US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1854

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001854 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2005 
TAGS: PREL, KWBG, PTER, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SHARON ON PRESIDENT ABBAS' EFFORTS, 
DISENGAGEMENT, REGIONAL POLITICS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told CoDel 
Pelosi March 21 that disengagement is a "pre-roadmap" step, 
and that real progress will depend on the ability of 
President Abbas and the PA to dismantle terrorist 
infrastructure.  In his view, this has not yet happened, 
although Abbas has demonstrated his desire for increased 
coordination with Israel on security issues.  Sharon noted 
that Hamas is becoming a legitimate political factor within 
Palestinian society while at the same time continuing 
full-steam to build up its military capability.  If Hamas 
makes significant gains in the upcoming PLC elections, he 
warned, it will be in a position to undercut Abbas' policies 
by force if necessary.  Sharon touched on the issue of the 
security fence, emphasizing that Israel would continue to 
take into account Palestinian humanitarian issues and the 
need for international access to holy sites.  On settlements, 
Sharon stated that "any community built based on a government 
decision" is legal.   He also discussed regional issues, 
expressing support for greater democracy in Lebanon while 
noting that Hizbollah remains a threat to Israel, and stating 
that Israel will not attack Iran as a means of preempting its 
nuclear agenda.  He expressed concern over Iran's growing 
arsenal of long-range missiles, and was skeptical that the 
Security Council will be able to halt the country's 
progression towards nuclear capability. 
 
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Abbas Has Not Done Enough 
------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told CoDel Pelosi March 
21 that he is fully committed to carrying out his 
disengagement plan in a timely fashion despite opposition 
from the right wing of his own party.  He called the current 
situation a "pre-roadmap phase", but emphasized that Mahmoud 
Abbas and the PA must take specific steps to dismantle 
terrorist infrastructure in order for the road map to begin 
again in earnest.  In Sharon's view, Abbas has made clear his 
desire for increased coordination with Israel on security 
issues, but has not carried out the weapons seizures and 
arrests that are required in order for a total cessation of 
hostilities to take place.  He noted that despite deployment 
of PA forces into the Gaza Strip, weapons smuggling is still 
prevalent.  "We can only rely on acts in the Middle East, not 
words," he quipped, adding incitement against Israel remains 
prominent in PA schools. 
 
3.  (C) Terrorist factions like Hamas have only temporarily 
agreed not to act against Israel, Sharon said, and it will 
become increasingly difficult for Abbas to fight terrorism 
now that Hamas is strong in Gazan local government.  While it 
prepares for the July PLC elections, it continues to expand 
its arsenal and grow its military capability -- if it makes 
significant gains in July, Hamas will be in a position to 
"sabotage" Abbas' policies. 
 
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Security Fence Will Take Palestinian Lives, 
International Pilgrims into Account 
------------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) In answer to a question, the Prime Minister noted the 
"strictness" of the High Court regarding the security fence, 
and said that the GOI had changed the fence route several 
times in response to Court decisions.  The fence is not 
political, he insisted, but has become a hot-button issue all 
the same.  He emphasized that despite controversy, the fence 
has saved many Israeli lives by "preventing Palestinians from 
entering Israel."  In planning the fence route the GOI has 
attempted to minimize its impact on Palestinian livelihoods. 
In addition, he said, Israel will continue to prioritize 
international access to holy sites, something he noted that 
the Ottoman, British, and Jordanian authorities did not allow 
while in power. 
 
---------------------------- 
Settlements Provide Security 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) On settlements, Sharon told CoDel Pelosi that "any 
community that was built on the basis of any government 
decision before 2001 is legal."  He said that the GOI and the 
Palestinians will work out details on the removal of West 
Bank settlements once final status negotiations have begun, 
but underscored his view that "major settlements" will remain 
part of Israel.  Sharon emphasized that settlements provide 
Green Line Israel with a measure of security from terrorist 
attacks, as well as much-needed stability on water issues. 
Israel has always been willing to share water with the 
Palestinians, but remains convinced that it must control 
water sources, a view reaffirmed by the "speed" with which 
the PA ruined the Gaza aquifer. 
 
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Lebanon, Syria, and Iran 
------------------------ 
 
6.  (C) Sharon expressed his support for the withdrawal of 
Syrian troops from Lebanon and praised anti-Syria 
demonstrations there as a step towards democracy.  He noted, 
however, that Hizbollah troops are still positioned on the 
border with Israel, causing daily disturbances and keeping 
tensions high.  These forces must be dealt with, he said, 
before Israel can consider Syrian withdrawal a success.  When 
that happens, he said, Israel "will be happy to sign a peace 
agreement with Lebanon."  Sharon also emphasized that while 
Israel will not take military action against Iran as a means 
of thwarting its nuclear ambitions, he is skeptical that the 
Security Council will be able to halt Iran's progress. 
Israel is particularly concerned about the 1,500 km range 
missiles already in Iran's possession, and the 2,500 km and 
even 5,000 km missiles Sharon believes it is developing and 
may be fitting for nuclear warheads. 
 
7.  (U) CoDel Pelosi did not have the chance to clear this 
cable. 
 
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KURTZER