" -- Rabin, Begin, and Sharon, "who always did what he said he would." If the choice is between Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, Mubarak said, "I prefer Barak." ¶6. (S) Congressman Israel told Mubarak that he had hoped to respond to Israeli DefMin Barak's invitation to make a side visit to Israel to discuss the Gaza border issue and Egyptian-Israeli relations, but he had been unable to make commercial air arrangements. Mubarak immediately ordered up a presidential Gulfstream executive jet to carry the congressman and his staff to Tel Aviv, and followed up with a friendly telephone conversation with Barak to confirm the impromptu visit. ¶7. (U) Congressman Israel did not clear this message. Ricciardone