Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TELAVIV2172
2008-09-24 09:43:00
SECRET
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ISRAEL: CAUTIOUS WITH GEORGIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTV #2172 2680943 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 240943Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8539 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2054 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2038 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0276 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0116 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0169 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 002172
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS RU GG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL: CAUTIOUS WITH GEORGIA
REF: TEL AVIV 2030
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 002172
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS RU GG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL: CAUTIOUS WITH GEORGIA
REF: TEL AVIV 2030
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (S) Summary: The GOI is continuing to take a cautious
approach in its relations with Georgia. According to MFA
Director for Export Controls Roey Gilad, the Israelis
continue to review Georgian military assistance requests on a
case-by-case basis, and have approved several defensive
requests. Following several thinly veiled threats from
Russian officials, however, Gilad said September 22 that the
Israelis are concerned renewing arms sales and training to
Tbilisi will result in Russian retaliation through the sale
of more advanced weaponry to Iran and Syria. He requested
confirmation that the USG has resumed training of Georgian
combat forces serving in Iraq. End summary.
2. (S) Gilad noted the GOI was still reviewing Georgian
requests for military assistance on a case-by-case basis. He
said approved requests have been defensive in nature,
including mine clearing equipment, body armor, and electronic
distress signalers for downed pilots. Gilad suggested the
GOI may provide Tbilisi with equipment to remove explosive
remnants ofwar (ERWs),but hesitated to acknowledge Russian
forces had use
d cluster munitions in Georgia.
3 (S) Gilad reiterated the GOI's support for Georgia
territorial integrity, and noted FM Livni's pubic statement
on Russian television that Israel wuld not recognize
Abkhazian or South Ossetian inependence (reftel). That
said, Gilad suggested srael will likely pursue a "more
cautious, defensive-oriented" policy with Georgia. He opined
tha Georgian President Saakashvili had "overreached"; the
GOI was worried that its provision of military assistance may
have contributed to Saakashvili's miscalculation. Referring
to the new Israeli government coalition formation process,
Gilad doubted any resulting coalition would disagree with a
cautious approach to Georgia.
4. (S) Gilad framed Israel's relationship with Georgia
through a Moscow prism. The GOI is still concerned that
Russia may opt to provide S-300 and Iskandr missile systems
to Iran and Syria, he said. According to Gilad, Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Sultanov recently told an
Israeli delegation in Moscow that he hoped the GOI "had
learned its lesson" with regard to providing arms and
training to Tbilisi (Note: The Israeli delegation was
preparing for a PM Olmert visit to Moscow that was
subsequently canceled. End note). Gilad said Sultanov
expected the Georgian military to rebuild, but admonished the
GOI to "carefully choose" future military assistance
decisions with respect to Georgia. Gilad said Sultanov and
other Russian officials "could not have made their
displeasure more clear," and asserted that Georgian forces
had destroyed synagogues in the South Ossetian capital of
Tskhinvali -- an argument Gilad said the Israeli Ambassador
to Georgia also has heard repeatedly.
5. (S) Israel also is concerned how the conflict with Georgia
might influence Russian cooperation regarding Iran's nuclear
intransigence. Gilad said several members of the recent
Israeli delegation to Moscow had asked whether Moscow would
abandon international efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program
as a result of damaged relations with the USG and the EU.
According to Gilad, Russian interlocutors emphatically
rejected any linkage between Iran and the Georgian conflict.
6. (S) Gilad confirmed the Georgian government has requested
a return to "business as usual," including the provision of
arms and training. He said the Georgian Defense Minister had
personally appealed to Israeli authorities to resume training
for Georgian special forces, claiming that the USG had
restarted training efforts for Georgian combat forces serving
in Iraq. Gilad said the GOI would appreciate confirmation
from Washington that such training has resumed.
********************************************* ********************
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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS RU GG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL: CAUTIOUS WITH GEORGIA
REF: TEL AVIV 2030
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (S) Summary: The GOI is continuing to take a cautious
approach in its relations with Georgia. According to MFA
Director for Export Controls Roey Gilad, the Israelis
continue to review Georgian military assistance requests on a
case-by-case basis, and have approved several defensive
requests. Following several thinly veiled threats from
Russian officials, however, Gilad said September 22 that the
Israelis are concerned renewing arms sales and training to
Tbilisi will result in Russian retaliation through the sale
of more advanced weaponry to Iran and Syria. He requested
confirmation that the USG has resumed training of Georgian
combat forces serving in Iraq. End summary.
2. (S) Gilad noted the GOI was still reviewing Georgian
requests for military assistance on a case-by-case basis. He
said approved requests have been defensive in nature,
including mine clearing equipment, body armor, and electronic
distress signalers for downed pilots. Gilad suggested the
GOI may provide Tbilisi with equipment to remove explosive
remnants ofwar (ERWs),but hesitated to acknowledge Russian
forces had use
d cluster munitions in Georgia.
3 (S) Gilad reiterated the GOI's support for Georgia
territorial integrity, and noted FM Livni's pubic statement
on Russian television that Israel wuld not recognize
Abkhazian or South Ossetian inependence (reftel). That
said, Gilad suggested srael will likely pursue a "more
cautious, defensive-oriented" policy with Georgia. He opined
tha Georgian President Saakashvili had "overreached"; the
GOI was worried that its provision of military assistance may
have contributed to Saakashvili's miscalculation. Referring
to the new Israeli government coalition formation process,
Gilad doubted any resulting coalition would disagree with a
cautious approach to Georgia.
4. (S) Gilad framed Israel's relationship with Georgia
through a Moscow prism. The GOI is still concerned that
Russia may opt to provide S-300 and Iskandr missile systems
to Iran and Syria, he said. According to Gilad, Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Sultanov recently told an
Israeli delegation in Moscow that he hoped the GOI "had
learned its lesson" with regard to providing arms and
training to Tbilisi (Note: The Israeli delegation was
preparing for a PM Olmert visit to Moscow that was
subsequently canceled. End note). Gilad said Sultanov
expected the Georgian military to rebuild, but admonished the
GOI to "carefully choose" future military assistance
decisions with respect to Georgia. Gilad said Sultanov and
other Russian officials "could not have made their
displeasure more clear," and asserted that Georgian forces
had destroyed synagogues in the South Ossetian capital of
Tskhinvali -- an argument Gilad said the Israeli Ambassador
to Georgia also has heard repeatedly.
5. (S) Israel also is concerned how the conflict with Georgia
might influence Russian cooperation regarding Iran's nuclear
intransigence. Gilad said several members of the recent
Israeli delegation to Moscow had asked whether Moscow would
abandon international efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program
as a result of damaged relations with the USG and the EU.
According to Gilad, Russian interlocutors emphatically
rejected any linkage between Iran and the Georgian conflict.
6. (S) Gilad confirmed the Georgian government has requested
a return to "business as usual," including the provision of
arms and training. He said the Georgian Defense Minister had
personally appealed to Israeli authorities to resume training
for Georgian special forces, claiming that the USG had
restarted training efforts for Georgian combat forces serving
in Iraq. Gilad said the GOI would appreciate confirmation
from Washington that such training has resumed.
********************************************* ********************
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