US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2030

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CODEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2015 
TAGS: OREP, PGOV, KWBG, PREF, PREL, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, GOI INTERNAL, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: CODEL DREIER'S MEETINGS WITH KNESSET MEMBERS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary: In a March 28 meeting immediately following 
the Knesset vote against a referendum on disengagement, 
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, a disengagement opponent, told 
Codel Dreier and the Ambassador that a divided Likud is in a 
state of "crisis."  He lamented that disengagement could 
presage a return to the roadmap, which he also opposes as 
"very dangerous for the future of Israel."  In a separate 
meeting, MKs Colette Avital (Labor) and Avraham Poraz 
(Shinui), both disengagement supporters, described the 
"bizarre" and "paradoxical" nature of the political path 
Israel is following toward disengagement.  Avital, who along 
with Poraz constitute the Israeli delegation to the OSCE 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, called for an 
enhanced Israeli role in the OSCE.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) The delegation consisted of Representatives David 
Dreier, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Alcee Hastings, Doc Hastings, 
Phil Gingrey, and Ander Crenshaw.  MFA North America Division 
Congressional Affairs Director Eyal Sela and Knesset 
Diplomatic Advisor to the Speaker Yaakov Levy joined the 
meetings. 
 
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Rivlin: "Roadmap is Dangerous for Israel" 
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3.  (C) Codel Dreier arrived in the Knesset for a meeting 
with Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin just as the Knesset 
plenary was about to vote down the controversial 
disengagement referendum bill.  Following the vote, Rivlin 
led off the meeting by declaring that Likud, "the party of 
the President, the Prime Minister, and (that represents) 
one-third of the (Israeli) public, is split."  He described 
the split as "a real crisis for Likud in the near future and 
a problem for all of Israel."  He said that Likud would have 
to "reassess its position" and declared that "everyone is 
very confused."  Rivlin said that he voted in favor of the 
referendum bill because he believes that the issue is "a 
matter of life and death for Israel."  He underlined that he 
split with Sharon over disengagement, which he opposes, and 
lamented that "...unilateral disengagement is only the 
beginning." 
 
4.  (C) Rivlin noted that he also split with Sharon over the 
roadmap, which he called "very dangerous for the future of 
Israel."  Rivlin claimed that Israelis are confused because 
"different roadmaps" are being promoted by the UN, the 
Europeans, and President Bush.   Rivlin stressed his concern 
for the future security of Israel, touching upon what he 
characterized as the problems posed by "(Muslim) 
fundamentalism, nationalism, and the Palestinian refugees." 
In the final analysis, Rivlin stressed, Israelis and 
Palestinians will have to live together; "no border will 
divide us," and for this reason, he concluded, Israel will 
need to protect itself. 
 
5.  (C) Representative Dreier underlined that both parties of 
Congress are "extraordinarily supportive" of Israel, which he 
termed the "lone democracy" in the region.  He also 
acknowledged Likud's internal struggle over disengagement, 
but, while recognizing Israel's security needs, he underlined 
that the disengagement plan also enjoys bipartisan 
Congressional support. 
 
6.  (C) In a separate meeting with Codel Dreier, Labor MK 
Colette Avital noted the historic nature of the day in the 
Knesset, characterizing it as "the stormiest day of the 
year."  She noted the "paradox" that Sharon's government was 
being supported by opposition parties, while part of Sharon's 
party "does not support its own government."  Poraz 
characterized the political dynamics leading up to the 
Knesset's vote on the referendum bill as "bizarre."  He 
complained about his party's treatment by Sharon, charging 
that Sharon "kicked out" Shinui from the government in order 
to bring in Labor and a religious party. 
 
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Avital: Israel Wants Stronger Role IN OSCE 
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7.  (C) Avital, along with Poraz, represents Israel in the 
Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, an observer 
delegation in the Organization of Security and Cooperation in 
Europe's (OSCE).  She underlined that she sees Israel's 
participation in the OSCE observer group as an important 
opportunity for Knesset members to meet with Arab 
parliamentarians.  After the death of Yasir Arafat, Avital 
said, a greater opportunity exists to normalize relations 
with Arab countries, with positive signals already coming 
from Egypt and Jordan.  Noting that he and Rivlin had just 
returned from the Europe-Mediterranean Parliamentary 
Conference in Cairo, Knesset Diplomatic Advisor Levy stressed 
the importance of Israel continuing to make contact with Arab 
parliamentarians.  In Cairo, Rivlin met with Egyptian 
opposition party representatives, the first time, Levy said, 
that an Israeli official has met with representatives from 
this group. 
 
8.  (C) Avital said that Israel wants to upgrade its observer 
status in the OSCE.  While the GOI does not have "too much of 
a problem" with greater OSCE involvement in the Middle East, 
it does want a new status that enables it to participate in 
dialogue on issues that concern Israel.  As an example, 
Avital noted Israel's surprise some two years ago when the 
Italian delegation proposed, without Israeli input, a 
resolution calling for Jerusalem to be designated as an 
international city.  Avital also proposed that Israel host an 
OSCE forum to which Arab parliamentarians could be invited. 
 
 
9.  (C) Rep. Diaz-Balart underlined that the U.S. wants to be 
helpful in facilitating contacts between Israeli and Arab 
parliamentarians.  Rep. Dreier offered U.S. assistance to 
create a "nexus between Israel and Arab countries."  He noted 
that Congress is in the process of establishing a new 
commission that will examine how to assist new and emerging 
parliaments.  He noted Congressional interest in facilitating 
technical and other assistance to emerging parliaments, 
including that of the Palestinian Authority. 
 
10.  (U) Codel Dreier cleared this message. 
 
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KURTZER