US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1534

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001534 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CODEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015 
TAGS: KWBG, OREP, PGOV, PREL, IS, GOI INTERNAL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT 
SUBJECT: PERES MEETS TELLS CODEL CORZINE "WE ARE STILL 
WALKING ON THIN ICE" 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (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 
scheduled for July.  Peres also praised the efforts of Abu 
Mazen, but cautioned that the situation is still fragile.  He 
advocated Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners.  Peres 
also applauded the U.S. decision to go to war with Iraq.  End 
summary. 
 
2. (U) Senator Jon Corzine and the Ambassador met with Deputy 
Premier Shimon Peres on March 13.  Mada Liebman and Evan 
Gottesman of the Senator's staff, and staff aide (notetaker) 
attended the meeting. 
 
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Israeli-Palestinian Relations 
----------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Peres pointed to many recent positive developments in 
Israeli-Palestinian relations, but commented that "we are all 
still walking on thin ice."  Peres said that Abu Mazen has 
shown strength and courage.  "I think he has not made a 
single mistake.  However, the merits of leadership are not 
enough."  At this point "we have a too-weak political system 
meeting a momentous event.  We will see...." 
 
4. (C) In response to Senator Corzine's question about the 
release of Palestinian prisoners, Peres defended the 
Palestinian posture, saying, "For them it is very important, 
and I say rightly so.  Palestinians say, 'We send them in to 
fight.  The ones we sent in are in prison, and we who sent 
them are negotiating freedom.'"  Peres added, however, in 
response to Senator Corzine's question, that he would not 
release Marwan Barghouti because "right now it is too fresh, 
and he has not expressed regret." 
 
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Three Crucial Events 
-------------------- 
 
5. (C)  Peres pointed to three crucial events in the next 
several months: the passage of the budget, the July 
Palestinian Legislative Council elections, and the evacuation 
from Gaza.  Noting that the Knesset must pass the 2005 state 
budget by the end of March to prevent the Sharon government 
from falling, Peres stressed that the Labor party will vote 
for the budget because it is united in its view that 
disengagement is the most important GOI priority.  Peres said 
Labor is willing to "sacrifice all" to ensure that 
disengagement goes forward: "It is almost a crime to let the 
most important issue go by the side."  Regarding the voting 
of other MKs, however, Peres observed that "the mathematics 
are not very encouraging, but we may make it." 
 
6. (C)  Peres underlined the danger of a strong Hamas showing 
in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in July, 
"not because they throw bombs, but because they build 
charities."  To counteract the appeal of Hamas, he said, the 
PA needs help immediately "to do something for their 
(Palestinians') stomachs."  Peres assessed the Palestinian 
people to be hopeful, but skeptical, about peace.  He 
stressed the need to provide economic assistance directly to 
Palestinian families, and expressed satisfaction at returning 
from Madrid with pledges of $120 million. 
 
 
7. (C) In addition to the budget, Palestinian elections and 
disengagement, the Ambassador pointed to a fourth event, 
occurring June 28, that is of significance: the internal 
Labor party elections.  Senator Corzine asked about the 
future of the Labor Party, and Peres responded that one of 
the great mistakes of Labor is that it made the party around 
the leader, and not around the cause.  He said its future 
will depend on whether new leaders emerge to mold the party 
around great causes. 
 
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Events That Changed the Middle East 
----------------------------------- 
 
8. (C) Peres pointed to three recent events that changed the 
Middle East:  President Bush's decision to go to war with 
Iraq, the passing of Arafat, and the change within Sharon's 
Likud party to agree to a Palestinian state and to settlement 
removals.  In response to Senator Corzine's question about 
why he attributed so much importance to Iraq, Peres responded 
that Saddam Hussein would have eventually developed WMD. 
"Occasionally what you prevent is as important as what you 
achieve."  Peres saw other successes resulting from the Iraq 
war as well: "When you face force, you cannot respond just 
with declarations.  Syria would not listen to Bush as 
seriously if he had not attacked Iraq.  I'm not a Republican, 
but I have always thought that Bush was right." 
 
9. (C)   In response to Sen. Corzine's question about the 
importance of Darfur, Peres replied that the world faces two 
major challenges today: Africa as a continent, and the Muslim 
religion.  "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all 
terrorists are Muslims."  Peres expressed hope about the 
future, however, saying "We will win the war on terror, but 
it will be costly." 
 
10. (U) Senator Corzine did not clear this message. 
 
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