US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV227

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000227 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2010 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, IS, XF, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: (C)  SHARON TO CODELS: KEY TO PROGRESS WITH 
PALESTINIANS IS SECURITY 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for Reasons 1/4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (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 
incitement stop and whether Palestinians start making a one 
hundred percent effort to uproot terrorist organizations and 
infrastructure.  Sharon made clear he intends to proceed with 
disengagement from Gaza and four settlements in the northern 
West Bank, and said he would coordinate disengagement to the 
extent the Palestinians exercise security responsibility.  On 
Iran, Sharon argued for tougher diplomacy, including 
reference to the UN Security Council and the imposition of 
sanctions so as to pressure Iran to stop its nuclear weapons 
program.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C)  Sharon opened both meetings by thanking the 
Congressional delegations for the strong support the United 
States has provided to Israel and our bilateral strategic 
cooperation.  He said Israel had committed itself to 
facilitating Palestinian elections and had, in fact, taken 
the necessary steps to enhance freedom of movement and 
mobility.  In the January 9 meeting, Sharon noted the 
positive role played by former President Carter in resolving 
some issues related to Palestinian voting in Jerusalem. 
 
3.  (C)  Sharon said that, once Abu Mazen has taken office, 
Israel expects concrete steps on security, without which 
nothing would advance.  Sharon's requirements included: 
 
-- A complete cessation of terrorism and violence. 
 
-- One hundred percent effort to prevent terrorism, including 
acting upon intelligence, arresting perpetrators, and 
punishing convicted terrorists. 
 
-- Thorough reform of the Palestinian security services, 
especially the consolidation of the more than a dozen such 
organs into three bodies, as called for in the Tenet and 
Zinni work plans. 
 
-- The collection of illegal weapons and their transfer to a 
third party for removal from the area. 
 
-- The dismantlement of terrorist organizations. 
 
-- The complete cessation of incitement and beginning 
"education for peace." 
 
4.  (C)  Sharon said that these steps by Palestinians will 
open the door to renewed security and intelligence 
cooperation with Israel.  Also, in emphasizing his 
determination to proceed with the disengagement plan, Sharon 
said that Palestinian security actions would pave the way for 
cooperation and coordination on disengagement.  On the other 
hand, Sharon made clear that, without these steps by 
Palestinians, "nothing will happen here." 
 
5.  (C)  Sharon repeated his willingness for "painful 
compromises" but said that he will not compromise on the 
issue of Israeli security or the security of Israeli 
citizens.  "There will be no compromises now or in the future 
on these issues."  Sharon also warned against any attempts to 
apply pressure on Israel to compromise on what Israel 
determines to be its security requirements.  He said it is 
his historic responsibility to provide security to Israelis 
and he will not be pushed into compromises on this. 
 
6.  (C)  Sharon said he is ready to meet with Abu Mazen and 
that security will be at the top of the Israeli agenda. 
Sharon plans to tell Abu Mazen that it is absolutely critical 
that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza not take place under fire. 
 Sharon promised a "very hard reaction" if Palestinian groups 
attack or fire on the Israeli convoys evacuating settlers 
from Gaza. 
 
7.  (C)  Sharon said that the Israelis and Palestinians are 
not currently working on the roadmap but that disengagement 
could pave the way to return to the roadmap.  In this regard, 
as Israel disengages, Palestinians must take steps that 
create the opportunity to return to the roadmap following 
disengagement. 
 
8.  (C)  Asked about Israel's relations with Jordan and 
Egypt, Sharon said Israel enjoys "close strategic relations" 
with Jordan, but a "cool peace" with Egypt.  In both cases, 
relations between governments have not been matched by 
relations between peoples.  Unions and popular organizations 
in both countries continue to boycott Israel.  Sharon said he 
does not foresee real peace with the Arab world until the 
Arabs "recognize the birthright of the Jewish people to an 
independent Jewish state in the cradle of Jewish 
civilization."  He said that he maintains contact with 
President Mubarak and King Abdullah and noted that relations 
with Egypt have been improving in the past few months, noting 
in particular the importance of Egypt's having released Azzam 
Azzam. 
 
9.  (C)  Asked about Palestinian economic prospects, Sharon 
said it is important that there be investment in the 
Palestinian economy in order to produce jobs.  He warned, 
however, against providing money directly to the Palestinian 
Authority until the donors are sure that the money would not 
be channeled into uses other than those specified.  Sharon 
said that Palestinians need several mega-projects which 
should absorb much of the aid of the donors such as power 
stations, water desalination, infrastructure, a seaport and 
an airport.  Sharon also called for donor support for the 
construction of housing for refugees currently in camps in 
the West Bank and Gaza. 
 
