PRESIDENT PERES PROPOSES AGREEMENTS ON WEST BANK

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000467 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018 TAGS: PREL EAID KWBG TU JO JA GE IS SUBJECT: PRESIDENT PERES PROPOSES AGREEMENTS ON WEST BANK INDUSTRIAL PARKS IN TIME FOR THE POTUS VISIT Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, Reason 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Summary and Comment. At the latter's request, the Ambassador called on President Shimon Peres the evening of February 27. Peres said he wanted to ensure that President Bush's May visit produce positive results. Noting that he did not think a political agreement with the Palestinians would be ready by May, Peres suggested that the symbolic inauguration of work on three industrial parks in the West Bank (sponsored by Japan, Germany, and Turkey),as well as the signing of an Israeli-Jordanian Memorandum of Understanding on the Red Sea to Dead Sea Peace Valley project, be the central deliverables of the President's visit. In addition, Peres proposed that the President address a May 14 evening event that Peres is organizing to thank America for its steadfast support throughout the sixty years since Israel's founding. Peres described Defense Minister Barak's approval as critical to having the West Bank industrial parks ready for initiation by May. Noting that he would continue to engage Barak himself, he also urged that Secretary Rice press Barak to "resolve any obstacles" to SIPDIS these projects during her March 4-5 visit. Peres recommended the Secretary could accomplish this in a joint meeting with Barak and PA Prime Minister Fayyad during her visit. As for the Peace Valley MOU, Peres said it was ready for signing by King Abdullah, while he was introducing legislation in the Knesset that would designate the Peace Valley as a prioritized national project. In response to the Ambassador's observation that no one in the GOI was actively promoting economic development in the West Bank, Peres said even though the three industrial parks would take years to complete, just starting construction would create economic opportunities and hope in the West Bank. Comment: It is not clear to what extent Peres has coordinated this approach with PM Olmert, whose support will also be critical. He is correct that without Barak's full backing, nothing will move. We request guidance on how to respond to Peres' vision for the May POTUS visit. End Summary and Comment. ¶2. (U) The Ambassador, accompanied by Econ Couns and Pol Couns, called on President Shimon Peres February 27. Peres was joined by policy adviser Orry Ben Porat and military aide BG Shimon Hefetz. Peres explained that he wanted to discuss President Bush's May visit. This would likely be the President's last official visit to Israel, and Peres wanted him to leave with some tangible accomplishments. A political agreement with the Palestinians is not likely to be ready by May, and more "photo ops" are not needed, he argued. ¶3. (SBU) Peres said his idea was to make the official commencement of work on the three foreign-sponsored, Tony Blair-backed industrial parks in the West Bank (near Jenin, Tarqumiya and Jericho and sponsored by Germany, Turkey, and Japan) be the center-piece of the President's visit, along with the signing of an Israeli-Jordanian MOU on the Peace Valley project. While noting that there remained a number of obstacles to getting the industrial parks moving, Peres said making the President's visit the target gate would give impetus to current discussions between the PA, the Ministry of Defense, and the donors. Noting the Secretary Rice will visit March 4-5, Peres suggested that the Secretary meet with PM Fayyad and Barak jointly to resolve outstanding issues. ¶4. (C) Peres said he had told Barak that while he understood Barak had to be tough in Gaza, he should be easy on the West Bank. Peres said Barak had been very impressed with the Turks during a visit to Ankara two weeks ago, and this should help Barak adopt a more supportive attitude toward the industrial parks. In response to the Ambassador's question whether MOD Director General Pinhas Buchris, whom Barak has appointed to be responsible for working with the PA and the donors on the industrial parks, was the right man for the job, Peres said the appointment was not important because Barak himself would make all the decisions. Peres said he had also raised the issue with the commander of the IDF Central Command (responsible for the West Bank),MG Gadi Shamni, telling Shamni that he needed to do his part to ensure that the industrial parks were ready to go by mid-May. In response to the Ambassador's comment that no one in the GOI was actively advocating for Palestinian economic development, Peres said that launching the three industrial parks would make a big difference. While it would take several years for the parks to start production, the construction alone would generate thousands of jobs and create hope among Palestinians. ¶5. (SBU) Regarding the Peace Valley project, Peres said there was a positive development in the Jordanian attitude. Representatives of the American engineering firm MWH were currently in Amman, where they were being positively received. Peres said his office had drafted an MOU requesting MWH prepare a work proposal. The MOU will be ready for King Abdullah and PM Olmert to sign, Peres said, as soon as the Knesset passes a bill to make the Peace Valley project a national priority. (The Jordanian Ambassador confirmed on February 28 that Peres has discussed this idea with his government. However, he stressed that Peres has not tabled a text for the MOU.) In addition to visiting the sites of the industrial parks, President Bush could attend a signing ceremony for the Peace Valley MOU. ¶6. (SBU) As for the rest of the President's May program, Peres said he hoped the President would give a speech to the May 14 evening event that Peres is organizing to thank America for its steadfast support of Israel throughout the 60 years since its founding. Peres said such a speech would make a bigger impact than addressing the Knesset, in part because Knesset protocol would require four Israeli speeches (by Knesset Speaker Itzik, Opposition leader Netanyahu, PM Olmert and Peres) in addition to the President. Peres suggested the President bring a bi-partisan Congressional delegation with him to underscore the bi-partisan nature of U.S. support for Israel. He added that it would be difficult to convene the Knesset for an address by President Bush at the same time as his event in any case due to the massive security arrangements and the two venues' proximity. ¶7. (C) Comment. While Peres claimed to have coordinated his concept with PM Olmert, it is not clear to us that Olmert, who is traveling, is fully on board. We agree with Peres, however, that Barak's support is absolutely essential to reaching agreement on the industrial parks. We request guidance on how to respond to Peres' initiative. ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** JONES