US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2436

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002436 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ASEC, KPAL, KWBG, IS, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: GENERAL WARD AND ISRAELI DEFMIN DISCUSS 
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SECURITY ISSUES 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Gene A. Cretz; Reasons: 1.4 (B) a 
nd (D). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Lieutenant General Ward and the Charge met 
with Defense Minister Mofaz in Tel Aviv on April 13, 2005, to 
review the current security situation in Israel and the 
Occupied Territories.  General Ward said he sees the lack of 
trust and partnership on both sides as contributing to a 
negative atmosphere that undermines Israel's main peace 
partner, Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas.  He 
suggested that the GOI consider ways to move forward on the 
discussions of fugitives and the handover of Qalqilya to the 
PA security forces, and improve movement and quality of life 
for the Palestinians.  Mofaz agreed that Abbas is a serious 
partner, but charged that the PA has violated its agreement 
on fugitives, failed to prevent rocket attacks against 
Israel, and is sending mixed signals on weapons smuggling 
from the Sinai.  Mofaz insisted that the PA act quickly to 
both coordinate disengagement from Gaza/the northern West 
Bank and confront Palestinian terrorist organizations.  End 
Summary. 
 
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Building Trust and a Capable Partner; 
Israeli Complaints About PA Actions and Inaction 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
2. (C) General Ward updated the minister on how he views 
current progress with the Palestinian Authority, calling the 
situation "not all good, but also not all bad."  General Ward 
said he sees the lack of trust and partnership on both sides 
as contributing to the focus on negative issues.  He 
expressed concern that this strategy runs the risk of 
becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy and urged the GOI to move 
beyond the "glass half-empty" approach.  General Ward agreed 
that President Abbas's actions to date are imperfect and 
incomplete.  He cautioned the minister, however, that 
constant references to the PA's failures could undermine 
Abbas in a way that is not in Israeli or U.S. interests. 
General Ward said that if Abbas is the best partner 
available, then Israel and the United States should try to 
assist him and acknowledge any positive steps he makes. 
Specifically, General Ward suggested that finding a way to 
move forward on the discussions of fugitives and the handover 
of Qalqilya to the PA security forces, and to improve 
movement and quality of life for the Palestinians could 
assist Abbas in his efforts. 
 
3. (C) Mofaz agreed that the GOI views Abbas as a serious 
partner, but then repeated the GOI's "glass half-empty" view 
of the PA's performance to date.  Mofaz insisted that the PA 
must act quickly to coordinate disengagement from Gaza/the 
northern West Bank and must also confront Palestinian 
terrorist organizations.  He complained that time is running 
out for the PA to name a person or agency to coordinate 
disengagement.  (Note: PA Prime Minister Ahmad Quraya', 
Minister of Civil Affairs Mohammed Dahlan, and Interior 
Minister Nasser Yusif all have disengagement roles.  End 
note).  On security, Mofaz said the GOI believes that the 
terror organizations are getting stronger and that no PA 
security agency is dealing with them on the ground.  He 
acknowledged that Abbas understands the problem, but claimed 
that PA forces do not obey the President's occasional orders 
to take action.  The result, Mofaz said, is that Abbas 
coordinates his moves with both the PA and the terror 
organizations, but controls neither. 
 
4. (C) On the subject of fugitives, Mofaz agreed that the GOI 
should continue its efforts to make progress and noted that 
the GOI-PA fugitive committee would meet "this week or next." 
 He charged that the PA has clearly violated the agreement on 
fugitives.  Mofaz said the two sides had agreed that the 
fugitives must disarm, desist from terrorist attacks, submit 
to supervision by the PA, and exclude themselves from 
membership in PA security organizations.  He complained that 
15 of the 17 Jericho fugitives had been accepted into the PA 
security forces after promising to renounce terrorism, a 
direct violation of the agreement.  (Note: The PA has a 
different interpretation of the agreement.  Interior Minister 
Nasser Yusif told ConGen Jerusalem that the Sharm al-Shaykh 
understanding does not exclude fugitives from joining the PA 
security services, and maintained that absorbing fugitives is 
the most effective tactic available to the PA to bring 
militants under control.  Yusif also claimed that all of the 
Jericho fugitives on the IDF's list are under PA supervision, 
as are all of the Tulkarm fugitives on the list except for 
four individuals who fled the city.  End note). 
 
5. (C) The minister also protested the PA's unwillingness or 
inability to prevent the firing of "nearly 100" rockets and 
missiles at Israeli targets on April 9.  Addressing the 
incident that preceded the attacks, Mofaz said that there was 
no question that the three Palestinian youths killed by the 
IDF near the Philadelphi fence had been smuggling weapons. 
General Ward acknowledged the seriousness of the rocket 
attacks.  He suggested that an IDF review of procedures for 
the use of deadly force might help limit the negative effects 
of future provocations.  Mofaz agreed, saying the IDF would 
impose "strict regulations" to ensure that similar incidents 
do not recur in the current tense atmosphere. 
 
6. (C) After listening to Mofaz's points, General Ward noted 
that he has a strong two-fold message for President Abbas. 
First, the PA needs to end personnel discussions and appoint 
new security chiefs who can make progress on reform, training 
and effective operations.  Second, the PA needs to coordinate 
with the GOI on disengagement.  General Ward reiterated his 
suggestions that both sides look for ways to create a more 
positive atmosphere.  He also repeated his suggestion that 
the GOI consider actions to strengthen Abbas's ability to 
make progress. 
 
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Update on Smuggling Activities from the Sinai 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
7. (S) According to Mofaz, internal turmoil in the PA is 
undermining the anti-tunnel work in the Philadelphi Strip. 
He said the Preventive Security Organization is working to 
locate and destroy tunnels at the same time that PA Military 
Intelligence is smuggling weapons and contraband through the 
tunnels.  Mofaz updated General Ward on a recent 
anti-smuggling operation on the Israel-Egypt border in which 
the IDF intercepted 66 Kalashnikov rifles being transported 
into Israel from the Sinai.  Mofaz claimed that smugglers are 
increasing their efforts to move weapons from the Sinai to 
the West Bank, noting that the IDF is stopping some -- but 
not nearly all -- of this activity. 
 
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