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Cables mirror and Afghan War Diary
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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04CALCUTTA449 |
MANIPUR: INDIAN ARMY PRESSURE NEAR BURMA BORDER [...] (SBU) On October 26, the Indian Army launched a counter-insurgency exercise in the Chandel and Churachandpur districts of Manipur, a Northeast Indian state bordering Burma. Remaining initially tightlipped, an Army spokesman finally announced on November 6 that more than 100 rebel bases had been [...] |
2004-11-19 03:58:00 | Consulate Kolkata | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MOPS PINS PGOV BM IN GOI |
| 04MUMBAI2478 |
ISRAEL REOPENS CONSULATE IN MUMBAI [...] (C) On November 15 visiting Israeli MFA officials briefed Acting PO and Pol/Econ Chief on Israel's decision to reopen its consulate in Mumbai. Israel closed its consulate in Mumbai in mid-2003 as part of cost-cutting measures that affected Israeli diplomatic posts around the world, Israeli MFA [...] |
2004-11-29 10:05:00 | Consulate Mumbai | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TSPA PTER IS IN GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7063 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO INDIA ON JUDGE MERON'S ICTY [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-05 10:02:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS KAWC PHUM IN UNGA GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7091 |
INDIAN LEFT NEGATIVE OVER BUSH RE-ELECTION, [...] (C) Summary: Indian Communist Party leaders have criticized PM Manmohan Singh's warm welcome of President Bush's re-election, calling this "an attempt to please American imperialism." Interestingly, however, party spokesperson D. Raja welcomed the PM's commitment to train Iraqi election offi [...] |
2004-11-05 13:33:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON ENRG IZ IN US GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7152 |
FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO INDIA ON ICTY [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-09 10:44:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS KAWC PHUM IN UNGA GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7291 |
TERRORIST FINANCING: INDIA'S CABINET OKAYS [...] (U) India's Cabinet on November 11 gave its approval to establish a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the last formal hurdle for setting up this long-delayed office. Several years have elapsed as the GOI sorted out the intramural wrangling over the unit's composition and responsibilities. L [...] |
2004-11-17 12:18:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC EFIN PTER KSEP KTFN SNAR PREL IN KWPR GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7380 |
IAEA DG ON INDIA'S NUCLEAR ENERGY NEEDS, IRAN, [...] (U) Summary: The GOI used a recent visit by IAEA Director General Dr. Mohammed El Baradei to press its case for reform of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) requirements to facilitate India's cooperation with others in the international community in using nuclear power to fill the country's growi [...] |
2004-11-19 11:07:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP ENRG IR IN IAEA GOI NSSP |
| 04NEWDELHI7425 |
GOI DOCUMENT: RECENT INITIATIVES IN INDO-PAK [...] (C) During a November 19 meeting reviewing the agenda for the upcoming Indo-Pak composite dialogue (reftel), MEA Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Arun K. Singh shared SIPDIS with us four papers outlining progress in the Indo-Pak relationship since 2003, pending bilateral propos [...] |
2004-11-22 13:35:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD IN PK INDO PAK GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7426 |
INDIA SAYS SAFTA ON CRUISE CONTROL [...] (C) Summary: The GOI is heading into the January SAARC Summit in Dhaka upbeat about having maintained an ambitious SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade Area) negotiating schedule that aims to have a document ready for member ratification by mid 2005. This optimism has prevailed despite apprehension i [...] |
2004-11-22 13:45:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ETRD PK BG IN GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7427 |
GOI DOCUMENT: DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA-PAKISTAN [...] (C) During a November 19 meeting reviewing the agenda for the upcoming Indo-Pak composite dialogue (reftel), MEA Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Arun K. Singh shared SIPDIS with us four papers outlining progress in the Indo-Pak relationship since 2003, pending bilateral propos [...] |
2004-11-22 13:51:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD KNNP MOPS IN PK GOI INDO PAK |
| 04NEWDELHI7675 |
FOR INDIA UN PANEL REPORT IS ONLY A START [...] (C) Summary: The report of the High-Level Panel on UN Reform represents the beginning of a long-term process in which India has significant stakes, MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) BS Prakash told PolCouns on December 3. Downplaying FM Natwar Singh's apparent rejection of a permanent Secur [...] |
2004-12-03 13:28:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM IN UN GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI7853 |
INDIA TAKES STEP TOWARDS JOINING CSI [...] This is an action cable. See paragraph 4. 2. In a welcome surprise, the GOI passed us a December 8 letter from Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran indicating movement towards joining the Container Security Initiative. MEA Joint Secretary Jaishankar (United States and Canada) told the DCM SI [...] |
2004-12-14 01:29:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC IN GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI8192 |
MEA STATEMENTS AND BRIEFINGS: MALAYSIA, SLOVAKIA, [...] Summary: This is another of our periodic messages summarizing public statements by MEA Spokesman Navtej Sarna and other MEA officials. Here we report Malaysian Prime Minister Badawi's and Slovak President Gasparovic's visits to India, Foreign Minister Natwar Singh's trip to South Korea and [...] |
2004-12-28 11:21:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KNNP TSPA MY LO KS PK BG BM CE NP IN GOI |
| 04NEWDELHI8267 |
UPDATE: INDIAN FOREIGN TSUNAMI RELIEF [...] (U) Reflecting the very positive Indian reaction to the US initiative to create a Core Group for tsunami relief, and New Delhi's resolve to do even more to assist India's neighbors, on December 30 the MEA provided us with a further update on GOI support for Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indone [...] |
2004-12-30 12:28:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AEMR EAID MASS SOCI ID CE MV IN GOI |
| 04TELAVIV1288 |
NEGOTIATIONS FOR EGYPT/ISRAEL GAS PIPELINE CONTINUE [...] (C) Summary: The Egypt/Israel gas pipeline project is approaching some of the final hurdles in the negotiations between the many parties, according to the Senior Vice President of the Israeli firm Merhav, Nimrod Novik. In a conversation with Embassy econoff on March 1, Novik said the proce [...] |
2004-03-02 14:51:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG IS GOI EXTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 04TELAVIV1291 |
PEACE NOW CHIEF SKEPTICAL BUT SUPPORTIVE OF PM'S [...] (C) Summary: The head of Peace Now told Embassy econoff that he welcomed the PM's initiative calling for the unilateral dismantling of settlements in the Gaza Strip and some in the West Bank. Peace Now is skeptical, however, about the PM's seriousness and cautioned the U.S. to look at the ac [...] |
2004-03-02 16:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL SETTLEMENTS |
| 04TELAVIV1335 |
U/S LARSON DISCUSSES "GREATER MIDDLE EAST," AN [...] (C) Summary. Under Secretary Larson reviewed the President's "Greater Middle East" vision with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Yoav Biran February 23, noting the initiative's efforts at promoting democracy, expanding education, and increasing economic cooperation. Larson sugges [...] |
2004-03-04 09:06:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL EG IS GOI EXTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 04TELAVIV1353 |
RUSSIAN ENVOY LOOKS TO UPCOMING QUARTET MEETING TO [...] (C) Russian Special Middle East Envoy Kalugin, just back from a trip to Saudi Arabia, told the Ambassador March 3 that the Saudis "made some nice noises" about working with Arab League partners in an effort to recommit to the Beirut Arab League declaration, the roadmap, UNSCR 1515 endorsing the [...] |
2004-03-04 13:05:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL RS XF IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1354 |
LIKUD POWER BROKER -- AND REPUTED PARTY BULLY -- [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Likud's outspoken rightist Central Committee member Uzi Cohen and some of his what could only be described as political henchmen presented an alternative peace plan to Poloff and Pol/FSN on March 3 wherein the Palestinians would have their own state -- in a carved-out [...] |
2004-03-04 13:16:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1362 |
WERTHEIMER APPARENTLY GIVING UP ON "MARSHALL PLAN" [...] (SBU) Israeli industrialist Stef Wertheimer told visiting NSC Director Adnan Kifayat and Embassy Econoff on Feb. 24 that he will no longer seek USG financial assistance for his "New Marshall Plan" for the Middle East. Using the phrase "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't force him to [...] |
2004-03-04 14:43:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON ETRD PREL KWBG TU JO IS GOI EXTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE ISRAEL RELATIONS |
| 04TELAVIV1366 |
(S) ISRAELI CONCERN ABOUT POTENTIAL FRENCH ARMS [...] (S) MOD DG Amos Yaron expressed concern March 3 to visiting Commerce U/S Kenneth Juster about signals that France might be ready to reverse its restrictive policy on arms sales to China. In a March 4 follow-up meeting, Rami Yungman of the MOD pol-mil bureau told polmiloff that the sources of [...] |
2004-03-04 15:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | MARR MASS PREL PARM IS CH FR MILITARY RELATIONS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1367 |
ISRAELI REACTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT MUTED [...] (SBU) Summary: GOI and public reaction to the State Department's 2003 Human Rights Report (HRR) has been relatively low-key in the five business days since the report's publication. The GOI's main substantive public statement -- as reported in the daily Ha'aretz on February 27 -- came from F [...] |
2004-03-04 15:35:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KWBG KPAL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1390 |
ISRAELI READOUT OF IRAN NUCLEAR CONSULTATIONS WITH [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a readout of their consultations with French officials about Iran and other IAEA issues, Gideon Frank and Eli Levite of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) said the French MFA poldir had told them that the EU-3 agreement with Iran could not be twisted to justify removal [...] |
2004-03-05 14:33:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | KNNP PARM MNUC PREL IS IR FR GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1394 |
SHARON DENIES PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS IN TENNENBAUM [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Sharon and his staff have forcefully denied the explosive March 3 "Ma'ariv" story impugning his motives in the handling of the release of Elhanan Tennenbaum as part of the Hizballah prisoner exchange. Contrary to the paper's allegation that Sharon was influenced b [...] |
2004-03-05 16:34:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KPAL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1488 |
FM SHALOM REVIEWS BUSY TRAVEL ITINERARY; BELIEVES [...] (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Shalom told the Ambassador on March 8 that in recent discussions in London and Dublin the Europeans had conveyed a preference for GOI-PA negotiations in the context of the roadmap, as opposed to unilateral steps. UK PM Tony Blair reportedly expressed admiration [...] |
2004-03-10 06:44:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL PTER IS EG XF EU GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1493 |
LIBYA/IAEA: ISRAEL UNHAPPY WITH REVISED [...] (C) In response to March 10 ref (C) demarche to his deputy, MFA Deputy DG for Strategic Affairs Jeremy Issacharoff told polmiloff that the GOI, while fully cognizant of "what's at stake" in gaining consensus for a Libya resolution, is unhappy with the reftel Libya resolution language because i [...] |
2004-03-10 10:42:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP PARM PREL MNUC LY IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1587 |
SHINUI SCIENCE MINISTER MAKES CASE AGAINST [...] (C) In a March 10 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Science and Technology (and Shinui MK) Eliezer Sandberg outlined his opposition to unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, adding his view that the Israeli public is moving in that direction as well. Sandberg cited three reasons for his opp [...] |
2004-03-12 15:08:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG TSPL PINR IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1632 |
FOG REMAINS FOLLOWING SHARON WIN ON VAGUE [...] (C) Summary and comment: Following a vaguely-worded speech that was supposed to be about his disengagement plan, PM Sharon turned a March 15 Knesset vote on that speech into a so-called "vote of confidence" on his government -- which he won 46-45, with 29 members absent. The vote, however c [...] |
2004-03-16 16:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1661 |
