ISRAEL: DAS HALE'S DECEMBER 17 DISCUSSION WITH BG

S E C R E T TEL AVIV 002887

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS KWBG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL: DAS HALE'S DECEMBER 17 DISCUSSION WITH BG
HEIMANN ON A THIRD PARTY MECHANISM

REF: STATE 132291

Classified By: A/DCM Marc Sievers, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (S) Summary: NEA DAS Hale met with IDF Strategic Division
Head Brigadier General Yossi Heimann on December 17. DAS
Hale gave a brief update of USG discussions regarding a Third
Party Mechanism (TPM) in the Palestinian territories within
the context of a two-state solution, noting the USG has
respected Israeli sensitivity concerns. DAS Hale described
USG in-house efforts that have not progressed beyond planning
stages, and described a generic, non-interpositional
monitoring role for TPM. BG Heimann appreciated the
discretion, noting the IDF felt it had been bypassed when it
learned EUCOM had initiated TPM planning. BG Heimann also
requested a better sense of the USG's broad perspective
regarding a two-state solution within the Middle East
regional context. On proposed technical team visits to
discuss Israeli security concerns, BG Heimann suggested an
intelligence-related visit was more feasible in the
short-term than one focusing on border security, given
political realities in advance of the Israeli elections in
February. End summary.


2. (U) Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale met with the IDF
Strategic Division Head BG Yossi Heimann on December 17.
U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv Army Attache COL John Chere, Michael
Durkee from the Special Envoy for Middle East Regional
Security (SEMERS) team, and pol-mil officer (notetaker) were
present on the U.S. side.


3. (S) DAS Hale began with an update on SEMERS work,
including specifically the TPM concept for the Palestinian
territories within the context of a two-state solution. DAS
Hale said the USG has respected the GOI's concerns regarding
TPM, and has endeavored to treat such discussions discretely.
He noted the USG has not briefed the Palestinians,
Jordanians or Egyptians on TPM. DAS Hale said the USG has
made efforts to incorporate Israeli concerns expressed during
meetings in September.


4. (S) DAS Hale said USG efforts on TPM have been entirely
in-house and have not progressed beyond planning stages. He
explained that USG discussions regarding TPM have been
generic in nature, with no defined roles or potential
participating countries. Additionally, the planning process
for TPM is not designing an interpositional force, but one
focused on monitoring and verification. DAS Hale said the
USG understood that TPM had caused anxiety in the IDF; he
hoped those concerns have been allayed to a certain extent.
He said the USG was eager to share our views on TPM with the
Israelis, but the concept was not quite ready for discussion.
BG Heimann replied that the GOI was willing to listen to USG
thoughts on TPM, but reiterated IDF surprise - believing it
had been bypassed - after hearing EUCOM had initiated TPM
planning.


5. (S) BG Heimann voiced a request that he claimed the GOI
has frequently asked for but yet to obtain: the USG's broad
strategic vision of regional security in the future Middle
East in the context of a two-state solution. He referenced
the "bucket" discussions in September, but noted that Israel
still does not have a sense of how the U.S. views the
strategic aspects of a two-state solution within the region.
BG Heimann added that in recent months, the Palestinians have
been reluctant to engage bilaterally with the IDF J-5,
perhaps hoping to address issues through SEMERS. DAS Hale
replied the USG was under the impression that the strategic
discussions in September had provided the U.S. regional
perspective, but acknowledged that perhaps another round
would be warranted after the Obama Administration came into
office, and had established its policies toward the region.
He undertook to make sure this proposal was given
consideration. COL Chere said there were "no real disputes"
based on conversations with his IDF counterparts. However,
he noted the IDF was looking for U.S. strategies for specific
regional players, and how such strategies interconnected at a
broader level.


6. (S) DAS Hale said the USG sees the need to talk to the
Jordanian government regarding security controls necessary
along their side of the border as part of a larger border
assessment mission, as SEMERS General (ret.) James Jones
discussed with Israeli CHOD Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi. DAS Hale
assured BG Heimann that the USG would not divulge the

substance of its conversations with Israel on TPM to Jordan.
BG Heimann appreciated the USG's discretion, but reiterated
the need for such discretion. He opined that political
signals from Amman over the last few months suggested that
Jordan is reassessing its situation. While not a dramatic
change, Jordan would nevertheless view the presence of
Palestinian security forces along the Jordan Valley border as
a "nightmare," Heimann said, and added the Jordanians would
probably not admit as much to the United States.


7. (S) DAS Hale referenced papers submitted to IDF Head of
Planning Major General Eshel's staff proposing the scope and
timing of U.S. technical experts' visits to gain a better
understanding of Israeli security capabilities and
requirements in the West Bank. Durkee noted that finding the
right personnel in the United States has been challenging -
identifying their Israeli counterparts will prove crucial.


8. (S) BG Heimann said the intelligence team visit is perhaps
more feasible than a border assessment team in the
short-term, given the emphasis on technical issues. He said
the border assessment team visit was "problematic" from a
political perspective, noting the IDF might not be able to
endorse such a visit until after the Israeli elections in
February. Durkee suggested some border issues could be
discussed on a general level, but acknowledged that real
discussion can only take place when the GOI was ready. He
reiterated that the USG has not gone into any detail with the
Palestinians, although that has at times led to speculation
on their part.


9. (U) Per reftel, DAS Hale and Durkee briefed BG Heimann
that the administrative mandate of Gen. Jones expired on
December 12. As such, DAS Hale will manage the work of the
SEMERS team on an interim basis until the next Administration
has the opportunity to decide on the future of the SEMERS
mission.


10. (U) DAS Hale has cleared on this cable.

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