US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1211

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/IPA LOGERFO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2015 
TAGS: PTER, GOI EXTERNAL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY U/S LEVEY'S MEETING WITH 
MFA OFFICIALS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (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 
support from key EU capitals for the designation  End Summary. 
 
-------------------- 
Designate or Delay ? 
-------------------- 
 
2. (C)  MFA Deputy Director General of Strategic Affairs, 
Jeremy Issacharoff initiated discussions with a chronology of 
attacks by Hizbollah during the last year.  Issacharoff 
stated that in the last year there have been 68 attacks in 
the territories that were supported by Hizbollah, and at 
least 24 Israeli citizens were killed in these attacks.  In 
his estimation, no less than 64 Hizbollah-supported attacks 
had been disrupted by security forces during the same time 
period.  The culmination of these activities in Issacharoff's 
mind was the bombing on the Lebanese border on January 30 
(during Palestinian presidential elections).  Regarding the 
January 13 bombing that closed the Karni crossing Issacharoff 
claimed, "there is reliable evidence that Hizbollah was 
financing (the perpetrators)." 
 
3. (C)  In light of the above information the MFA is making a 
concerted effort to have the EU Clearinghouse designate 
Hizbollah as a terrorist organization.  Issacharoff stressed 
that it was critical that this action be taken, because 
elements of Hizbollah are "trying to insert themselves into 
the Palestinian Authority."  To increase their chances of 
success in getting Hizbollah declared a terrorist group, the 
MFA prioritized EU countries whose support will be essential 
for the plan to succeed.  Issacharoff identified France as, 
"the toughest nut to crack."  Foreign Minister Shalom was 
traveling to France at the time of the meeting to discuss the 
matter with President Chirac.  Besides the USG, the MFA 
assessed that the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and 
Germany were most likely to support the GOI request for 
designation. 
 
----------------------- 
Problematic Paperwork ? 
----------------------- 
 
4. (C)  The MFA legal advisor, Danny Taub commented that the 
Israeli request for designation of Hizbollah as a terrorist 
group was filed within days of the required time for 
consideration (implying that it was filed too late to be 
considered for the Feb. 16 meeting).  The GOI was informed 
that consideration of their request would therefore be based 
on a request from the USG filed in 2002.  (Note: The USG 
request was not acted upon because the committee claimed it 
did not contain evidence that the USG was taking legal action 
against Hizbollah.  Participants at the meeting agreed that 
this may have been a political tactic on the part of some 
members of the Clearinghouse.  Nonetheless, the GOI included 
evidence of legal actions taken in their submission, and the 
combination of the USG and GOI requests should hopefully 
satisfy all of the technical requirements necessary for the 
clearing house to consider the case against Hizbollah.  End 
note.)  The GOI participants also indicated that their 
government's submission focused on the activities of 
Hizbollah in the Palestinian territories after the death of 
Yasser Arafat. 
 
--------------------------- 
Terrorists or Politicians ? 
--------------------------- 
 
5. (C)  MFA Deputy Director General of North American Affairs 
Yoram Ben Ze'ev raised the possibility that the Clearinghouse 
would offer to designate only the "military arm" of Hizbollah 
as a terrorist organization.  Treasury DAS Daniel Glaser 
commented that this approach, "leaves the decisions up to 
individual members to determine what organizations are 
terrorist financiers."  In addition this approach, while 
having political implications, will not likely result in the 
freezing of terrorist financing or assets.  Ben Ze'ev noted 
that there was internal debate within the GOI whether or not 
it should accept the designation of only the military wing of 
Hizbollah as a terrorist organization.  He noted that even if 
the Clearinghouse makes such as decision, "it will not be the 
end of the game, as this issue will stay with us through 
disengagement." 
 
--------------------- 
Target or Terrified ? 
--------------------- 
6. (C)  The MFA indicated that, based on contact with 
Palestinian officials, they believe that the PA is concerned 
about the niche that Hizbollah is carving for itself in the 
territories, but is not in a position to formally support the 
designation of Hizbollah as a terrorist organization.  In 
part, Abbas' ability to support the designation will depend 
on the continued cooperation from Hamas elements in the West 
Bank and Gaza.  U/S Levey and the US delegation explained 
that, building on the positive working relationship that has 
been established with Finance Minister Fayyad the USG hopes 
to establish mechanisms for getting assistance to 
Palestinians in need, but also to shut down the means of 
terrorist finance in the territories. 
 
------------------------- 
Money Men or Maybe More ? 
------------------------- 
 
7. (C)  Commenting on read-outs of recent conversations with 
European colleagues, Issacharoff commented that he believes 
that the EU has broached the subject of financing terrorism 
with Tehran during recent meetings about the Iranian nuclear 
program.  Issacharoff commented that "the EU has done this on 
their own."  The MFA estimates that $100 million dollars per 
year is supplied by Iran for Hizbollah. 
 
8. (C)  Ben Ze'ev inquired if the designation of Hizbollah 
would have consequences for states that harbor Hizbollah 
elements.  While not specifically mentioning Iran, he mused 
about possible implications for Lebanon and Syria (which in 
Ben Ze'ev's estimation is open to influence because of the 
outside pressure from UNSC 1559).  U/S Levey indicated that 
decisions to take action against states that harbor 
terrorists involve interagency deliberations in Washington. 
 
 
------------------------------ 
The End or Just the Beginning? 
------------------------------ 
 
9. (C)  The GOI believes that no matter what decision is made 
by the Clearinghouse on February 16, its campaign will have 
been successful in moving the issue of financing and support 
for Hizbollah to "a whole new level."  However, the GOI team 
will have to meet and reassess additional tactics that could 
be used to counter Hizbollah attempts to derail disengagement. 
 
------------ 
Participants 
------------ 
 
10. (U) 
 
USG: 
U/S Levey 
Senior Advisor to the U/S Adam Szubin 
DAS Daniel Glaser 
Senior Advisor Anne Wallwork 
Public Affairs Specialist for Enforcement Molly Millerwise 
Senior Analyst, IRS Mark Weber 
U.S. Secret Service Jacqueline Marengo 
U.S. Secret Service Scott Salo 
Economic Officer Barbara Masilko (notetaker) 
 
GOI: 
DDG Strategic Affairs: Jeremy Issacharoff 
DDG North American Affairs: Yoram Ben Ze'ev 
MFA Legal Advisor: Danny Taub 
Embassy of Israel (Washington, DC) ME Attache: Eynat Shlien 
 
11.  U/S Levey cleared this cable. 
 
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KURTZER