SHARON TELLS CODEL LEVIN THAT SYRIA TRACK CAN WAIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: PM Sharon told Codel Levin that Israel should "finish negotiations" with the Palestinians before turning to the Syrian track. While expressing a willingness to negotiate without preconditions with Bashar, the PM said Syria would first have to dismantle terrorist organizations and [...] |
2004-03-17 14:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SY IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1667 |
NEW YAHAD CHAIRMAN BEILIN SOUNDS BATTLE CRY [...] (SBU) Summary: Yossi Beilin's close victory in the new Yahad Party's chairmanship race against Meretz MK Ran Cohen blows some new life into the foundering political career of the Geneva Accords architect, but has barely ruffled the political waters. Beilin termed his win a victory for "peace [...] |
2004-03-17 15:46:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1676 |
QIZ TALKS: GETTING CLOSER, BUT ISRAELI, EGYPTIAN [...] (U) This is a joint cable from Embassies Tel Aviv and Cairo. ------- Summary ------- 2. (C) The third round of Israeli/Egyptian QIZ talks ended without an agreement on March 17 in Jerusalem. As in the previous discussions in Jerusalem and Cairo, the stumbling block remained the minim [...] |
2004-03-18 10:17:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL ECON EG IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI EXTERNAL LABOR COMMERCE |
| 04TELAVIV1689 |
TRANSPORT MINISTER LIEBERMAN SLAMS SHARON IN [...] (C) Summary. Transportation Minister and National Union leader Avigdor Lieberman on March 17: -- Called PM Sharon and his unilateral disengagement plan "a failure," which was not supported by the majority of Israelis and which appeared to give in to terror; -- Said the National Union would b [...] |
2004-03-19 07:17:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1706 |
ZEVULUN ORLEV, MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS [...] (C) Zevulun Orlev, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, is a moderate member of the rightist National Religious Party (NRP). He has primarily focused on domestic affairs and internal NRP machinations. Orlev has endeavored to move the NRP into a moderate position in order to prove that it is [...] |
2004-03-19 14:06:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1707 |
UN ENVOY PREVIEWS ARAFAT "ASCENSION" PROPOSAL [...] (C) Summary: UN Special Coordinator Terje Larsen reviewed for the Ambassador his recent exchanges with GOI, PA, Egyptian, and Jordanian officials on PM Sharon's disengagement plan, and laid out an idea for enticing Arafat's cooperation in combating terrorism by offering him an "elevated," cer [...] |
2004-03-19 14:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL IS XF GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1777 |
Canon White and Former Archbishop of [...] Summary: Lord Carey of Clifton (Former Archbishop of Canterbury) and Canon Andrew White met with Ambassador March 19 to seek his views on ways they could move forward the Alexandria Process Israeli- Palestinian religious dialogue in a manner that would best support the political track of the [...] |
2004-03-24 06:59:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KMPI PHUM KPAO IS GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1845 |
SHARON'S CABINET SECRETARY DOES THE MATH AND [...] (C) Summary: Cabinet Secretary Israel Maimon predicted to Ambassador Kurtzer March 23 that the present government would not last long. He cited as evidence of "the beginning of the end" the Shas-sponsored no-confidence motion the previous day -- hastily withdrawn to show solidarity after the [...] |
2004-03-25 14:47:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1874 |
POLICE MAY HAVE LEARNED LESSONS FROM ORR [...] (C) Summary: In an apparent effort to avoid a repetition of the October 2000 police killing of 12 Israeli-Arab demonstrators, chief of Israel's national police force has ordered his forces to refrain from using either live ammunition or rubber-coated bullets during the March 30 Israeli Arab "L [...] |
2004-03-26 13:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1906 |
SHARON INDICTMENT RECOMMENDATION NO SURPRISE; MOST [...] (C) Summary: The long-anticipated word this past weekend that State Prosecutor Edna Arbel intends to recommend indictment of PM Sharon on bribery charges leaves unchanged for now the calculus that PM Sharon, if thick-skinned enough, can manage his legal and political problems, and remain in o [...] |
2004-03-29 13:34:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1941 |
LABOR'S ENTRY TO COALITION COULD HINGE ON [...] (C) Summary: In the face of a possible bribery indictment against PM Sharon, speculation has begun over whether Labor will put on hold any plans to take the place of the right-wing parties in Sharon's coalition if they eventually bolt over Gaza withdrawal (reftel). Before the State Prosecuto [...] |
2004-03-31 10:52:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1952 |
ISRAELI OFFICIALS BRIEF DJEREJIAN ON IMPROVED [...] (C) Summary. In a series of meetings with GOI officials between March 26-30, former NEA A/S and Ambassador to Israel Ed Djerejian, here as an official guest of the Foreign Ministry in his current capacity as Director of the Baker Institute, heard that the regional strategic situation faced by [...] |
2004-03-31 15:46:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER KPAL IS SY XF GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV1953 |
SHARON'S LIKUD REFERENDUM LIKELY TO STYMIE [...] (C) SUMMARY: PM Sharon's decision to take his unilateral disengagement plan to a referendum of the full 200,000-strong Likud membership, a body more moderate than its leadership, reinforces his hand in dealing with Likud and other-party ministers and Knesset members who oppose withdrawal. The [...] |
2004-03-31 15:51:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPAL IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV1970 |
BEILIN BINDS NEW YAHAD PARTY TO GENEVA ACCORD [...] (C) Summary: New Yahad Party leader Yossi Beilin left no doubt that Yahad and the Geneva Accord are joined at the hip when accord co-author Yasser Ahmed Rabbo sat center stage with Beilin at the party's founding ceremonies on March 31. Copies of the accord and Yahad's basic covenant were both [...] |
2004-04-01 12:52:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL PEACE PROCESS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 04TELAVIV2031 |
IN PASSOVER INTERVIEWS, SHARON WARNS ARAFAT, [...] (SBU) Israel's three major dailies previewed April 2 the separate Passover interviews with PM Sharon that each will publish on April 5. The previews highlighted three of Sharon's themes: -- Targeting Arafat and Nasrallah: In the wake of Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Yassin, [...] |
2004-04-02 11:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KWBG PGOV IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2034 |
PERES: LABOR READY TO JOIN LIKUD COALITION [...] (C) Labor Party Chairman Shimon Peres told Ambassador Kurtzer unequivocally April 2 that Labor "could not stay out" of the coalition if and when PM Sharon invites Labor to join. Responding to a scenario where Sharon loses the two right-wing coalition partners over a cabinet vote on unilater [...] |
2004-04-02 11:36:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2039 |
GOI DISCUSSES NEXT STEPS ON ISRAEL-EGYPT QIZ [...] (C) Summary and Action Request. Gabbi Bar, Deputy Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor confirmed to us April 2 that Israel and Egypt had agreed to 11.7% minimum Israeli content for all Egyptian QIZ products. Bar said the next step is a meeting in Athens April 14, wher [...] |
2004-04-02 13:08:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PREL EG IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI EXTERNAL LABOR COMMERCE |
| 04TELAVIV2064 |
SHARON READY TO REPLACE WAYWARD MINISTERS OVER [...] (C) Summary. At the April 4 Cabinet meeting, PM Sharon invited two right-wing ministers to leave the coalition if they are not comfortable with its policies, demonstrating Sharon's confidence that Labor is waiting in the wings to replace these ministers' parties (ref A). Sharon's display of [...] |
2004-04-05 12:27:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2123 |
DETAILS OF EGYPT/ISRAEL GAS PIPELINE APPROVED BY [...] (C) Summary. The Egypt/Israel gas pipeline project cleared a crucial hurdle on April 4 when the GOI gave its blessing to the Israel Electric Company (IEC) to negotiate an agreement with the supplier of Egyptian natural gas, Eastern Mediterranean Group (EMG). Under the proposed agreement EMG, [...] |
2004-04-08 13:47:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI EXTERNAL LABOR COMMERCE |
| 04TELAVIV2167 |
While Israel's Economy Grows, Unemployment Remains [...] (SBU) Finance Minister Netanyahu's declaration in late 2003 that the recession has ended appears to look more realistic today than it did at the time. There is increasing optimism in Israeli economic circles regarding a return to growth in 2004. All indications currently point to growth of m [...] |
2004-04-14 07:20:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE LABOR COMMERCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV2199 |
REACTION TO BUSH-SHARON MEETING: SHARON GOT WHAT [...] (C) Summary: Key Likud disengagement supporters and the major media are declaring PM Sharon victorious after learning of the assurances Sharon received in his April 14 meeting with President Bush. They also assess that Sharon obtained what he needs from the U.S. to push his disengagement plan [...] |
2004-04-15 10:28:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL ISRAEL RELATIONS |
| 04TELAVIV2202 |
A DAY OF SETBACKS FOR OUTPOST SUPPORTERS [...] (C) Summary: A day after PM Sharon reiterated his commitment to removing unauthorized outposts in Washington, outpost activists and supporters woke up on April 15 to the news that the GOI had removed a few more sites overnight and that the Attorney General ordered some settlement funding hal [...] |
2004-04-15 13:35:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAL KWBG PBTS IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV2203 |
ISRAELI-ARAB NGO LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST [...] Summary: An Israeli-Arab advocacy NGO appealed to the diplomatic community at an April 13 gathering to lobby the GOI against renewal of the controversial July 2003 law that bars Palestinians from the Occupied Territories from acquiring Israeli residency or citizenship rights through marriage t [...] |
2004-04-15 13:40:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY |
| 04TELAVIV2206 |
OMRI SHARON SEES HARD WORK AHEAD ON DISENGAGEMENT [...] (C) PM Sharon's son and Likud MK, Omri Sharon, told poloff on April 14 -- before the PM's White House meeting -- that the main problem facing the pro-disengagement campaign is getting enough Likud members out to vote in the May 2 Likud referendum on the unilateral withdrawal plan. Sharon wor [...] |
2004-04-15 15:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2231 |
POLLS SHOW DISENGAGEMENT PLAN WINNING LIKUD [...] (C) Polls conducted after the April 14 meeting between President Bush and PM Sharon show Sharon's disengagement plan winning a majority of Likud voter support. Major media analysts, however, noted that intervening events -- such as a significant terrorist attack or FinMin Benyamin Netanyahu's [...] |
2004-04-16 13:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2250 |
SHARON SECURES KEY LIKUD MINISTERS' SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) Summary. PM Sharon has lined up key Likud ministers behind his disengagement plan and set the stage for victory in the May 2 Likud referendum. In the process, Sharon stretched to their full measure USG assurances regarding Israeli retention of West Bank settlement blocs, Israel's right [...] |
2004-04-19 17:40:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2256 |
LIKUD MK SA'AR OPPOSES WITHDRAWAL PLAN BUT [...] (C) Summary: Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar told poloff on April 18 that he will quietly oppose PM Sharon's disengagement plan even though he is certain that the plan will win a majority in the May 2 Likud referendum. Sa'ar objects to the plan since it requires withdrawing from Gaza and four northern [...] |
2004-04-20 11:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2261 |
PERES TELLS CODEL ISSA "NO GUARANTEE THE FUTURE [...] (C) Summary: Labor leader Shimon Peres told CODEL Issa April 16 that the United States should be promoting modernization in the Middle East -- rather than democratization -- as the best means for furthering the U.S. agenda in the region. Peres recommended using business and investment as key [...] |
2004-04-20 13:27:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG KPAL PGOV PREL GZ IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2300 |
FM SHALOM LIKELY TO HEAD GOI DELEGATION TO OSCE [...] (SBU) MFA Minister Counselor for Anti-Semitism and Holocaust Remembrance Martin Flax told poloff on April 21 that it is the MFA's "working assumption" that FM Silvan Shalom will head the GOI's delegation to the OSCE's Anti-Semitism Conference in Berlin April 28-29. He anticipates the delegat [...] |
2004-04-21 14:26:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SOCI IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV2327 |
VANUNU, UPON RELEASE, CLAIMS U.S. AGENT LURED HIM [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: Immediately upon his April 21 release from prison, "nuclear spy" Mordechai Vanunu charged that the woman who lured him into a Mossad trap in 1986 worked for the CIA or FBI. Nevertheless, Vanunu told the press that he would like to emigrate to the U.S. The head of the [...] |
2004-04-22 14:39:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PGOV PHUM PREL IS ISRAEL RELATIONS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV2328 |
