US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV2206

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002206 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KWBG, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, GOI INTERNAL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: OMRI SHARON SEES HARD WORK AHEAD ON DISENGAGEMENT 
REFERENDUM; DISMISSES GREEK ISLAND SCANDAL 
 
REF: TEL AVIV 2199 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Richard LeBaron for reason 1.4 (b) and 
 (d). 
 
1.  (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 
worries that those opposed to the plan will be more motivated 
to vote than the plan's supporters.  When asked about 
specific tactics to motivate supporters to vote, Sharon could 
only stress that it would take hard work, including getting 
out and talking to Likud members.  He also noted that Defense 
Minister Shaul Mofaz would be leading the campaign to instill 
confidence among Likud voters that the disengagement plan 
would not compromise Israel's security (reftel).  While he 
would not speculate whether the plan would receive a majority 
of Likud support, Omri Sharon seemed confident that with 
enough hard work at convincing the rank-and-file to vote for 
the plan, the pro-disengagement campaign would be successful. 
 Sharon did not hide his high hopes for what assurances 
President Bush would provide his father later that day.  He 
asserted that Likud members' support for disengagement would 
hinge in part on the support the PM's plan would receive from 
President Bush.  Sharon predicted that if the plan receives a 
majority in the referendum, most Likud ministers will decide 
to support it. 
 
2.  (C) Omri Sharon belittled the significance of the 
so-called "Greek Island Affair," stressing that "there is 
absolutely nothing to it," and dismissed any prospect that AG 
Menachem Mazuz would recommend PM Sharon be indicted on 
related bribery charges. 
 
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LeBaron