CORRECTED COPY: PERES MEETS MCCAIN, WARNS OF

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000762 SIPDIS SIPDIS H PASS TO CODEL MCCAIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV IS OVIP IR SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: PERES MEETS MCCAIN, WARNS OF GROWING IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN LEVANT, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES FOR REASONS 1. 4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) This cable replaces Tel Aviv 731. Please see correction in paragraph 6. ¶2. (C) Summary. On 18 March, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joseph Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham met with Israeli President Shimon Peres to discuss security concerns in the region. Their discussion centered on the growing threats of Iranian nuclear development and expansionism. Peres highlighted the growing Iranian influence in Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories, and noted that this influence combined with the lack of strong national leaderships is already having significant destabilizing effects in the region. End Summary. -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶3. (C) In a meeting on 18 March, U.S. Senators John McCain, Joseph Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham met with Israeli President Shimon Peres to discuss security concerns in the region. Peres raised the issue of Iranian nuclear development and expansionism as the most significant challenge, not only to Israeli security, but to that of the region and the world. He pointed to Iran's development of expensive long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and questioned the need for these weapons if Iran does not aspire to nuclear weapons capability, as its leadership has claimed. Peres highlighted the destabilizing effects of Iranian expansionism in Syria and Lebanon, and noted that this is a major impediment to potential negotiations on the Golan Heights. Peres was emphatic in stressing that Syria cannot claim the Golan Heights while still supporting Iranian efforts to turn Lebanon into a satellite state by way of its patronage of Hizballah. He suggested that the Arab world needs to look at these issues and be willing to contribute to a solution. ¶4. (S) Senator McCain echoed Peres's concerns, noting that his visit to Iraq several days prior had left him with an even greater sense of the threat posed by Iranian ambitions. He pointed to intelligence reports that Iran is now sending dangerous copper explosives into Iraq, and directing funds through Hizballah to train and send more terrorists into the country, as well. Senator Lieberman observed that Iran is 
likewise gaining a foothold in the Palestinian arena, most especially through its growing influence in Hamas, and suggested that this influence could threaten Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. -------------- JORDAN -------------- ¶5. (C) Asked by Senator Lieberman what could be done to reduce Iranian influence in Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations, Peres replied that Jordan would be an especially important country moving forward towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. He suggested that Jordan would be ready and willing to help stabilize a Palestinian government and to help build a secure and "hi-tech" Palestinian economy. This would be essential, Peres argued, in showing Gazans that there is a better alternative. -------------- SYRIA -------------- ¶6. (C) McCain asked Peres to provide his perspective on the Syrian regime and specifically on Bashar al-Asad. Peres replied that Bashar "suffers from the fact of having a wise father," because the same can rarely be said of the son. He noted that the Syrian leader is full of hesitation and indecision, and provided the example of Bashar's contradictory statements about the existence of a Syrian nuclear facility and Israel's alleged bombing of it. Peres suggested that Bashar is a fundamentally flawed leader and will remain unable to make the decisions necessary to advance any potential peace negotiations. He said of the Syrian leader, "what we need to do is replace him, not negotiate with him." (NOTE: REFTEL reported that this remark referenced Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. This is incorrect. Peres was referring to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. END NOTE.) Asked by McCain whether this meant Israel might intervene, Peres was quick to reply "we must act with great wisdom and carefulness." TEL AVIV 00000762 002 OF 002 -------------- IRAQ -------------- ¶7. (C) McCain briefed Peres on the progress of the Iraq War. He emphasized that while a year ago it wasn't clear whether the U.S. was winning, there is now a lot of evidence that U.S. efforts are succeeding, and that General Petraeus is making significant strides. He noted that one of the new challenges is the growing trend of suicide bombings, which are dangerous, if not for their tactical effects, then for their significant damage to public opinion. Peres reassured the senators that the success of US efforts, if not immediately evident, will be seen in years to come. He provided the analogy of the Vietnam War, which was ostensibly lost by the U.S., but which produced a country that years later is capitalist and democratic. ¶8. (C) Peres acknowledged that Israel is "not modest," but said his country does have a sense of proportion and is ready to be "a good foot soldier" to make the world a better place. Peres thanked the senators for their support of the Iraq War, and remarked that if the Middle East had been threatened by both Saddam Hussein and Ahmedinejad at the same time, "we would have to go somewhere else." ¶9. (U) CODEL McCain has not cleared this message. ********************************************* ******************** 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