SHARON TELLS KNESSET NO USG ASSURANCES WITHOUT [...] (C) With an April 21 poll showing only 44-percent-to-40-percent Likud majority support for his disengagement plan, down from a week ago, an energized PM Sharon told a special Knesset session on April 22 that USG assurances on right of return and retention of settlements are tied to fulfillmen [...] |
2004-04-22 15:03:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISRAEL RELATIONS |
| 04TELAVIV2335 |
KEY MINISTERS AND WEISSGLAS REVIEW POTUS-SHARON [...] (C) SUMMARY: In April 20 meetings with U/S Bolton and the Ambassador, Olmert and Weissglas said there is still a chance to keep the GOI coalition together, even if disengagement moves forward. However, Minister Lieberman, leader of one of the right-wing parties that is expected to bolt, told t [...] |
2004-04-22 15:38:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2381 |
ISRAELI ARABS SPLIT OVER THE MERITS OF [...] (SBU) Summary: The Arab League is hosting a conference on ties between the Arab world and the Arab citizens of Israel in Cairo April 26-27. Arab League Deputy Secretary and PLO Representative Said Kamal, along with mid-level diplomats from the Arab League countries, arranged the program, wh [...] |
2004-04-26 14:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EIND PGOV PHUM IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SOCIETY GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV2382 |
SHARON OPTIONS IN REFERENDUM RUN-UP [...] (C) With six days to go until Likud's May 2 referendum on his disengagement plan, inaction by three nominally supportive but reluctant key Likud ministers, and narrowing but still winning poll numbers, PM Sharon has available a menu of tactics from which to draw. Most Israeli poll results co [...] |
2004-04-26 14:31:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2421 |
POLLING LULL AND ANTI-WITHDRAWAL DEMONSTRATION [...] (C) The brief vacuum of polling results, with private and public polls of Likud voters not expected until April 29 and 30 respectively, and the large-scale April 27 anti-disengagement demonstration in Gaza, have increased speculation by media pundits and politicos about whether PM Sharon's d [...] |
2004-04-28 15:05:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2457 |
AM AHAD AND LABOR MERGER LIKELY [...] (C) Histadrut International Secretary Nawaf Massalha told poloff April 22 that it is likely Amir Peretz's Am Ahad Party will merge into the Labor Party by January 2005. According to Massalha, who served as a deputy foreign minister in the Barak government, a draft agreement is being circulate [...] |
2004-04-29 15:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV2458 |
SHARON'S CAMPAIGN: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE? LATEST [...] (C) Summary. Results published on April 29 from two major media polls show 47-percent-to-39-percent and 45-percent-to-42-percent Likud majorities against PM Sharon's disengagement plan, reversing the earlier polls that showed similar majorities voting in favor of the plan. Both polls also [...] |
2004-04-29 15:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV2471 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: SHARON FACING DEFEAT UNLESS [...] (C) SUMMARY: All Israeli polls are showing defeat for Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan at the hands of Likud party members. With little time left to campaign, and with the public's focus riveted on the Israeli basketball team's Saturday night final game for the European championsh [...] |
2004-04-30 12:00:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6045 |
BUDGET MAY FAIL, BUT SHRINKING SHARON GOVERNMENT [...] (C) The anticipated 43-54 failure of PM Sharon's budget late December 1, and the anticipated post-vote dismissal of Shinui ministers, leaves Sharon with a Likud-only government, but does not cause the government to fall. Sharon can bring the budget back to the Knesset as many times as he want [...] |
2004-12-01 13:22:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 04TELAVIV6146 |
LIKUD CENTRAL COMMITTEE EXPECTED TO APPROVE [...] (C) Likud's Central Committee is expected to give Prime Minister Sharon the green light December 9 to negotiate with the Labor Party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), and Shas to rebuild Sharon's minority government, now consisting of only Likud's 40 MKs. Sharon's proposal to negotiate with relig [...] |
2004-12-06 15:17:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6259 |
PERES: SUCCESS OF LIKUD-LABOR COALITION [...] (C) Summary: Prior to the Likud Central Committee's positive vote on December 9 to open coalition negotiations with the Labor Party, United Torah Judaism, and Shas (see septel), an obviously exhausted Labor Party leader Shimon Peres stressed to the Ambassador the depth of his own problems in [...] |
2004-12-10 11:20:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS SY GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6262 |
SHARON WINS LIKUD GREEN LIGHT TO NEGOTIATE WITH A [...] (C) The Likud Central Committee's 62 percent majority vote in favor of opening coalition negotiations with Labor, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), and Shas is an important victory in Prime Minister Sharon's long struggle to broaden his minority government, which has dwindled down to 40 Likud MKs. [...] |
2004-12-10 12:46:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6285 |
PERES: SUCCESS OF LIKUD-LABOR COALITION [...] (C) Summary: Prior to the Likud Central Committee's positive vote on December 9 to open coalition negotiations with the Labor Party, United Torah Judaism, and Shas (see septel), an obviously exhausted Labor Party leader Shimon Peres stressed to the Ambassador the depth of his own problems in [...] |
2004-12-13 11:56:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PGOV PREL KWBG IS SY GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6373 |
LIKUD-LABOR TALKS STALLED AS BOTH PLAY HARDBALL [...] (C) The current snag in Likud-Labor coalition negotiations over which cabinet seats Labor would receive is likely the result of poker game tactics by both sides. Embassy contacts do not expect the snag to prevent a Likud-Labor agreement. Referring to the breakdown in Likud-Labor talks as a " [...] |
2004-12-15 14:02:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6375 |
THE LOW-DOWN ON DISENGAGEMENT LEGISLATION [...] (C) Summary: Embassy economic officer on December 9 met with Dr. Shavit Matias and Malkiel "Mike" Blass, Deputy Attorneys General at the Ministry of Justice, to discuss the details of the evacuation legislation. While there have been complaints from settlers and MKs that the compensation [...] |
2004-12-15 14:16:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6383 |
FM SHALOM QUESTIONS ABU MAZEN'S DETERMINATION IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: While expressing optimism about the opportunities presented by the PA transition, FM Shalom, in a December 1 meeting with Codel Hagel/Biden, questioned Abu Mazen's commitment to dismantling terrorist infrastructure, to stopping incitement and to stepping away from Arafat's legacy. [...] |
2004-12-16 09:03:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6384 |
PERES TO CODEL HAGEL/BIDEN: DISENGAGEMENT IS [...] (C) Summary: Labor Party leader Shimon Peres told a visiting congressional delegation led by Senators Chuck Hagel and Joseph Biden December 1 that he supports joining the ruling coalition in the interest of advancing disengagement. He predicted (correctly) the likely failure of the 2005 budge [...] |
2004-12-16 09:05:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PREF PGOV ECON KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6385 |
EILAND SHARES VIEWS ON THE PALESTINIAN SUCCESSION [...] (C) SUMMARY: National Security Advisor Giora Eiland told Codel Hagel/Biden that the GOI is trying to avoid repeating the "mistakes" it made when PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was prime minister in 2003. In order to help Abbas succeed this time, the GOI, he said, will have to be "more flexible" ab [...] |
2004-12-16 09:06:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OREP KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SETTLEMENTS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6387 |
SHARON AND CODEL HAGEL/BIDEN: COMMITMENT TO [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Sharon told Codel Hagel/Biden that he was fully committed to making peace with the post-Arafat Palestinian leadership, but that there would be no compromise on holding the the new leadership accountable for actions to combat the terrorist infrastructure. While rec [...] |
2004-12-16 10:08:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OREP PTER KPAL IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6407 |
PERES TELLS CODEL BLUNT IMPORTANT FOR U.S. TO [...] (C) Summary: In a December 13 meeting, Labor Party leader Shimon Peres told Codel Blunt that he hoped Likud and Labor would form a new coalition to avoid early elections and the consequent postponement of implementation of Gaza disengagement. Peres noted that with Yasser Arafat's death and t [...] |
2004-12-16 15:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 04TELAVIV6450 |
TZIPI LIVNI: NO NEW HOUSING TENDERS IN SETTLEMENTS [...] (C) Summary: In her first meeting with the Ambassador as acting Minister of Justice December 16, Likud MK Tzipi Livni stressed that she will not approve any new housing tenders in the settlements while serving as Housing Minister. Livni said she would be ready to discuss problems related to l [...] |
2004-12-20 14:08:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG ECON IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6455 |
MFA ANALYSTS TO CODEL TALENT: SYRIA IS ON A [...] (C) Summary: MFA Deputy Director General for Intelligence and Research Harry Kney-Tal told CODEL Talent December 6 that Syria will not relinquish either its hold on Lebanon or its relationship with Iraq without gaining some concessions from the West to replace them. With one million Syrians [...] |
2004-12-20 16:48:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV LE SY IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6466 |
SHARON AND PERES AIM FOR UNITY GOVERNMENT WITHIN [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Sharon is well on his way to gaining passage of an amendment to the country's Basic Laws that will meet Labor's demands for senior government positions and allow Sharon to form a new government by New Year's. The amendment would allow for a second alternate prime [...] |
2004-12-21 10:32:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6489 |
ISRAELI SECURITY SERVICES TELL CODEL TALENT THAT [...] (C) Summary: Israeli Police BG David Lutsky and the Head of Shin Bet's Protection and Security Division, Doron Bergerbest, told CODEL Talent December 5-6 that cooperation and real-time information sharing is the key to Israeli success in thwarting suicide attacks. Once intelligence on an act [...] |
2004-12-21 15:54:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ASEC KPAL KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL COUNTERTERRORISM |
| 04TELAVIV6500 |
TRILATERAL WATER TALKS MOVE FORWARD COOPERATION, [...] (C) Summary: Palestinian and Israeli water chiefs and their staffs held a thorough exchange focusing on water supply issues for Gaza and the West Bank during U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian Trilateral Water Talks at USAID offices in Tel Aviv December 9. The Israeli and Palestinian officials agreed [...] |
2004-12-22 10:02:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID IS KWBG PREL SENV ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6505 |
"THE BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS" [...] (C) Summary: Brigadier General Yossi Kuperwasser told CODEL Talent December 6 that the war on terrorism must be waged across no less than five fronts: the physical battle; the efforts of society itself to endure in the face of continued attacks; society's need to remain true to its values rat [...] |
2004-12-22 17:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL KPAL KWBG IS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 04TELAVIV6546 |
ISRAELI REASSURANCES ON NONPROLIFERATION SECTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Israeli officials told the Ambassador on December 22 that the nonproliferation section of the EU-Israel plan of action under the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) contained "absolutely nothing new." They described the plan as another attempt by the EU to lock Is [...] |
2004-12-23 14:33:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM IS GOI EXTERNAL MILITARY RELATIONS |
| 04TELAVIV6547 |
ISRAELI VIEWS ON IAEA FORUM ON "EXPERIENCE OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Gideon Frank and Eli Levite of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission told the Ambassador on December 22 that the ground rules and agenda for the upcoming IAEA forum on nuclear-weapon-free zones reflect understandings between Israel and the IAEA. The only outstanding issue is that DG [...] |
2004-12-23 14:35:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP PREL MNUC TRGY IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6563 |
ISRAEL: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] (SBU) Post provides below additional information to be used in preparation of the 2004 "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report. -------------------------------------- Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation -------------------------------------- 2. (SBU) Israel has been among the staunche [...] |
2004-12-27 11:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER ASEC KCRM EFIN KHLS KPAL KPAO KWBG GZ IS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6626 |
ISRAELI OFFICIALS ON BUDGET, BACHAR COMMITTEE [...] (C) Summary. Treasury Desk Officer for Israel Catherine Downard discussed the budget, privatization, and other subjects with Israeli officials on December 13. Her visit to the Karni Industrial Zone will be reported septel. The highlights of her discussions: -- The GOI is committed to mainta [...] |
