US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6383

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006383 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: FM SHALOM QUESTIONS ABU MAZEN'S DETERMINATION IN 
MEETING WITH CODEL HAGEL/BIDEN 
 
Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (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.  In response to comments by Senators Biden and 
Feinstein about limitations on Abu Mazen's capabilities to 
exercise security control, Shalom insisted that having the PA 
security forces on the PA payroll gives Abu Mazen the levers 
he needs to deliver on security.  He expressed concern that a 
terrorist attack could destroy the opportunities of the 
moment if Abu Mazen is not seen at the time to be making 
maximum efforts to combat terror.  He urged the Codel to help 
convince moderate Arab states to reopen embassies in Israel 
and/or to return their ambassadors.  On other regional 
issues, Shalom said Israel does not oppose diplomatic efforts 
to block Iran's nuclear aspirations, but that other tools 
exist.  He called Assad's peace overtures encouraging but 
meaningless as long as Assad continues to allow terror groups 
to operate against Israel from Syria.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Dealing with the New PA Leadership 
---------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) In a December 1 meeting with Senators Chuck Hagel, 
Joseph Biden, Dianne Feinstein, and Lincoln Chafee (Codel 
Hagel/Biden), Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said the GOI 
wants to seize the opportunities of the post-Arafat 
transition.  The GOI, he said, will do all it can to 
facilitate the PA elections, but will defer other 
coordination until after the elections.  Charge, Senate staff 
and military escorts from the Codel, and poloff also attended. 
 
3. (C) In other comments about dealing with the new PA 
leadership, Shalom said that: 
 
-- Incitement remains a problem.  The head of the Palestinian 
broadcasting authority had just stated publicly that he had 
no instructions to change the content of broadcasts.  Abu 
Mazen could "easily" deal with incitement "in one day" by 
issuing orders against incitement in broadcasting and 
textbooks.  Shalom said he was optimistic, however, that the 
Israeli-Palestinian committee on incitement created when Abu 
Mazen was prime minister would soon resume its work. 
 
-- The GOI wants to coordinate with the PA on security 
issues.  Neither side wants Palestinian extremists to take 
over. 
 
-- Disengagement must not be seen as a shortcut to final 
status talks.  Fulfilling each stage of the roadmap is 
essential to building confidence. 
 
-- The GOI will coordinate with Egypt on stopping smuggling 
into Gaza, and favors the expansion of QIZs in Egypt. 
 
-- Once the GOI and PA resume negotiations, Arab countries 
that reduced the level of their diplomatic contacts with 
Israel should reopen their embassies and/or return their 
ambassadors.  He urged the Codel to use its stop in Jordan to 
ask King Abdallah to return Jordan's ambassador to Israel. 
 
-- The first Palestinian terrorist attack against an Israeli 
target could be a "catastrophe" for the peace process if the 
PA has not already begun doing all it can to dismantle 
terrorist infrastructure.  Israel "would have to react" and 
the situation would regress to what it was before Arafat's 
death. 
 
4. (C) Sen. Biden told Shalom that members of the Codel, in 
their meeting with Abu Mazen the previous day, had emphasized 
the overarching need for Abu Mazen to deal with security 
issues.  In response, Abu Mazen, according to Biden, said he 
would take clear steps on security after the PA elections, 
but stressed that he needs help because he does not control 
all of the PA security organizations.  Biden asked whether 
the GOI and PA were trying to  reach common assessments of 
Abu Mazen's security capabilities. 
 
5. (C) Shalom insisted in his reply that Abu Mazen has the 
capabilities required to deal effectively with the terrorist 
groups.  He questioned, however, whether Abu Mazen has the 
will.  Shalom asserted that Abu Mazen controls a security 
force of 62,000 men, all of whom are on the PA payroll.  He 
insisted that paying all the security force salaries gives 
Abu Mazen all necessary control. 
 
6. (C) Sen. Feinstein told Shalom that Abu Mazen had 
impressed her.  She said she found him committed to reform, 
aware of the need to stop incitement, and a leader with 
vision.  She asked what the U.S. could do to help Abu Mazen 
succeed.  Shalom replied that Abu Mazen has the tools he 
needs to deliver results.  He expressed concern that Abu 
Mazen's "first statements" as Arafat's successor spoke about 
preserving Arafat's legacy and the Palestinian claim to a 
right of return to Israel.  Feinstein said that Abu Mazen had 
asked for help in unifying the PA security forces.  She asked 
what could be done to bolster Abu Mazen's position.  Shalom 
replied that Israel is in favor of support for Abu Mazen, and 
that Palestinians need better infrastructure and government 
services.  Abu Mazen, he said, should do his part by 
resettling Palestinians out of refugee camps. 
 
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Regional Issues 
--------------- 
 
7. (C) Shalom commented that elections in Iraq could have a 
dramatic impact on the region by isolating extremist regimes, 
such as in Iran.  He complained that "the Europeans" did not 
take the Iranian threat seriously until Iran developed 
missiles capable of reaching Europe.   While the GOI does not 
oppose diplomatic efforts to block Iran's development of 
nuclear weapons, he said that other means exist.  He 
underlined the need to refer consideration of Iran's nuclear 
program to the UN Security Council. 
 
8. (C) Shalom decried Iran's support for terrorism against 
Israel, asserting that Iran now sends money to the families 
of Palestinian suicide terrorists.  Syria, he said, helps 
provide Iranian missiles to Hizballah, some 13,000 of which 
are now arrayed against Israel.  President Assad's peace 
overtures to Israel are encouraging, but meaningless, in 
Shalom's estimation, if Assad takes no action against 
terrorist groups operating from Syria.  Asked about the 
certainty of GOI assessments about Hizballah's missile 
strength, Shalom said that Israel can "see" the missiles, and 
that Syria and Hizballah do not deny their existence. 
 
9. (U) Codel staff cleared this message. 
 
 
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