10.  (C)  Sharon said that he recognizes Palestinians are 
likely to try to arrange a ceasefire, but he stressed that 
Israel will not be a party to any ceasefire.  Rather, Israel 
will respond to quiet with quiet.  Until now, Sharon said, 
Palestinians have not taken any measures against terrorism, 
despite the fact that 30,000 Palestinian security personnel 
in Gaza have been untouched by the Intifada.  Sharon assessed 
that Palestinians are capable of taking steps, such as 
preventing Qassam rocket attacks, but they need to deploy and 
take action.  Sharon advised the Congressional 
representatives not to be misled by the apparent reduction in 
Palestinian terrorism.  He said there are constant attempts 
by Palestinians to conduct terrorism, but increasing Israeli 
capabilities have had more success in stopping the terrorism 
before it can succeed. 
 
11.  (C)  Sharon lamented what he termed 120 years of lost 
opportunities by Palestinians to end the conflict with 
Israel.  He said the dispute between Israelis and 
Palestinians did not start with Israel's occupation of the 
West Bank and Gaza.  Palestinians now have another chance to 
make peace.  By the end of 2005, there will be no Israeli 
"villages or towns" (i.e. settlements) in Gaza, and four 
settlements will also be removed from the West  Bank.  If 
Palestinians do their part on security, Israel and the 
Palestinians can return to the roadmap.  A final settlement 
might take a few years, but it can be achieved.  Sharon said 
it was "not clever" to fix a timetable for such progress, 
since many timetables were announced previously to no avail. 
Asked whether he had a broader vision of peace, Sharon said 
that the vision of peace is the same as stated by President 
Bush and incorporated in the roadmap.  If the Palestinians do 
the necessary steps, they can achieve a provisional state, 
and then negotiations could begin on final status. 
 
12.  (C)  Asked about settlements, Sharon's aide, Dov 
Weissglas, said that the issue of settlements is not being 
dealt with now, and will await final status negotiations.  He 
continued that no land is being taken by Israel for new 
settlements, and that construction is only taking place 
within the lines of built-up areas inside the settlements. 
Weissglas said "one hundred" outposts had already been 
removed and that action would soon be taken on the remainder. 
 Sharon commented that building continues within some 
settlements because "they have many children."  He said 
Israel will continue to build within the settlements until 
the final status negotiations.  Sharon noted that the removal 
of outposts, which he promised to President Bush, would 
continue but that it was very hard to accomplish. 
 
13.  (C)  Asked whether Israel would seek U.S. assistance for 
Gaza disengagement, Weissglas said there have been "initial 
contacts" with the Administration but no sums have been 
discussed.  Sharon noted that President Bush had committed to 
help support the Palestinians and Israel.  He summoned the 
Director General of the Prime Ministry, Ilan Cohen, who said 
that the cost to Israel for security issues related to 
disengagement is estimated to be NIS 2-2.5 billion 
(approximately 450-550 million dollars).  The cost to Israel 
for civilian issues of disengagement, such as settler 
compensation and relocation, is estimated to be NIS 3 billion 
(approximately 670 million dollars). 
 
14.  (C)  On Iran, Sharon said that he intends to warn Abu 
Mazen that the greatest danger to Palestinians comes from 
Iran, Syria and Hizbollah, not Israel.  Hizbollah, with 
Iranian support, has been active in Gaza smuggling. 
Hizbollah has also made inroads in directing and financing 
terrorism in the West Bank.  The other danger from Iran is 
its intention to build a nuclear weapons program, coupled 
with missiles that can reach Israel, Europe and Russia.  The 
Iranians have stated publicly their intention to destroy the 
State of Israel and yet no one reacts to those statements. 
Sharon said he wants diplomacy to succeed, but said that the 
Iranian issue must be referred to the United Nations Security 
Council and that sanctions must be imposed, such as a ban on 
Iranian flights, an embargo of Iranian oil, and the like. 
Sharon said he fears that the Europeans, even those countries 
that are leading the negotiations with Iran, have more or 
less accepted that Iran will become a member of the "nuclear 
club."  He said Europe appears "tired" and does not show any 
real determination to act.  Sharon was asked whether their 
was a military option against Iran if diplomacy did not work. 
 Sharon responded that Israel's 1981 attack on Iraq had 
postponed Iraq's nuclear capability for many years.  He said 
Israel knows where the Iranian program is being worked but 
repeated that nothing should be done until the Iranians had 
reached "the point of no return." 
 
15.  (C)  Sharon told the visiting delegations that Syria 
remains a "center of terror."  Terrorists headquarters are 
located in Damascus, there are training bases, orders to 
commit acts of terrorism emanate from Syria, and weapons are 
smuggled from Syria to terrorists.  Sharon said that Syria 
has allowed Iranian revolutionary guards into Lebanon, does 
not allow the Lebanese Army to deploy to the border, and has 
now become a training and logistics center for terrorists 
operating in Iraq.  Sharon claimed that Syrian statements of 
readiness to negotiate with Israel are designed to reduce 
pressure on Syria to change its policies in these other 
areas.  While he is ready to negotiate with every Arab 
country, Sharon said he has not seen the slightest sign from 
Syria of their intention to negotiate seriously, and thus 
does not see why Israel should help Syria escape U.S. and 
international pressure. 
 
16. (U)  The CoDels did not clear this message. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website. 
********************************************* ******************** 
KURTZER