2004-12-29 06:43:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL LABOR COMMERCE |
| 04TELAVIV6651 |
ISRAELI FM SHALOM OFFERS CAUTIOUS VIEW ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: While acknowledging that the situation had improved since Arafat's death, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Senators Lieberman and Dayton on December 28 that he is "discouraged" by Abu Mazen's recent remarks on the campaign trail. Shalom interpreted the speech as an ind [...] |
2004-12-30 08:45:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL KWBG IS IR ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6671 |
ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER OFFERS CAUTIOUSLY [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a meeting on December 30, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz gave Senator Lieberman and the Ambassador a cautiously optimistic assessment of the chances for security cooperation with post-Arafat Palestinian leaders. Mofaz said that disengagement will increase Israel's s [...] |
2004-12-30 14:49:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL |
| 04TELAVIV6672 |
PROBLEMS UNLIKELY TO IMPEDE EARLY JANUARY [...] (C) Problems with prospective coalition partners Labor and United Torah Judaism are delaying PM Sharon's efforts to put together a viable coalition, but should not prevent establishment of a new government in early January. Negotiators are generating alternative mechanisms to give Labor leade [...] |
2004-12-30 15:03:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05CALCUTTA176 |
INDIAN REACTION TO ULFA TERROR DESIGNATION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The addition of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to the Other Selected Terrorist Organizations list in the 2004 Country Reports on Terrorism has been widely remarked by the press in India. A large majority of public comments, as well as reactions from our private cont [...] |
2005-05-02 12:08:00 | Consulate Kolkata | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PREL PGOV IN GOI |
| 05MUMBAI124 |
INDIA TO EXTEND DUAL CITIZENSHIP TO MOST FORMER CITIZENS [...] (U) In a January 7 speech in Mumbai, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the GOI would extend Indian citizenship to all Indians who left the country after 1950 and had been naturalized in another country. Until recently, Indians lost their citizenship if they were naturalized elsewhere. Singh [...] |
2005-01-11 13:24:00 | Consulate Mumbai | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL IN GOI |
| 05MUMBAI756 |
GUJARAT BJP PARLIAMENTARIANS OPENLY CHALLENGE CM MODI [...] (SBU) Some of our contacts in Gujarat tell us that BJP Chief Minister (CM) Narendra Modi is facing the most serious challenge to his power yet, as a growing number of BJP Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are openly speaking out against him. The MLAs are criticizing what they consider [...] |
2005-03-15 11:52:00 | Consulate Mumbai | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL ECON PHUM IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI1520 |
GOI UPBEAT ON CYBER-COOPERATION, SERIOUS ABOUT [...] (SBU) Summary: In a brief February 22 meeting, National Security Council Secretariat Joint Secretary Arvind Gupta and Deputy Director (Information Security) Commander Mukesh Saini were upbeat on US-India cybersecurity cooperation, clarified the objective of the upcoming April 18-19 Cybersecuri [...] |
2005-02-28 12:52:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCIP TINT KCRM PREL PGOV IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI2266 |
GOI DEMARCHE: INDIA SEEKS MORE ON IC-814 [...] (C) During a March 23 meeting with DCM and PolCouns and pursuant to discussions at the August-September 2004 US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group (reftel), MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S Jaishankar delivered the following SIPDIS non-paper requesting USG assistance with the GOI investi [...] |
2005-03-24 12:21:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI2599 |
S35-04: INDIAN INVESTIGATION OF SANDHYA ORGANIC [...] (S) On March 25, MEA Under Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs (DISA), Nutan Kapoor outlined for PolMilOff the status of the GOI investigation of Sandhya Organic Chemical's shipment of phosphorous oxychloride, a CW precursor, to Iran. 2. (S) According to Kapoor, Sand [...] |
2005-04-06 13:01:00 | Embassy New Delhi | SECRET | PARM PREL IR IN CBW GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI2601 |
INDIAN INVESTIGATION OF SABERO ORGANICS, LTD. [...] (S) On March 25, MEA Under Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs (DISA), Nutan Kapoor gave PolMilOff a nonpaper outlining the status of the GOI investigation of Sabero Organics' export of a CWC Schedule 3 chemical to Iran. Text of nonpaper follows in para 3. 2. (S) Be [...] |
2005-04-06 13:03:00 | Embassy New Delhi | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL IR IN CBW GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3220 |
INDIA DENIES UNLAWFUL IMPORT OF CONTROLLED [...] (C) Following several articles in the international and Indian press, PolCouns queried MEA Director, Disarmament and International Security (DISA), Venu Rajamony on April 26, about the GOI investigation of the case of Asher Karni, an Israeli businessman recently indicted in the US for unlawfu [...] |
2005-04-28 13:41:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC KNNP TSPA ETTC PK IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3242 |
EXBS: EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM STANDARDS FOR INDIA [...] (SBU) Export Control System Standards for India, in response to Ref A. The GOI is in the process of introducing new legislation aimed at licensing and controlling the export of WMD and their delivery systems. MEA contacts have stated that they expect to introduce and seek approval of the legi [...] |
2005-04-29 10:20:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KSTC PARM PREL IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3270 |
NEW INDIAN EXPORT CONTROL LAW IN THE MAKING [...] (SBU) Summary: A front page article in the April 26 "Indian Express" reported details of an ambitious draft export control bill giving the GOI far-reaching authority to investigate and enforce stricter controls on WMD-related items and technologies. Entitled "The Weapons of Mass Destruction [...] |
2005-04-29 13:14:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC KNNP KOMC KSTC PGOV IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3392 |
CABINET PASSES LANDMARK EXPORT CONTROL LAW -- [...] (C) Speaking with PolCouns on April 5, PMO Director Venkatash Verma confirmed reports from that morning's papers that the Cabinet had approved the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prevention of Unlawful Activities) Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament in a matter [...] |
2005-05-05 11:04:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC KNNP TBIO TSPA IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3603 |
ASSESSING OF INDIA'S DRAFT EXPORT CONTROL [...] (SBU) Summary: Our initial review of the "Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Bill, 2005" (Bill No. 70), suggests the draft legislation is a comprehensive statute that meets NSSP Phase Two requirements that the GOI introduce stronger exp [...] |
2005-05-12 12:27:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC MNUC IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3647 |
GOI RENEWS CALL FOR IC-814 INFO AS TRIAL NEARS END [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. 2. (C) During a May 9 meeting with PolCouns and Poloff, MEA Director (Americas) Renu Pall delivered the following non-paper requesting USG assistance with the GOI investigation into the December 1999 IC-814 hijacking. The non-paper is id [...] |
2005-05-13 13:08:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER IN PK AF GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3652 |
INDIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES LANDMARK WMD/EXPORT [...] (C) Summary: The Indian Parliament passed the landmark "WMD and their Delivery Systems Bill" (Ref A) in record time, with only a few hours to spare before the session adjourned on May 13. FM Natwar Singh framed the bill as "overarching and integrated legislation" for India's existing non-pr [...] |
2005-05-13 13:28:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC MNUC KNNP IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI3811 |
INDIA PREPARED TO ENGAGE INTERNATIONAL [...] (U) Summary: In an important May 17 address at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India's premier military R&D facility, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared that with the passage of the new WMD law, India is prepared for "the broadest form of engagement with the int [...] |
2005-05-20 12:48:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS KSTC KNNP KOMC ETTC IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI5115 |
INDIA'S ASSESSMENT OF THE EXBS PROGRAM: "TRAIN THE [...] (SBU) MEA Under Secretary (Disarmament and International Security) Nutan Kapoor gave PolMilOff a brief overview of an internal GOI assessment of recent EXBS events on July 5. According to Kapoor, MEA surveyed GOI officials that participated in EXBS events in the past year and found that while [...] |
2005-07-05 11:56:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETTC KNNP PARM IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI5278 |
MTAG: IRANIAN ATTEMPTS TO PROCURE MISSILE TECH [...] (S) PolMilOff raised the points in Ref A regarding Indian firms Aron Hurley Koncepts and KG Global's possible transfer of sensitive equipment to Iran in a July 8 meeting with MEA Under Secretary, Disarmament and International Security (DISA), Nutan Kapoor. PolMilOff also gave Kapoor a non-pap [...] |
2005-07-11 06:08:00 | Embassy New Delhi | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL MNUC IR IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI5957 |
TENTATIVE INDIAN ATTENDANCE AT 60TH UNGA [...] MEA UN Political Director Pankaj Sharma told Poloff that the Indian delegation to the September UNGA High-Level Event in New York has not yet been finalized, as the composition will be the prerogative of the Prime Minister. However, he informed us that previous delegations have included the [...] |
2005-08-02 06:58:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP IN UNGA GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI6721 |
INDIA NOT LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN TRACKER WORKSHOP [...] (SBU) India will likely not participate in the Tracker Automated Export Control System workshop in Oxford, UK, in October because the GOI is developing its own export control software, MEA Under Secretary (Disarmament and International Security) Nutan Kapoor told PolMilOff. The GOI is aware o [...] |
2005-09-01 10:27:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KNNP ETTC IN GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI6723 |
INDIA WILL PROVIDE UPDATE ON NEC CASE [...] (S) In response to points in Reftel, MEA Under Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) Nutan Kapoor told PolMilOff on August 31 that the GOI would provide an update on the status of the NEC case. PolMilOff also asked that the GOI provide information on the remaining steps t [...] |
2005-09-01 10:29:00 | Embassy New Delhi | SECRET | PARM PREL ETTC IN CBW GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI6929 |
MDA: INDIA SUPPORTS PROTOCOL, BUT NO PLANS TO PUSH [...] (U) A/DCM delivered reftel demarche to Joint Secretary (UN Political) Sanjiv Arora on September 6. Arora promised to confer with his UN Economic and Social (UNES) counterparts, but had no substantive comment. 2. (C) Poloff followed up with Deputy Secretary (UNES) Gopal Baglay on Septembe [...] |
2005-09-08 12:18:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL IN IS SZ GOI UN |
| 05NEWDELHI6931 |
DEMARCHES DELIVERED: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, [...] (U) This is an Action Request. Please see para 8. 2. (C) Summary: A/DCM and Poloff called on new MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) Sanjiv Arora on September 6 and SIPDIS delivered Refs A and B demarches, underlining the importance in the new US-India relationship for India to be seen [...] |
2005-09-08 12:21:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ECIN PHUM KDEM KUNR IN AF UNGA GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI7752 |
GOI ON ICJ ELECTIONS DEMARCHE, ITALIAN COESPU [...] (SBU) Summary: PolCouns and Poloff delivered Ref A demarche on ICJ elections, discussed Ref B plans for funding travel of Indian students to Italy's Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units, and reviewed the way forward for cooperation on UN reform in an October 5 conversation with MEA [...] |
2005-10-05 10:10:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO KUNR IN IT UNSC UNGA GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI7777 |
HOME SECRETARY UPBEAT ABOUT DECLINE IN TERRORISM, [...] (U) ACTION REQUEST FOR S/CT IN PARA 8. 2. (C) Summary: In an October 3 meeting with the Ambassador following an MLAT signing ceremony, Home Secretary VK Duggal was moderately upbeat over the security situation in Kashmir, noting that the situation was calm enough for the valley to welcome [...] |
2005-10-06 08:25:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR PTER CASC CJAN IN PK NP GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI8682 |
AMBASSADOR TAHIR-KHELI URGES GOI LEADERSHIP ON [...] (C) Summary. In her second round of consultations with senior MEA officials on November 14, Special Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli discussed areas of common consensus on UN reform and urged the GOI to take leadership and build coalitions of support before the review of the [...] |
