LOWEY DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS AND IRAN WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000887 SIPDIS DEPT FOR H, JENNIFER CHARTRAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2019 TAGS: PREL OREP PGOV KWBG IR IS SUBJECT: LOWEY DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS AND IRAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER LIEBERMAN AND DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AYALON Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Luis Moreno, reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On April 16, CODEL Lowey met with Deputy Foreign Minister (DFM) Danny Ayalon to discuss the peace process and Iran. Foreign Minister (FM) Lieberman also joined for part of the meeting. Ayalon and Lieberman both emphasized that Iran is the biggest threat to Israel, the region, and the world. The dynamics of the region have fundamentally changed, Ayalon explained, as the division is now between moderates and extremists, a fight that transcends boundaries and old sectarian and religious divides. On the Palestinian track, both the Lieberman and Ayalon said that the peace process has yielded little since Oslo despite the best efforts of the Israelis, including several left-wing governments, and therefore a new approach is needed. They stressed the importance to Israelis of Palestinian acceptance of Israel as a Jewish state. They added that settlements are not as important as many people believe, pointing out that the conflict existed before 1967, when there were no settlements, and not even evacuating the Gaza settlements has helped. CODEL Lowey emphasized that the United States will always support Israel's security, and the U.S. is interested in achieving peace with security. Congresswoman Lowey agreed that the focus should be kept on Iran, but pointed out that settlements shift that focus onto Israel. Congressman Schiff added that no matter how strong an argument Israel makes on settlements, they will lose that argument in the international community and therefore settlement actions will remain a distraction. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Ayalon cautioned that the government of Israel has not yet finalized its positions, and therefore the opinions he and Lieberman were sharing were their own views which may or may not become official policy when the GOI review is done. Ayalon also pointed out that the new government had only been seated for 10 days, 5 of which were a holiday, and asked for patience while they worked to establish their policies, which he said would be completed within weeks. Iran -------------- ¶3. (C) FM Lieberman explained that Iran is not only the biggest threat to Israel, it is also a threat to the region �0A;and the world. He compared this era to pre-World War II Europe, where countries were either hesitant to condemn Nazi Germany or worked to appease it. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, Lieberman said, it will trigger an arms race throughout the Middle East. However, Lieberman said, Iran is not just a threat as a potential nuclear power-- they are exporting terrorism and their radical ideas as well. Israel is trying to counter Iran on three fronts: nuclear, by proxy with Hizballah, and through Iran's support for Hamas in Gaza. Egypt's recent arrest of a Hizballah cell only underscores that Iran is a threat to the entire region. Iran is now working to expand its influence beyond the region, Lieberman said, especially through its contacts with North Korea and Hugo Chavez. Settlements -------------- ¶4. (C) Congresswoman Lowey responded that Iran is also the focus for the United States, but pointed out that Israeli actions on settlements distract the international focus away from Iran. Ayalon and Lieberman asserted that settlements are only one of many issues, and that fixing settlements will not bring peace by itself; there were no settlements before 1967, but there was still a conflict. Congressman Schiff underlined that no matter how strong or articulate a case Israel makes on settlements, they will not convince the International Community and therefore, settlements will remain a distraction. ¶5. (C) After Lieberman departed the meeting, Ayalon went on to explain that distinctions must be made between settlements. For example, he said, there are outposts that are illegal under Israeli law and Israel must take action against these outposts, something "the left-wing government of Olmert and Livni" never did. ¶6. (C) Jerusalem, Ayalon said, is a different case because East Jerusalem has been under full Israeli sovereignty since 1980, so there are no settlements there. In addition, Ma'ale Adumim and E-1 are integral parts of Jerusalem, and necessary for Jerusalem's security and expansion. Ayalon added that TEL AVIV 00000887 002 OF 003 Israel has no plans to build on E-1 in the near future, but will eventually need to do it. Ayalon rejected the argument that E-1 is necessary for Palestinian contiguity, saying that tunnels can provide the necessary connections for the Palestinians. Ayalon emphasized that settlements are a final status issue, and pointed out that FM Lieberman had publicly said that he would leave his home in the West Bank if it was needed for peace. Peace Process -------------- ¶7. (C) Ayalon explained that the Annapolis process had three goals: restarting final status negotiations, bringing improvements on the ground, and moving the Arab World closer to Israel. During Annapolis, Ayalon said, Olmert offered a lot but got nothing in return from the Arab world. Ayalon opined that relations with the Arabs even worsened, with both Qatar and Mauritania closing their offices or breaking relations during the tenure of the dovish Olmert and Livni government. Nonetheless, Ayalon stressed that the new government will uphold Israel's commitments under past agreements, including the principle of two states for two peoples. ¶8. (C) Ayalon said that Annapolis has failed, although through no fault of Israel. Now, he said, the only way to move forward is to build trust between the parties by focusing on what is really important to each: security for Israel and the economy for the Palestinians. Any attempt to impose a political solution on the parties before that trust is built will fail. You can't build the top floors of a building, he stated, until the bottom floors are done. ¶9. (C) When FM Lieberman was in the meeting, he expressed similar views. Lieberman said that 16 years of attempts at peace with the Palestinians have yielded little, despite Israel's best efforts, so fresh ideas are needed. Lieberman argued that the idea of land for peace has failed, as Israel has given up land more than three times its size since 1979 and has not gotten peace. Olmert and Livni were supposedly a government of peace, he said, but they brought the Second Lebanon War and the operation in Gaza, and did not return Gilad Shalit. ¶10. (C) Lieberman explained that he is a settler, so he has the opportunity to speak to Palestinians every day. Despite their politicians' rhetoric, Lieberman said, the Palestinians really care most about the economy. Israel, Lieberman said, must help build the Palestinian economy while increasing Israel's security. The Palestinians must do their part by building PA institutions. Lieberman added that Salam Fayyad has helped this process and is a true partner, but he is just a technocrat. Palestinians Must Recognize Israel's Jewish Identity -------------- -------------- ¶11. (C) For the international community, Lieberman said that it is not enough to be dedicated to Israel's security, it must also be committed to Israel as a Jewish state. If the Palestinians are not ready to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, there can be no confidence in the process. Ayalon added that being Jewish is a nationality before it is a religion, the same way that France is French, though like France, non-Jews live in Israel with equal rights. Ayalon reiterated that Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state is critical for Israel's confidence, and if there is confidence then issues likeborders, settlements, and even Jerusalem become uch easier. This, Ayalon underscored, will requre Palestinian leaders to educate their people on eace, including giving up the right of return fo refugees. Instead of two states for two peoples,the Palestinian leadership wants one and a half tates for the Palestinians and half a state for he Jews. Ayalon said that Sharon had begun educating Israelis about what they would need to sacrifice for peace. Abu Mazen must do the same. Appropriations -------------- ¶12. (C) Ayalon asked that the United States ensure its assistance money helps boost Abu Mazen and weakens Hamas. He said the U.S. should be very careful and make sure that Hamas does not see any of that money. Ayalon underscored that a Palestinian unity government, while unlikely, must allow Abu Mazen to co-opt Hamas, and not the other way around. CODEL TEL AVIV 00000887 003 OF 003 Lowey reassured Ayalon that the U.S. has the same position. ¶13. (U) CODEL Lowey did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM