Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TELAVIV919
2009-04-23 15:23:00
SECRET
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
MOD ADVISOR COMMENTS ON EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE
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S E C R E T TEL AVIV 000919
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG EG JO IS
SUBJECT: MOD ADVISOR COMMENTS ON EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE
MINISTER'S VISIT TO ISRAEL, ISRAELI SECURITY RELATIONSHIP
WITH JORDAN
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 000919
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG EG JO IS
SUBJECT: MOD ADVISOR COMMENTS ON EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE
MINISTER'S VISIT TO ISRAEL, ISRAELI SECURITY RELATIONSHIP
WITH JORDAN
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (S) Summary. Egyptian Intelligence Minister Soliman
visited Israel April 22 and met separately with Prime
Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak, and Foreign
Minister Lieberman. According to MOD Arab affairs advisor
Hacham, who participated in Soliman's meeting with Barak,
they discussed Gaza smuggling, the arrest of the Hizballah
cell in Sinai, and the need for Netanyahu to name a
replacement for prisoner exchange negotiator Dekel, who
resigned earlier this week. Hacham said Soliman stressed the
strategic nature of Egyptian relations with Israel and
conveyed a message of continuity. Barak and Soliman
discussed Iran during a one-on-one session. Hacham noted
that on a recent visit to Jordan, the Jordanian Army Chief of
Staff and head of intelligence both praised security and
intelligence cooperation between Jordan and Israel. Our
sense is that Egyptian-Israeli and Jordanian-Israeli
relations are increasingly being handled in intelligence
channels, with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs largely cut
out. End Summary.
2. (S) MOD Arab Affairs Advisor David Hacham briefed Pol
Couns April 23 on Egyptian Minister of Intelligence Omar
Soliman's April 22 meeting with Defense Minister Barak.
Hacham, who attended the plenary session, said that Soliman
was accompanied by his deputy, Omar Kinawi, and the Egyptian
General Intelligence Service chief of station in Tel Aviv.
Soliman brought a message of continuity in the
Israeli-Egyptian strategic relationship following the
formation of Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Barak
expressed appreciation for stepped-up Egyptian efforts to
stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, though he also noted
that large quantities of weapons and explosives were
continuing to get through. Israel Defense Intelligence chief
Major General Amos Yadlin provided a briefing on Iran's role
in smuggling weapons into Gaza via the Red Sea and Sudan.
Barak also praised Egypt's action in apprehending the
Hizballah cell in Sinai. Soliman reportedly commented that
EGIS had identified the cell even before Israel's Operation
Cast Lead in Gaza in late December - early January, but had
decided to gather more intelligence on the cell's plans
before arresting them in early April. MOD Pol-Mil Director
Amos Gilad briefed on Israel's views on Palestinian
reconciliation talks and the situation on the ground in the
West Bank. Gilad reportedly expressed willingness to work
with the Egyptians to expedite the delivery of Egyptian
humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but also criticized Egypt's
efforts to promote a new Palestinian unity government.
3. (S) According to Hacham, Soliman asked whether Netanyahu
has decided who will replace Ofer Dekel as Israel's
negotiator for the release of Gilad Shalit, but Barak
indicated that no decision had been made yet. Soliman said
Egypt understands Israel's insistence that there be progress
on a prisoner exchange before Israel will reengage on a
ceasefire agreement with Hamas, but Soliman stressed the
importance to Egypt of formalizing a ceasefire in Gaza.
Soliman said the Egyptians were pressing Hamas hard to
prevent the launching of rockets and mortars and preserve the
general atmosphere of quiet along the border. Barak again
expressed appreciation for the Egyptian role. Asked whether
the Olmert government's prisoner exchange terms were still on
the table, Hacham said he assumed they were, adding that when
the prisoner release talks broke down, Israel had agreed to
release 325 Palestinians on Hamas' list but had rejected 125.
4. (S) Hacham said Barak and Soliman then met one on one.
He thought Iran was the main topic of discussion during the
closed session. Soliman reportedly told Barak that Hizballah
is seeking to take over Lebanon and turn it into an Iranian
base. Soliman separately met with Prime Minister Netanyahu
and Foreign Minister Lieberman. He invited Netanyahu and
Barak to visit Egypt. According to Israeli media reports,
Netanyahu may travel to Egypt before visiting Washington next
month. Barak told Soliman that he will visit Egypt after
Netanyahu does.
5. (S) Hacham noted that the Israeli-Egyptian military joint
working group on counter-smuggling is scheduled to meet again
in about two weeks, but the IDF is concerned that the
Egyptian side is not preparing to engage seriously. Hacham
said the Israelis still think there is a significant
difference between the level of engagement demonstrated by
Soliman and the much more reticent approach of Defense
Minister Tantawi.
6. (S) Hacham also mentioned that during a recent visit to
Jordan as part of an MOD delegation, Jordanian Armed Forces
Chief of Staff Al-Sarayreh and intelligence director
El-Raqqad both praised security cooperation with Israel,
which they said continues to be vital to the survival of the
Hashemite Kingdom. Noting Israeli-Jordanian tensions over
the Mughrabi Gate ramp project in Jerusalem's Old City, Pol
Couns said it would be helpful if Israel and Jordan could
find ways to use the positive aspects of their relations to
resolve disputes. Hacham said the Israelis distinguish
between their "under the table" relations with Jordan's
military and intelligence services and Jordan's public
rhetoric, which they see as driven by anti-Israeli public
opinion.
7. (S) Comment. The Israelis see Soliman's visit as an
important signal of Mubarak's interest in keeping relations
with Israel on track despite the formation of the Netanyahu
government and especially Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as
Foreign Minister. Maintaining strategic relations with
Israel appears to have become increasingly the domain of
intelligence chiefs in both Egypt and Jordan, with the
Foreign Ministries in both countries largely out of the
Israeli loop.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
********************************************* ********************
CUNNINGHAM
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG EG JO IS
SUBJECT: MOD ADVISOR COMMENTS ON EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE
MINISTER'S VISIT TO ISRAEL, ISRAELI SECURITY RELATIONSHIP
WITH JORDAN
Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (S) Summary. Egyptian Intelligence Minister Soliman
visited Israel April 22 and met separately with Prime
Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Barak, and Foreign
Minister Lieberman. According to MOD Arab affairs advisor
Hacham, who participated in Soliman's meeting with Barak,
they discussed Gaza smuggling, the arrest of the Hizballah
cell in Sinai, and the need for Netanyahu to name a
replacement for prisoner exchange negotiator Dekel, who
resigned earlier this week. Hacham said Soliman stressed the
strategic nature of Egyptian relations with Israel and
conveyed a message of continuity. Barak and Soliman
discussed Iran during a one-on-one session. Hacham noted
that on a recent visit to Jordan, the Jordanian Army Chief of
Staff and head of intelligence both praised security and
intelligence cooperation between Jordan and Israel. Our
sense is that Egyptian-Israeli and Jordanian-Israeli
relations are increasingly being handled in intelligence
channels, with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs largely cut
out. End Summary.
2. (S) MOD Arab Affairs Advisor David Hacham briefed Pol
Couns April 23 on Egyptian Minister of Intelligence Omar
Soliman's April 22 meeting with Defense Minister Barak.
Hacham, who attended the plenary session, said that Soliman
was accompanied by his deputy, Omar Kinawi, and the Egyptian
General Intelligence Service chief of station in Tel Aviv.
Soliman brought a message of continuity in the
Israeli-Egyptian strategic relationship following the
formation of Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Barak
expressed appreciation for stepped-up Egyptian efforts to
stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, though he also noted
that large quantities of weapons and explosives were
continuing to get through. Israel Defense Intelligence chief
Major General Amos Yadlin provided a briefing on Iran's role
in smuggling weapons into Gaza via the Red Sea and Sudan.
Barak also praised Egypt's action in apprehending the
Hizballah cell in Sinai. Soliman reportedly commented that
EGIS had identified the cell even before Israel's Operation
Cast Lead in Gaza in late December - early January, but had
decided to gather more intelligence on the cell's plans
before arresting them in early April. MOD Pol-Mil Director
Amos Gilad briefed on Israel's views on Palestinian
reconciliation talks and the situation on the ground in the
West Bank. Gilad reportedly expressed willingness to work
with the Egyptians to expedite the delivery of Egyptian
humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but also criticized Egypt's
efforts to promote a new Palestinian unity government.
3. (S) According to Hacham, Soliman asked whether Netanyahu
has decided who will replace Ofer Dekel as Israel's
negotiator for the release of Gilad Shalit, but Barak
indicated that no decision had been made yet. Soliman said
Egypt understands Israel's insistence that there be progress
on a prisoner exchange before Israel will reengage on a
ceasefire agreement with Hamas, but Soliman stressed the
importance to Egypt of formalizing a ceasefire in Gaza.
Soliman said the Egyptians were pressing Hamas hard to
prevent the launching of rockets and mortars and preserve the
general atmosphere of quiet along the border. Barak again
expressed appreciation for the Egyptian role. Asked whether
the Olmert government's prisoner exchange terms were still on
the table, Hacham said he assumed they were, adding that when
the prisoner release talks broke down, Israel had agreed to
release 325 Palestinians on Hamas' list but had rejected 125.
4. (S) Hacham said Barak and Soliman then met one on one.
He thought Iran was the main topic of discussion during the
closed session. Soliman reportedly told Barak that Hizballah
is seeking to take over Lebanon and turn it into an Iranian
base. Soliman separately met with Prime Minister Netanyahu
and Foreign Minister Lieberman. He invited Netanyahu and
Barak to visit Egypt. According to Israeli media reports,
Netanyahu may travel to Egypt before visiting Washington next
month. Barak told Soliman that he will visit Egypt after
Netanyahu does.
5. (S) Hacham noted that the Israeli-Egyptian military joint
working group on counter-smuggling is scheduled to meet again
in about two weeks, but the IDF is concerned that the
Egyptian side is not preparing to engage seriously. Hacham
said the Israelis still think there is a significant
difference between the level of engagement demonstrated by
Soliman and the much more reticent approach of Defense
Minister Tantawi.
6. (S) Hacham also mentioned that during a recent visit to
Jordan as part of an MOD delegation, Jordanian Armed Forces
Chief of Staff Al-Sarayreh and intelligence director
El-Raqqad both praised security cooperation with Israel,
which they said continues to be vital to the survival of the
Hashemite Kingdom. Noting Israeli-Jordanian tensions over
the Mughrabi Gate ramp project in Jerusalem's Old City, Pol
Couns said it would be helpful if Israel and Jordan could
find ways to use the positive aspects of their relations to
resolve disputes. Hacham said the Israelis distinguish
between their "under the table" relations with Jordan's
military and intelligence services and Jordan's public
rhetoric, which they see as driven by anti-Israeli public
opinion.
7. (S) Comment. The Israelis see Soliman's visit as an
important signal of Mubarak's interest in keeping relations
with Israel on track despite the formation of the Netanyahu
government and especially Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as
Foreign Minister. Maintaining strategic relations with
Israel appears to have become increasingly the domain of
intelligence chiefs in both Egypt and Jordan, with the
Foreign Ministries in both countries largely out of the
Israeli loop.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
********************************************* ********************
CUNNINGHAM