2005-11-15 11:53:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PHUM IN UNSC GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI8746 |
FOREIGN SECRETARY SARAN URGES USG TO CORRECT [...] (C) Summary: In his November 15 meeting with Senior Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran expressed general GOI support for most SIPDIS of the USG's UN reform agenda, with some minor disagreement on the oversight mechanisms. He reinforced the GO [...] |
2005-11-17 12:36:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PHUM IN UNSC GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI8795 |
GOI COMMENTS REGARDING PERM REP SEN'S REMARKS ON UNSC REFORM [...] (C) Visiting Senior Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli raised Reftel A points in separate meetings with MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar and Media Advisor to the Prime Ministers Office Sanjay Baru on November 17. In both meetings, our interlocutors underlined that PermRep N [...] |
2005-11-18 12:50:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR IN UNSC UNGA GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI8799 |
INDIA'S NAM BAGGAGE STILL HOLDING IT BACK ON UN [...] (C) Summary: At a November 17 meeting with Senior Advisor on UN Reform Ambassador Tahir-Kheli, Deputy National Security Advisor Nambiar insisted that India's "stereotype as a representative of developing countries" at the United Nations will hinder its ability to play a leading role with the [...] |
2005-11-18 14:17:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PHUM IN UNSC GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI9008 |
MEA SHARES INDIAN INTEL BLAMING LET FOR DIWALI [...] (S) Summary: Following up on MEA Additional Secretary Meera Shankar's November 14 assurance that the Indian government would share with us information regarding the October 29 Diwali bombings (Ref B), MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S Jaishankar on November 29 confirmed to Charge and Poloff th [...] |
2005-11-29 13:16:00 | Embassy New Delhi | SECRET | PTER PREL PINS EFIN KCRM KTFN PBTS PK IN TS GOI |
| 05NEWDELHI9513 |
EXTRADITION: INDIA: KULBIR SINGH BARAPIND: POST [...] (SBU) Summary: This message will address as many of the Ref A questions as Post is able to answer. Confirming or refuting specific allegations of torture is extremely difficult by the very nature of the usual secrecy surrounding torture. Barapind's claims of torture include a litany of many [...] |
2005-12-19 12:44:00 | Embassy New Delhi | UNCLASSIFIED | CJAN CVIS PTER PREL KCRM PHUM PGOV IN GOI |
| 05TELAVIV102 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: WITH NEW GOVERNMENT, SHARON TO [...] (C) Summary: The three-month trial period for which the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party has agreed to enter a coalition with Likud and Labor gives Prime Minister Sharon the time -- and majorities in the relevant bodies -- to : -- establish a 66-MK majority government, probably as early as [...] |
2005-01-06 15:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 05TELAVIV1026 |
SENATOR ALLEN'S FEBRUARY 13 MEETING WITH MFA [...] (C) On February 13 Senator George Allen and Ambassador Kurtzer met with MFA North American Deputy Yoram Ben Ze'ev and Head of the Research Department Harry Kney'tal. They discussed developments in Europe relating to the designation of Hizbollah as a terrorist organization, and political deve [...] |
2005-02-18 14:53:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL OVIP IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1027 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: CABINET POISED TO APPROVE [...] (SBU) Prime Minister Sharon is poised to obtain decided Cabinet majorities in two historic votes scheduled for February 20: to approve the "Amended Disengagement Plan -- Evacuation of Settlements and Territories" (the Amended Plan) and to approve a revised route of the separation barrier arou [...] |
2005-02-18 15:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1061 |
Israel: Economy Grows 4.3% in 2004 [...] (U) On February 14, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) published updated 2004 figures showing growth of 4.3% for the year, a significant improvement over growth of 1.3% in 2003. This compares well with 3.6% average growth in the OECD during the year. Israeli GDP per capita increased by 2 [...] |
2005-02-22 13:18:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1062 |
NIRIT'S RESIDENTS HAVE A LONG DAY IN COURT AND [...] (C) Summary: Dror Ginatt, secretary general of the Israeli town of Nirit on the west side of the Green Line, described Nirit's hearing in the High Court to stop construction of Nof HaSharon as arduous but felt that Nirit got a fair trial. He explained that the three judges, among them Aharo [...] |
2005-02-22 13:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1078 |
ACTING COORDINATOR POPE DISCUSSES COUNTERTERRORISM [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a series of meetings February 9-12, Israeli officials told Acting Counterterrorism Coordinator William Pope that Hizballah is the GOI's top CT priority. They requested USG assistance to convince President Chirac that the group should be placed on the EU's list of terrorist org [...] |
2005-02-23 10:36:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL KPAL KWBG IS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1110 |
ICRC OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMPROVED RELATIONS [...] (C) Summary: Visiting ICRC Delegate-General for the Middle East and North Africa Balthasar Stahelin told the DCM February 18 that he believes that progress in the peace process could help pave the way for the adoption of a Third Additional Protocol that would facilitate full ICRC membership f [...] |
2005-02-24 14:01:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV PREF IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV1117 |
MFA OFFICIAL SAYS GOI "ADAMANT" ABOUT GAINING MDA [...] (C) The GOI is "adamant" about bringing to closure in 2005 the issue of Magen David Adom (MDA) membership in the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, MFA Deputy Director General (A/S-equivalent) for International Organization Affairs Roni Ya'ar told poloff on February 23. He reported [...] |
2005-02-24 16:01:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC PHUM PREF PREL IS SZ GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY |
| 05TELAVIV1121 |
ISRAELI TOURISM MINISTER REQUESTS CHANGE IN U.S. [...] (C) Summary. During a February 23 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Tourism Abraham Hirchson stressed the GOI's hope that the USG would change the travel warning regarding travel to Israel. The Ambassador replied that the USG reviewed such warnings on a regular basis, but noted that t [...] |
2005-02-25 07:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PREL IS ISRAEL RELATIONS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1124 |
BEDOUIN OF THE NEGEV'S ILLEGAL VILLAGES LIVE IN [...] (SBU) Summary: Emboffs met February 17 with Bedouin community representatives in two Negev desert Bedouin villages not legally recognized by the GOI to discuss issues affecting their lives and possible PD small grants assistance to educational programs. The Bedouin in these two unrecognized [...] |
2005-02-25 11:23:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1211 |
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY U/S LEVEY'S MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary. During their February 14 discussions, Under Secretary of Treasury Stuart Levey and GOI MFA officials SIPDIS focused on the possible designation of Hizbollah as a terrorist group during the EU Clearinghouse meeting on February 16. The GOI has been working proactively to obtain [...] |
2005-03-02 04:46:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1277 |
LIKUD REFERENDUM DECISION STILL LEAVES SHARON [...] (C) Summary: Several Likud MKs demanding that Prime Minister Sharon call a referendum on disengagement told poloff that the widely anticipated March 3 Likud Central Committee (LCC) vote to promote legislation needed to enable a referendum is not sufficient to secure their budget votes. They s [...] |
2005-03-03 18:03:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1336 |
ISRAEL: FIFTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] (SBU) This cable is the first part of a three-part message in response to reftel. Embassy point of contact is poloff Jenifer Joyce, telephone number (972) (3) 519-7437. Fax number (972)(3) 519-7484. Poloff spent approximately 80 hours in preparation of the report. Deputy polcouns spent app [...] |
2005-03-07 15:30:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1337 |
ISRAEL: FIFTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-07 15:34:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1338 |
ISRAEL: FIFTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] (SBU) This is the third part of a three-part message responding to reftel. Embassy point of contact is Jenifer Joyce, telephone number (972)(3) 519-7437, fax number (972)(3) 519-7484. ------------------------------------ Protection and Assistance to Victims ------------------------------- [...] |
2005-03-07 15:37:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1362 |
NETANYAHU MAY CAVE TO SHAS BUDGET DEMANDS; SHINUI [...] (C) As they scramble for votes ahead of the March 17 budget vote, Prime Minister Sharon and Finance Minister Netanyahu appear ready -- albeit tentatively -- to make budget concessions to Shas, rather than take Shinui back into the coalition. Sharon needs a simple Knesset majority for budget [...] |
2005-03-08 15:52:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 05TELAVIV1363 |
(C) OTTE SAYS HE'S PRESSING PA FOR SECURITY [...] (C) In a March 7 meeting with the Ambassador, EU Middle East envoy Marc Otte said he would press the PA, during his visit this week, on the need for security service reform, while focusing in his GOI meetings on Israeli-Palestinian economic cooperation. He reported that World Bank President W [...] |
2005-03-08 15:55:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS EU EG LE SY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1404 |
MOSSI RAZ ON THE UNOFFICIAL APPROVAL PROCESS FOR [...] (C) Summary: Mossi Raz, a former Meretz MK, provided a brief history of the growth of settlements, and outlined the hidden support that the Israeli government has given to settlers over the past 13 years. Settlers focused on expanding existing settlements between 1992 and 1996 because Prime [...] |
2005-03-09 14:59:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1454 |
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR URGES RESTRAINT IN PRESSING ABU [...] (C) Russian Ambassador Gennady Tarasov and the Ambassador reviewed Israeli-Palestinian progress in implementing the Sharm al-Sheikh commitments and Syria-Lebanon developments during a March 11 conversation. In response to the Ambassador's question about whether Russian Middle East envoy Kalug [...] |
2005-03-11 14:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS LE SY GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1456 |
MOST KNESSET MEMBERS, PUNDITS PREDICT BUDGET WILL [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Sharon postponed the final votes on the 2005 budget, originally scheduled for March 17, counting on the fact that parties and MKs that could provide the crucial votes will not show their cards until they are pressed against the March 31 deadline -- and facing the p [...] |
2005-03-11 14:38:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 05TELAVIV1457 |
(S) ISRAELI READOUT ON MUBARAK-MOFAZ MEETING IN [...] (S) BG Eitan Dangott, Military Secretary of Defense Minister Mofaz, briefed the Ambassador March 11 on the meeting held the previous day in Sharm between Mofaz and Egyptian President Mubarak, with the participation of Defense Minister Tantawi and Intelligence Chief Sulayman. Dangott said th [...] |
2005-03-11 14:42:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | IS KPAL PREL XF GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1524 |
CABINET DECIDES TO REMOVE 24 OUTPOSTS BUT DOESN'T [...] (C) Summary/Comment: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Cabinet on March 13 decided to remove the 24 post-March 2001 outposts mentioned in Talia Sasson's report, but not until after implementation of the disengagement plan. Israeli officials said that the GOI is "busy" with disengagement and tha [...] |
2005-03-14 15:37:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1534 |
PERES MEETS TELLS CODEL CORZINE "WE ARE STILL [...] (C) Summary. In a March 13 meeting with Senator Corzine and the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said there are three crucial events in the next several months: the passage of the budget, the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in July, and the evacuation from Gaza, also s [...] |
2005-03-15 11:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG OREP PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV1549 |
ISRAEL'S CONSTRUCTIVE NO-CONFIDENCE MECHANISM: [...] (C) Summary: The 2003 revision of Israel's no-confidence vote mechanism to require that all Knesset members voting no-confidence pre-designate a single candidate to form a new government was designed to keep government opponents from resorting too frequently to time-consuming no-confidence mo [...] |
2005-03-16 10:39:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV PREL IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1580 |
MOSSAD CHIEF TO CODEL CORZINE: SOME FOREIGN [...] (S) Summary: Mossad Chief Meir Dagan told CODEL Corzine March 13 that Israeli and U.S. thinking on Iran largely tracks, adding that he believes the EU dialogue with Iran will ultimately fail. Dagan said that Israel has evidence that some foreign fighters have returned home from Iraq, perhaps indica [...] |
