ISRAEL: SEEKING INPUT ON U.S. PLANS IN GEORGIA

S E C R E T TEL AVIV 001959

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR KPKO RU GG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL: SEEKING INPUT ON U.S. PLANS IN GEORGIA

REF: A. STATE 90978

B. STATE 90980

C. TEL AVIV 1826

D. STATE 91894

Classified By: Political Counselor Marc Sievers, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: MFA officials are seeking input on U.S. plans
on the ground in Georgia prior to their interagency
examination of a resumption of Israeli military assistance to
Georgia. At the same time, Israel is reviewing -- and has
approved several -- requests from Tbilisi for military
assistance on a case-by-case basis. Regarding Moscow's
recognition of South Ossetian and Abkhazian independence, the
GOI stands by earlier statements made during the height of
the conflict affirming Georgia's territorial integrity and
calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Emboffs
discussed these issues with GOI officials on August 26 an 27.
End summary.


2. (C) Pol Couns discussed refs A-B with MFA North America
Department Director Dan Arbell on August 26. Arbell declined
to comment on the political ramifications of Russia's
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He noted,
however, that Israel's DCM in Washington Jeremy Issacharoff
had spoken to DAS David Hale on Georgia by phone August 26.
According to Arbell, Issacharoff suggested to Hale that it
would be useful for the Israelis to have a better sense of
what the United States is planning on the ground in Georgia
before determining next steps on resuming Israeli military
assistance to Georgia. Arbell understood that DAS Hale "took
the point," and promised Issacharoff a response as soon as
possible.


3. (S) Arbell also noted that the Israeli interagency meeting
to discuss Georgia (as reported ref C) had been postponed due
to illnesses and travel plans of several senior officials --
including MOD Political-Military Director Amos Gilad. Now
that these officials were back in the office, the MFA and MOD
planned to meet in the near future to discuss Israel's
strategic support policy to Georgia. Arbell emphasized that
U.S. input regarding its plans on the ground in Georgia would
be helpful in determining Israel's next steps.


4. (C) Polmiloff discussed ref D points with MFA Director of
Export Controls Roey Gilad on August 27. Gilad noted that
the GOI had expressed "loudly and clearly" during the height
of the conflict that it considers South Ossetia and Abkhazia
to be part of Georgia. He said the GOI therefore rejects
Russian recognition of independence, and continues to believe
that any conflict in the region should be resolved in a
peaceful manner. Gilad said the GOI will carefully examine
ref D points, but suspected such points would receive "an
open reception" in Israel.


5. (S) Turning to military assistance, Gilad confirmed that
the MOD/MFA meeting to review its security assistance support
to Georgia had been postponed until the week of September 1.
Gilad said that the MOD and MFA are "in constant contact" as
they review Georgian requests for military assistance on a
now case-by-case basis. He noted that the GOI had received
approximately six requests from Tbilisi since the end of the
conflict, and has approved several -- including a request for
sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicle-mounted cameras. While
not at liberty to discuss further cases, he noted that a
specific request made directly from the Israeli Ambassador in
Tbilisi would likely "be given the greenlight."


6. (C) Gilad suggested that the GOI wants to "return to
business as usual" with Georgia as soon as possible, and is
trying to accommodate Georgian military assistance requests.
The question, he added, was "how soon is soon?" He said MFA
Director General Abramovich had requested an internal MFA
review of resuming military assistance to Georgia following
an August 25 conversation with A/S Welch and DAPNSA Abrams on
the margins of the Secretary's visit. He echoed Arbell's
point that any update the USG could provide to Israel
regarding its military assistance plans for Georgia would
help frame Israel's interagency review next week.


********************************************* ********************
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.
********************************************* ********************
CUNNINGHAM