2005-03-17 10:32:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PGOV PREL KWBG IR IS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1588 |
LABOR MK SNEH TELLS SENATOR CORZINE ISRAEL CANNOT [...] (C) Summary: Labor MK Ephraim Sneh told visiting Senator Jon Corzine and the Ambassador March 14 that he sees military action against Iran's nuclear program as only a last resort. Sneh advocated external support for popular efforts for regime change in Iran, but stressed that the change has to [...] |
2005-03-17 12:12:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | OREP PGOV PINR PREL KPAL MNUC IS IR GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1593 |
C-NE4-01083: ISRAELI INTENTIONS REGARDING THE [...] (S) SUMMARY: Israel sees Iran as the primary threat to its security and sees the enrichment cycle as the "point of no return" for Tehran's nuclear weapons program. The GOI believes that diplomatic pressure with teeth, such as sanctions, can affect Iranian behavior, and is lobbying the EU-3 a [...] |
2005-03-17 14:58:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PARM PREL MNUC KNNP EU IR IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1594 |
NSC CHIEF SAYS PASSING THE BUDGET IS GOI CHALLENGE [...] (C) Summary: Israeli NSC Director Giora Eiland told CODEL Corzine March 13 that passing the budget is the GOI's biggest disengagement-related hurdle and that all other issues are operational and will be resolved. The GOI's worst-case scenario is Palestinians attacking Israelis in Gaza while [...] |
2005-03-17 15:20:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG GZ IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ECONOMY AND FINANCE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV163 |
IDF CHIEF OF STAFF DISCUSSES PALESTINIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Chief of Staff LtG Moshe Ya'alon told CoDel Kyl January 7 that recent events have ushered in "an era of strategic opportunity" in the Middle East. He said that Israel is facilitating Palestinian elections and believes that Abu Mazen is strong enough to [...] |
2005-01-10 13:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV1634 |
IN SHINUI, DISSENSION PERCOLATES OVER BUDGET [...] (C) Divisions have widened within Shinui between those who advocate withholding party support for the 2005 budget and those who advocate supporting the budget to save the government and the disengagement plan. The pro-budget group has also split over how long party chief Tommy Lapid should s [...] |
2005-03-18 14:53:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV1679 |
TRAFFICKING NGOS WEIGH IN ON WHERE THE SYSTEM IS [...] (SBU) Summary: Representatives of Israeli NGOs against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) say that the GOI, while inflicting stricter sentencing of traffickers and implementing other improvements, still falls short in some areas in its efforts to combat TIP. NGO representatives charge that: -- [...] |
2005-03-21 07:33:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KWMN KCRM SMIG EG IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY |
| 05TELAVIV1682 |
IVANOV TELLS ISRAELIS THAT RUSSIAN FUEL DELIVERY [...] (C) According to Israeli officials, Russian National Security Adviser Igor Ivanov and MINATOM staff told the GOI on March 15 that Russian fuel could be delivered to Bushehr "as early as the end of 2005," although the Russians noted that a more likely date would be June 2006. Ariel "Eli" Levit [...] |
2005-03-21 11:39:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP PARM IR IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1684 |
EMBLEM: GOI OFFICIAL REPORTS IFRC READY TO [...] (C) MFA Deputy Director General for International Organizations Roni Ya'ar told poloff late March 18 that he had just learned during a visit to Geneva and Bern that IFRC will shortly announce its intention to convene an international conference, for late September or early October, to amend th [...] |
2005-03-21 12:16:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | IS PREF PREL ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV170 |
Fischer Accepts GOI Offer to Be Next Governor of [...] (U) On January 9, Prime Minister Sharon and Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu jointly nominated Professor Stanley Fischer as the next Governor of the Bank of Israel. Fischer accepted the nomination the same day, although it will require further administrative and political approvals, includ [...] |
2005-01-10 15:20:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1729 |
APPROVAL PROCESS FOR 3,650 UNITS IN MA'ALE ADUMIM [...] (U) Israeli press reported yesterday that the GOI has launched two plans, which together are termed either E1 or A1, to build 3,650 housing units between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem. These housing units would connect the settlement with the city, creating geographical continuity between the [...] |
2005-03-22 15:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1730 |
SHARON CAUTIONS CODEL REID ON PROVIDING DIRECT [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Sharon emphasized to Codel Reid March 21 that ensuring Israel's security against terrorism is his primary objective, although he is optimistic about the opportunities created by Arafat's death and the new Palestinian leadership. Codel Reid and Sharon discussed how [...] |
2005-03-22 16:12:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | OREP PGOV PTER KWBG MNUC IS IR SY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1731 |
SHIMON PERES TELLS CODEL REID TO LOOK AHEAD [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting on March 20, Codel Reid and Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres discussed the economic future of Israel and post-disengagement Gaza, the U.S. position on Syria and Iran, the impact of the separation barrier on the lives of Palestinians, the run-up to the budget vote in [...] |
2005-03-22 16:55:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | IR IS MNUC OREP PGOV PREF PTER SY GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 05TELAVIV1814 |
ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER CAUTIONS ARMS INDUSTRY ON [...] (S) Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron told the Ambassador on March 24 that Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had strongly cautioned representatives from Israeli defense firms about ties with China. According to Yaron, Mofaz said that senior MOD approval is required before Israel [...] |
2005-03-24 14:46:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL MCAP MASS CH IS MILITARY RELATIONS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1833 |
ISRAELI DEFMIN DISCUSSES PA SECURITY PERFORMANCE [...] (C) Summary: On March 23, 2005, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told NEA Assistant Secretary David Welch, Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams and the Ambassador that arms smuggling continues into both Gaza and the West Bank. Despite success by Palestinian Authority (PA) secur [...] |
2005-03-25 08:27:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER MARR KWBG KPAL EG SY IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1842 |
REFERENDUM BILL EXPECTED TO FAIL, BUT SHARON STILL [...] (C) The ongoing political machinations leading up to next week's Knesset votes on the 2005 budget and disengagement referendum legislation, do not change Embassy's expectations that Prime Minister Sharon will muster a Knesset majority for the 2005 budget and that a majority will defeat the re [...] |
2005-03-25 12:26:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG ECON IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV1853 |
SASSON: OUTPOST PICTURE "SO HORRIBLE, I DIDN'T [...] (C) Summary: Talia Sasson told emboffs that she encountered significant resistance to her information requests from government ministries when doing research for her report on unauthorized outposts. She explained on March 16 that the Settlements Division of the World Zionist Organization re [...] |
2005-03-25 15:35:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1854 |
PRIME MINISTER SHARON ON PRESIDENT ABBAS' EFFORTS, [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told CoDel Pelosi March 21 that disengagement is a "pre-roadmap" step, and that real progress will depend on the ability of President Abbas and the PA to dismantle terrorist infrastructure. In his view, this has not yet happened, although Abbas has d [...] |
2005-03-25 15:58:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG PTER IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1896 |
SHINUI DECISION VIRTUALLY ASSURES PASSAGE OF 2005 [...] (C) Summary. Prime Minister Sharon appears to have finally secured passage of the 2005 budget. On Saturday March 26, PM Sharon and Shinui Knesset members Yosef (Tommy) Lapid and Avraham Poraz reached agreement that Shinui would support the second and third readings of the 2005 budget in the [...] |
2005-03-28 15:37:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1899 |
VICE PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES CONSIDERS "THE [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting on March 23, Codel Pelosi and Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres discussed the political atmosphere surrounding Israel's disengagement from Gaza; the economic forecast for Gaza the "day after" disengagement; the steps that the international community can take to ensure [...] |
2005-03-29 05:17:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG OREP PGOV PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1918 |
CODEL PELOSI URGES FM SHALOM NOT TO ALLOW [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a March 21 meeting with Codel Pelosi, Foreign Minister Shalom spoke positively about the direction of Israeli relations with the PA and other Arab neighbors. While lauding some of President Abbas's steps, he said the PA had failed so far to resolve to dismantle terrorist infras [...] |
2005-03-29 12:05:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG OREP IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SETTLEMENTS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV1927 |
REFERENDUM BILL FAILS, BUT VOTE LEAVES LIKUD BADLY [...] (C) The landslide defeat of the disengagement referendum bill in a 72-39 Knesset vote March 28 was achieved mainly with the help of opposition parties, whose votes countered the 27 Likud MKs who broke with Prime Minister Sharon and supported the bill. The split in Likud poses no threat to Sh [...] |
2005-03-29 15:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV1928 |
ISRAELI MFA OFFICIALS WILL HOLD COUNTERTERRORISM [...] (C) Israeli MFA Director General Ron Prosor, Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs Jeremy Issacharoff, and Director for Arms Control Alon Bar will travel to China for meetings with Chinese officials on April 4-5. According to Bar, the purpose of the trip is to discuss counterterrorism [...] |
2005-03-29 16:19:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PARM CH IS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV198 |
DESPITE UNITY GOVERNMENT, SHARON STILL STRAINING [...] (C) A division among the 13 Likud disengagement foes in the Knesset may prompt several to give Prime Minister Sharon the eight or so votes he needs to ensure first-reading passage of the 2005 budget. The 13, known as "the rebels," have threatened to vote against the budget -- as they did aga [...] |
2005-01-11 11:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 05TELAVIV2030 |
CODEL DREIER'S MEETINGS WITH KNESSET MEMBERS [...] (C) Summary: In a March 28 meeting immediately following the Knesset vote against a referendum on disengagement, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, a disengagement opponent, told Codel Dreier and the Ambassador that a divided Likud is in a state of "crisis." He lamented that disengagement could [...] |
2005-04-01 14:23:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | OREP PGOV KWBG PREF PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2054 |
FM SHALOM TO CODEL DREIER ON THE PALESTINIANS, [...] (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told CODEL Dreier that the situation is better than 3-4 months ago because Mahmud Abbas is more moderate than Yasir Arafat. He also opined that "something is happening" in Egypt, Jordan, Libya, and Lebanon, and concluded that these countries want [...] |
2005-04-04 13:01:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | OREP PREL PGOV IS GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISRAEL RELATIONS |
| 05TELAVIV2098 |
"REALITY BITES" ABBAS, BRIG. GEN. KUPPERWASSER [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting on March 31, Brigadier General Yossi Kupperwasser described for CODEL Saxton the changing mission of Israeli intelligence-gathering and presented his analysis of the current developments in the Palestinian Authority. Kupperwasser also discussed the battle for hearts [...] |
2005-04-05 14:28:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG OREP PGOV IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2125 |
(S) DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER TO CODEL LEVIN: [...] (S) A senior defense intelligence (DMI) officer told Senator Levin March 31 that pre-OIF Israeli intelligence estimates of Iraqi WMD were nearly as wrong as those of the USG. GOI analysts, prior to the war, "knew" that Saddam's regime would never support al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organi [...] |
2005-04-06 13:31:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PINR PREL PTER OREP IS IZ GOI EXTERNAL MILITARY RELATIONS |
| 05TELAVIV2135 |
GWOT ASSESSMENT: FIGHTING TERROR AND BUILDING [...] (S) SUMMARY: Counterterrorism is central to Israel's national security priorities and is a key component of Embassy Tel Aviv's Mission Program Plan. It also plays a key role in the progress -- or lack thereof -- of the peace process. A main requirement for moving this agenda forward is fund [...] |
2005-04-06 15:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PTER PREL IS COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV2138 |
(C) EILAND OUTLINES STEPS TO PREVENT [...] (S) In a March 23 meeting with Deputy APNSA Abrams, A/S Welch, and the Ambassador, National Security Advisor Eiland sketched out "preliminary" GOI thinking about the future of Lebanon after a Syrian withdrawal. He described three scenarios for post-Syria Lebanon: democratic stability; a retur [...] |
2005-04-07 05:28:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER KWBG IS LE SY COUNTERTERRORISM GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2167 |
RAMON UNIT BORDER POLICE -- FIGHTING HUMAN [...] (C) Summary: The Ramon Unit of the Border Police has interdicted weapons, human beings and drugs being smuggled across the Egyptian-Israeli border since its establishment in March 2003. Its commander told Poloff that the unit has intercepted 36 women being trafficked into Israel in each of t [...] |
2005-04-08 06:02:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PHUM SMIG ELAB PTER KWMN EG IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2265 |
SUPREME COURT BROADENS ACCEPTABLE CONVERSIONS FOR [...] (C) Summary: The Supreme Court further chipped away at the Orthodox rabbinate's monopoly over conversions to Judaism in its March 31 ruling that the GOI must recognize the non-Orthodox conversions of 15 non-citizen legal residents of Israel that were begun in Israel but formalized abroad, and [...] |
2005-04-12 13:19:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM SOCI IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV227 |
(C) SHARON TO CODELS: KEY TO PROGRESS WITH [...] (C) Summary: In separate meetings with Senators Kyl, Martinez, Murkowski, Sununu, and Biden, and Congressman Adam Smith January 9 and with Senator Kerry January 10, Prime Minister Sharon emphasized that progress with Palestinians depends fundamentally on whether terrorism, violence and inci [...] |
2005-01-12 14:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL IS XF ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV230 |
2005 Budget Passes First Reading [...] (SBU) The Knesset approved on January 12 the first reading of the 2005 Budget and the 2005 Arrangements Bill by a vote of 64 in favor to 53 against. The vote included a number of surprises: Likud party rebels who are vehemently opposed to disengagement and threatened to deep six the budget vo [...] |
2005-01-12 15:06:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2329 |
ISRAEL-PRC STRATEGIC DIALOGUE FOCUSSES ON IRAN AND [...] (C) Summary: Israeli MFA Director General Ron Proser (D-equivalent) led a GOI team to China April 3-5 for a strategic dialogue on arms control and terrorism issues. MFA Arms Control Director Alon Bar briefed poloff on the talks after the team's return to Israel. Bar's assessment, which track [...] |
2005-04-14 10:45:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KNNP CH IS IR IN GOI EXTERNAL MILITARY RELATIONS COUNTERTERRORISM |
| 05TELAVIV2341 |
PEACE NOW DISCUSSES SUPPORT TO THE SETTLEMENTS, [...] (C) Summary: Yariv Oppenheimer, General Director of Peace Now, told Embassy econoffs that there are four possible ways for the GOI to fund settlements. These include support through the Defense Ministry for infrastructure, transferring funds to the local councils, funding specific projects, [...] |
2005-04-14 12:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SETTLEMENTS |
| 05TELAVIV2367 |
EGYPT/ISRAEL GAS DEAL TO BE SIGNED IN EARLY MAY [...] (C) Summary: Egypt and Israel appear to be coming closer to signing a gas deal that has been in the negotiations for years. The GOI says that the governments are ready to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by early May. In addition, the two companies involved, Israel Electric Corporat [...] |
2005-04-15 07:59:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG IS EG GOI EXTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE LABOR COMMERCE |
| 05TELAVIV2729 |
SHARANSKY'S RESIGNATION OVER DISENGAGEMENT LEAVES [...] (C) The long-expected May 2 resignation of Minister-without-Porfolio Natan Sharansky was an act of political symbolism by a disengagement opponent that comes too late to affect the course of disengagement. In announcing that he is resigning over his opposition to disengagement, Sharansky sai [...] |
2005-05-02 13:12:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KNAR IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV274 |
EILAND ASSESSES THE CHALLENGES FACING SHARON AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: National Security Advisor Giora Eiland highlighted the following points in a January 9 meeting with Codel Kerry: -- Israel faces three main challenges in implementing disengagement: a fragile domestic political situation, operational difficulties to evacuate thousands of settle [...] |
2005-01-14 13:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV2803 |
MFA NORTH AMERICA DIRECTOR DISCUSSES REGIONAL [...] (C) Summary: MFA Deputy Director General for North American Affairs Yoram Ben Zeev met with NEA DAS Liz Dibble to discuss the future of Hizballah following the partial withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon; the upcoming Quartet meeting in Moscow; GOI internal disengagement politics; and P [...] |
2005-05-05 08:39:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV285 |
NSC'S GABI BLUM ON WORLD BANK PROCESS, PERES, [...] (C) Summary: NSC strategic advisor Dr. Gabi Blum met with EconCouns January 13 to discuss movement on the World Bank process, Shimon Peres' projected role in disengagement planning, and potential GOI dialogue with the PA on settlement assets and other economic aspects of withdrawal. On the Wo [...] |
2005-01-14 16:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG ECON PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE |
| 05TELAVIV2855 |
MOSSAD DIRECTOR MEIR DAGAN TELLS CODEL LIEBERMAN [...] (C) Summary: In his meeting with CODEL Lieberman on May 2, Meir Dagan, Director of Mossad, laid out steps that he said the United States should take to block Iran's efforts at acquiring and producing nuclear weapons. Dagan also presented his assessments of Iran's support for Hizballah and Pal [...] |
2005-05-06 14:23:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | OREP PREL KWBG IS GOI EXTERNAL ISRAEL RELATIONS |
| 05TELAVIV290 |
FOREIGN MINISTER SHALOM EXPRESSES SKEPTICISM ABOUT [...] (C) Summary: In separate January 10 meetings with Codels Kerry and Kyl, both joined by the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Shalom articulated Israel's cautious readiness to work with Palestinian President-elect Abu Mazen. Shalom emphasized that Israel will measure Abu Mazen by his performance in [...] |
2005-01-18 08:13:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2925 |
CODEL FRIST'S MEETING WITH VICE PM SHIMON PERES [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 1, CODEL Frist met with Vice PM Shimon Peres where discussions surrounded the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, Jordan's economic growth and its contribution to the economy in the Palestinian territories, Iran's push to develop nuclear weapons and recent democratic election [...] |
2005-05-10 12:34:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON IS XF GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV2936 |
SENATOR LIEBERMAN'S MAY 2 MEETING WITH GENERAL [...] (C) Summary. Senator Lieberman and Ambassador Kurtzer met on May 2 with the Israeli Defense Forces' Chief of Military Intelligence Production Division, General Kupperwasser. The discussion focused on the Palestinian security situation, including the PA's dismantling of terror networks and p [...] |
2005-05-10 14:25:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS MILITARY RELATIONS |
| 05TELAVIV3151 |
GOI MOVES AHEAD ON STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEGEV [...] (C) SUMMARY: The GOI is moving ahead to prepare a comprehensive strategy to develop the Negev and Galilee regions, a plan which has as one of its objectives the reduction of public opposition to and concern over the disengagement. Two private consulting firms Daroma and Mckinsey have been con [...] |
2005-05-24 15:02:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL SENV IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV3223 |
ISRAEL POLICE TALK POLICY AND TACTICS TO COMBAT [...] (C) SUMMARY: An Israel National Police (INP) official outlined the GOI's fight against money-laundering and other offenses during the DEA Asset Forfeiture Seminar held May 15 to 19 in Tel Aviv. The official described methods used by criminals to transfer illicit profits, and how the GOI's p [...] |
2005-05-27 10:49:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER EFIN GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE COUNTERTERRORISM |
| 05TELAVIV3246 |
(S) CODEL KOLBE: SHARON DISSATISFIED WITH U.S. [...] (S) During a 75-minute meeting May 30 with Codel Kolbe, attended also by the Ambassador, Prime Minister Sharon described several reasons why he is not happy with current developments. In familiar terms, Sharon said that his and Israel's willingness to move forward in the peace process after [...] |
2005-05-31 09:37:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | IS KPAL OREP PREL XF GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISRAEL RELATIONS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV350 |
PERES ON INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS FOR PA [...] (C) Summary: Deputy PM Shimon Peres met with the Ambassador recently and discussed prospects for renewed peace process negotiations with the PA, as well as his new role in coordinating economic aspects of the disengagement plan and development of the Negev and Galilee. Peres was skeptical t [...] |
2005-01-20 11:31:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG ECON EFIN PREL IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV3749 |
SHARON WINS NO-CONFIDENCE MOTIONS WITH NO EFFORT; [...] (C) Heavy media coverage of the Knesset's three failed no-confidence motions June 14 -- and their incorrect depiction as "defeats" for Prime Minister Sharon -- reflect a slow news week, opportunistic efforts by disengagement opponents to sow doubts with misleading data, and a prime minister s [...] |
2005-06-15 12:52:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV379 |
FM DEFENDS BREAK WITH PA, DENOUNCES IRAN AND SYRIA [...] (C) Summary: At a political/diplomatic briefing for foreign ambassadors, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom defended Prime Minister Sharon's decision to suspend contacts with the Palestinian Authority until the PA takes action against terrorist infrastructure in the territories. Shalom said that [...] |
2005-01-21 14:53:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | IS KPAL PREL GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV389 |
2004-2005 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY [...] Israel is not a significant producer or trafficking point for drugs. The Israeli National Police (INP), however, reports that during the year 2004, the Israeli drug market continued to be characterized by high demand in nearly all sectors of society and a high availability of drugs including [...] |
2005-01-24 08:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KSEP IS ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV3891 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: RIBBONS SHOW ISRAELIS' TRUE [...] (SBU) In recent months, some Israeli motorists who oppose Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan have taken to tying orange ribbons on their vehicles to denote their opposition. Up until about a week ago, orange was the only color streaming from car -- and truck -- antennas, bumpers and [...] |
2005-06-21 13:55:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG SOCI IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV3894 |
LABOR PARTY PRIMARIES APPROACHING THE STARTING [...] (C) Summary: The Labor Party's 82-year old interim chairman, Vice Premier Shimon Peres, is currently favored to garner the highest -- but not an outright winning -- vote total among the five contenders in Labor's June 28 party-wide primaries, a so-far lackluster race that could nonetheless de [...] |
2005-06-21 16:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV3956 |
FM SHALOM'S BRIEFING TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS [...] Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom summoned Chiefs of Mission to Jerusalem June 22 to give an update on disengagement from Gaza and related issues. Clarifying PM Sharon's previous comments concerning disengagement under fire, he said that extremist attacks would halt disengagement only long enoug [...] |
2005-06-23 13:51:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV3971 |
NEW BOI GOVERNOR FISCHER OPTIMISTIC ON ISRAELI [...] (C) New BOI Governor Stanley Fischer expressed optimism about the Israeli economy in a courtesy call by the Ambassador. Referring to the first-quarter slowdown in GDP growth, Fischer said he had to be a bit circumspect in his views. He nonetheless felt the recent drop of unemployment to 9.1 [...] |
2005-06-24 11:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV3973 |
GOI VISION FOR GALILEE AND THE NEGEV, A TRIP BACK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As the GOI moves to develop its strategic policy plans for the Negev and the Galilee a closer look at the failures of the past efforts is instructive. The three plans - the National Outline Plan 31 (1990) which served to find ways to absorb immigration from Soviet Union and Et [...] |
2005-06-24 12:14:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PREL SENV IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY |
| 05TELAVIV3991 |
TAX PLAN APPROVED BY THE GOI [...] (C) Summary. The GOI approved a multi-year tax plan on June 5, prepared by the tax authority and the State Revenues Administration of the Ministry of Finance. The plan focuses on enabling Israel to become a more attractive and competitive location for investors while reducing income tax rat [...] |
2005-06-24 14:15:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4029 |
LABOR PARTY PRIMARIES POSTPONED, PERHAPS TO [...] (C) The Labor Party Central Committee's June 26 decision to postpone party chairmanship primaries -- originally scheduled for June 28 -- until after an open-ended investigation into party registration irregularities, could delay the primaries until after disengagement and possibly until Novem [...] |
2005-06-27 10:55:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4059 |
AMOS GILAD ON PA POLITICS, DISENGAGEMENT PLANNING [...] (C) Summary: Ministry of Defense Political-Military bureau head Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad told EconCouns that the high level of USG and international community actors involved in disengagement planning -- including Quartet Special Envoy (QSE) Wolfensohn, Security Coordinator Gen. Ward, and A/S We [...] |
2005-06-28 11:43:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG PTER EAID IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS |
| 05TELAVIV4063 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH JAPANESE MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) Japanese Special Envoy Tatsuo Arima and Japanese Ambassador to Israel Jun Yokota met with Ambassador Kurtzer on June 28 to share assessments of the current state of Palestian-Israeli issues. Arima said he had never seen Dov Weissglas, PM Sharon's Senior Advisor, so pessimistic, and that [...] |
2005-06-28 12:52:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL KWBG JA IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV4107 |
MOSSAD CHIEF ON WEAKNESS OF SYRIA, PREDICTS NO [...] (C) Summary: Mossad Chief Meir Dagan told NEA A/S David Welch, Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams, and the Ambassador June 17 that, despite the weakness of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, he is unlikely to be replaced any time soon. Syria,s neighbors prefer to keep Assad in pow [...] |
2005-06-29 13:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM PGOV PTER MNUC IR SY IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4112 |
MFA DEMANDS EGYPT DO MORE TO PREVENT SMUGGLING [...] (C) Summary: Israeli MFA Director General Ron Prosor stressed to visiting NEA A/S Welch, DNSA Elliott Abrams, and the Ambassador June 17 that Egypt is doing "less than the minimum necessary" to stop smuggling along the Egyptian-Gaza border. Prosor floated the idea of allowing the Badr Brigade [...] |
2005-06-29 13:36:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PREF PTER KWBG EG JO IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4118 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: KNESSET FOREIGN AFFAIRS [...] (C) Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is to decide in the coming weeks whether allowing the Egyptians to deploy 750 border police along the Gaza-Egyptian border as a security measure associated with implementing the disengagement plan is a material change to the 1973 Israeli-Egyptian Peace Trea [...] |
2005-06-30 10:45:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG EG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4149 |
ISRAELI LEFT-WING LEADERS UNCERTAIN OF WHAT WILL [...] (C) Summary and Comment: In a June 29 dinner hosted by the Ambassador, leaders of the Labor and Yahad-Meretz parties could not agree on what steps the GOI will -- or even should -- take following disengagement. The group had divergent views on whether and to what degree Prime Minister Sharon [...] |
2005-07-01 12:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG KPAL IS GOI INTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV4199 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: VOTE ON DOOMED DISENGAGEMENT [...] (C) Yisrael Maimon, Cabinet Secretary, told Poloff July 4 that the Likud rebels decided late afternoon July 4 to postpone for two weeks a preliminary vote on a bill that would delay implementation of the disengagement plan by one year. The bill's sponsor, right-wing National Religious Party [...] |
2005-07-06 08:44:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4207 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: ATTORNEY GENERAL MAZUZ [...] (C) Attorney General Menachem Mazuz told Ministry of Justice Liaison to the Knesset Paz Barnett July 5 to convey directly to Poloff who was waiting in the adjoining office that he is about to announce his decision that an agreement between Israel and Egypt allowing Egypt to place some 750 bor [...] |
2005-07-06 12:33:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG EG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4281 |
NGO'S HOPE GOI PLANS FOR NEGEV AND GALILEE WILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Israeli and Israeli-Arab NGO's have expressed growing concern about GOI plans for economic development in the Galilee and Negev. The Chairman of the Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP) stated that the core goal of the government's plan is to give land to the Jewish popul [...] |
2005-07-11 12:03:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL SENV PGOV PHUM EFIN IS ISRAELI SOCIETY ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4321 |
ISRAELI OFFICIALS TRAVEL TO CAIRO TO WORK ON [...] (C) Summary: During a July 10 trip to Cairo, two senior MFA officials were unable to reach agreement with the Egyptians on an MOU to establish a bilateral committee. The GOI is waiting for an Egyptian reply to an Israeli letter proposing biannual meetings of the foreign ministers and ad-hoc s [...] |
2005-07-13 07:10:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EG IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4335 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: SHARON INDICATES HE WILL SEEK [...] (C) Prime Minister Sharon indicated to the press July 12 that he will seek Knesset approval of an Israeli-Egyptian agreement -- that has not yet been finalized -- allowing some 750 Egyptian border guard soldiers to secure the Egyptian-Gaza border as part of implementing the disengagement plan [...] |
2005-07-13 13:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG EG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV45 |
(C) PM'S ADVISOR ON RENEWED REPARATIONS CLAIMS [...] (C) Summary: A GOI working group charged with developing a five-year plan on Holocaust-era reparations, pensions and restitution is considering a recommendation that the GOI ask Germany for about $500 million -- possibly in the form of new German-made submarines -- in compensation for what the GOI [...] |
2005-01-04 14:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL MASS PL IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4619 |
STAFFDEL TALWAR DISCUSSES DISENGAGEMENT AND [...] (C) Summary: Staffdel Talwar met with Histadrut labor federation leader and candidate for head of the Labor Party Amir Peretz on July 11 to discuss disengagement, the peace process and Israeli politics. Peretz expressed support for disengagement, but was suspicious that the GOI is intentional [...] |
2005-07-25 07:02:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ELAB ECON EAID KWBG KPAL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4655 |
MK OMRI SHARON NEARS POSSIBLE PLEA BARGAIN AS NEW [...] (C) SUMMARY. Prime Minister Sharon's son Omri, a Likud MK since 2003, is nearing a plea bargain with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz over charges related to his role in the alleged illegal financing of Prime Minister Sharon's 1999 leadership campaign for the Likud Party. A political and lega [...] |
2005-07-26 15:20:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM IS GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV466 |
Privatization Update: GOI Sells Israel Discount [...] (U) The Israeli government's privatization program is moving forward. On January 22, GOI Accountant General Yaron Zelka concluded an agreement with prominent businessman and Seagram heir Matthew Bronfman for the transfer of 26% of Discount Bank to the Matthew Bronfman group for a price of NIS [...] |
2005-01-26 14:42:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL LABOR COMMERCE |
| 05TELAVIV4694 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: FINAL VOTES STILL TO COME ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Sharon still faces two GOI votes related to his disengagement plan. The first, a Cabinet vote authorizing the evacuation of settlers, must take place before disengagement implementation begins on August 17. Still to be determined is whether the Cabinet will stick [...] |
2005-07-27 15:29:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KWBG EG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4729 |
KNESSET ADOPTS BACHAR CAPITAL MARKET REFORMS [...] (SBU) Summary. The Bachar capital market reforms won Knesset approval on Monday, July 25 by of vote of 62-1-1 (in favor, opposed, abstention). The Bachar reforms force banks to sell off their Kupot Gemel (provident funds) and mutual funds. However, lobbying by the banking industry succeeded [...] |
2005-07-29 14:17:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4799 |
SHARON AND CHIRAC'S PARIS HONEYMOON: DOWNPLAYING [...] (C) SUMMARY. In an August 2 meeting, French Charge d'Affaires Christophe Bigot told the DCM that Prime Minister Sharon and French President Jacques Chirac agreed in advance to downplay their differences on peace-process issues and instead focus on enhancing bilateral relations during Sharon' [...] |
2005-08-03 11:38:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MNUC FR IR IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4800 |
REVISED ISRAELI TEXT OF UNGA HOLOCAUST RESOLUTION [...] (C) MFA Director for UN Political Affairs Rony Adam discussed the GOI's draft resolution on Holocaust remembrance with poloff on August 2. Adam provided a copy of the revised text (attached), which has minor changes to preliminary paragraphs four (removing the word "unique" to describe World [...] |
2005-08-03 11:54:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM IS GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4829 |
GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: ISRAELI CABINET SET TO VOTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Cabinet is scheduled to vote August 7 on the evacuation of at least one of the four groups of settlements slated to be evacuated beginning August 17 pursuant to Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan. The vote will take place at the end of a week during which tens of tho [...] |
2005-08-04 14:14:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4879 |
NETANYAHU BECOMES SPOILER WITHOUT SPOILS AS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's dramatic August 7 resignation from government will not affect implementation of the disengagement plan starting August 17. It will also not bring down Prime Minister Sharon's government since the opposition is not sufficiently united to must [...] |
2005-08-08 12:37:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV4880 |
FINANCE MINISTER NETANYAHU RESIGNS: ECONOMIC [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Finance Benyamin Netanyahu resigned on Sunday, August 7th during the Cabinet session in which the implementation of the first stage of disengagement was approved. Within hours of Netanyahu's resignation the stock market in Israel lost 5.3% of its value. Late Sunday n [...] |
2005-08-08 12:52:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL ELAB EAIR IS GOI INTERNAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE GAZA DISENGAGEMENT |
| 05TELAVIV4883 |
CODEL KING'S MEETING WITH GOI SECURITY MINISTER [...] (C) Summary: Codel King met with Minister of Public Security Gideon Ezra where discussions focused on disengagement, anti-disengagement protests, and related security concerns. Ezra stressed the importance of intelligence gathering and sharing as a necessary tool in combating terrorism, both [...] |
2005-08-08 14:34:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV ECON IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL |
| 05TELAVIV4894 |
IDF CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS DISENGAGEMENT HAS NOT [...] (S) SUMMARY. In an August 3 meeting with Deputy National Security Adviser Abrams, the Ambassador and Gen. Ward, the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, said that disengagement has not harmed the IDF as an institution. It has, however, created problems, particularly in the area [...] |
2005-08-09 08:23:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | MOPS PGOV PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY |
| 05TELAVIV4946 |
NETANYAHU SUPPORTERS SEEK EARLY LIKUD PRIMARIES TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Supporters of Likud MK and party leadership contender Binyamin Netanyahu who are moving to compel early party primaries received a morale boost with the publication this week of poll results showing Netanyahu with a first-time-ever lead over Prime Minister Sharon in support from [...] |
2005-08-10 14:16:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KWBG IS GOI INTERNAL |
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BUDGET BATTLE BEGINS [...] (C) Summary: At approximately 0100 on August 10, the Israeli Cabinet approved the draft 2006 Budget by a vote of 12-8. Negotiations over budget cuts in the wake of former Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's August 7 resignation took longer than expected. The two main changes to expenditure [...] |
2005-08-11 14:55:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV EAIR IS ECONOMY AND FINANCE GOI INTERNAL |