US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2639

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, KPAL, KWBG, IS, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, MILITARY RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: DEFMIN MOFAZ DISCUSSES ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN 
NEGOTIATIONS WITH A/S WELCH AND DEPUTY NSA ABRAMS 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz; Reasons: 1.4 (B) 
and (D). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  In a meeting with NEA Assistant Secretary 
David Welch, Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams, 
Lieutenant General William Ward and the Charge on April 21, 
Israel's Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the GOI is taking 
steps to strengthen Palestinian Authority President Mahmud 
Abbas, but is concerned by what Mofaz termed his 
ineffectiveness and the lack of progress on security issues. 
A/S Welch discussed Abbas's views on ways to consolidate his 
political support, including equipping PA security services, 
deploying the Badr brigade from Jordan, and releasing 
prisoners from Israeli jails.  Mofaz stressed the 
difficulties of such actions without progress on security. 
He said he is coordinating disengagement with PA Minister of 
Civil Affairs Muhammad Dahlan and dismissed suggestions that 
Interior Minister Nasir Yusif also has a role.  Mofaz 
stressed the importance of dealing with Palestinian 
fugitives, saying that Israel is prepared to hand over 
control of additional towns if this issue is resolved.  He 
was joined in the meeting by MOD Director General Amos Yaron, 
Director of the MOD's Military-Political Division Amos Gilad 
and Brigadier General Eitan Dangot.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Mofaz: Positive Israeli Moves on Civil Issues ... 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
2. (C) Mofaz said that the GOI wants to strengthen PA 
President Mahmud Abbas, but sees him as a well-intentioned -- 
but thus far ineffective -- "one man show."  A/S Welch asked 
what the GOI had done to respond to the Secretary's request 
to ease the everyday life for Palestinians.  Mofaz replied 
that he had received a paper from President Abbas listing 
desired steps, adding, "I believe we will fulfill all of them 
or most of them."  He claimed that COGAT (the MOD's 
Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories) has 
been responsive to recent Palestinian requests, i.e., 
extending hours and beginning night operations at crossing 
points, granting work permits for Palestinians in Israel, 
providing freedom of movement for Palestinians VIPs, and 
easing border-crossing procedures in Gaza.  Mofaz insisted 
that the GOI is "ready to do more" in these areas. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
... not Matched by Palestinian Moves on Security 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
3. (C) Mofaz stressed that the GOI wants to see the PA take 
parallel moves on the "main issue" of security, but does not 
believe the Palestinians "have the courage or the power to 
deal with Hamas or the heads of the terrorist organizations." 
 In Mofaz's assessment, Palestinian reform of the security 
services consists of "lots of planning but no results." 
Deputy NSA Abrams agreed that progress has been slow, but 
noted the significance of President Abbas's intention to 
retire many senior PA commanders.  Mofaz cautioned that 
terrorist groups have gained strength since the IDF pulled 
back from Palestinian towns.  He said that the PA is not 
moving quickly enough to implement the Sharm al-Shaykh 
agreement and build trust, a claim he supported with a list 
of the 271 Palestinian attacks that took place following the 
Sharm al-Shaykh summit.  He also noted what he called the 
PA's inability, despite orders from President Abbas, to stop 
the firing of over 100 mortar rounds at Gush Katif on April 
9.  Mofaz warned that a repetition of these attacks or 
similar major event "could stop all of the dialogue between 
us and the Palestinians," endanger disengagement, and 
necessitate IDF action in Gaza. 
 
4. (C) In response to a question by Deputy NSA Abrams, Mofaz 
said the GOI had provided threat information and names of 
terrorists to the Palestinians, but such steps had not 
resulted in any action.  He claimed that when Israel 
identified the individual responsible for smuggling four 
surface-to-air missiles into Gaza, the PA had warned the 
suspect but made no arrest.  According to Mofaz, one PA 
security force uncovers smuggling tunnels while another 
(military intelligence) does the smuggling. 
 
-------------------- 
Palestinian Requests 
-------------------- 
 
5. (C) A/S Welch told Mofaz that during a meeting on April 20 
President Abbas had listed three steps that would assist him 
to consolidate political support: equipping the PA security 
services with weapons, ammunition, and Russian APCs; 
deploying the Badr brigade from Jordan; and -- most 
importantly - releasing additional prisoners from Israeli 
jails.  Mofaz replied that all three issues could only be 
addressed by the cabinet.  He stressed that he would not 
recommend allowing the PA to import new weapons, reiterating 
his belief that the Palestinians suffer from structural, not 
logistical, deficits.  General Ward noted that the GOI and PA 
appear to be stuck in a "do loop" construct, or vicious 
circle, whereby the Israelis claim they cannot assist the PA 
until the PA action on security and the Palestinians claim 
they cannot take action until they receive assistance. 
 
6. (C) Mofaz insisted that the Badr brigade would become 
"part of the anarchy" if removed from direct control of the 
Jordanian forces.  He said that he had asked the Jordanians 
to consider training PA personnel instead, noting that any 
outside interference would merely relieve the PA's security 
forces from responsibility and further complicate the reform 
process.  On prisoners, Mofaz claimed he had pushed hard for 
900 releases in two stages.  He expressed confidence that the 
last 400 of these prisoners would eventually be released, but 
noted that the problems with fugitives and the recent barrage 
of mortar attacks made it difficult for the GOI to make 
concessions. 
 
7. (C) A/S Welch asked Mofaz whether it would be accurate to 
say that the GOI has already taken certain steps, is planning 
others, but implementation depends upon Palestinian actions. 
Admitting that "I hope we have better news in the next 
meeting," Mofaz offered the more positive assessment that the 
GOI continues to take new steps to ease restrictions on the 
Palestinians.  He added that he still believes that "there is 
a chance to move forward with the Palestinians," and called 
the PA's willingness to coordinate disengagement the "main 
test." 
 
8. (C) A/S Welch categorized security reform and coordination 
of disengagement as the two key tests facing the PA.  He 
noted that on April 20 PA officials had discussed their plans 
for security reform and for assuming responsibility for Gaza 
settlements and for the four West Bank settlements that will 
be vacated by Israel as part of the disengagement plan.  The 
Palestinians also appeared more organized in their other 
plans for disengagement than they earlier appeared, he said. 
A/S Welch and Deputy NSA Abrams mentioned that Special Envoy 
for Gaza Disengagement James Wolfensohn would arrive in 
Israel on May 2 to coordinate non-security aspects of the 
process. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
GOI Coordinating Disengagement with Dahlan 
------------------------------------------ 
 
9. (C) Mofaz acknowledged that the Palestinians now 
understand that they should coordinate disengagement.  He 
said that he would discuss security issues with PA Minister 
of Civil Affairs Muhammad Dahlan late on April 21, while Vice 
PM Shimon Peres would meet with PM Ahmad Quraya' on civil 
issues.  General Ward and Deputy NSA Abrams urged the GOI to 
also work with Interior Minister Nasir Yusif, noting that a 
failure to deal with the MOI might undermine Yusif.  Mofaz 
demurred, maintaining that the PA had designated Dahlan as 
the coordinator, that Dahlan could include whomever he wanted 
to on his team, and that the GOI must focus its efforts on 
the individuals capable of producing results.  Mofaz claimed 
that Yusif has never produced results and does not command 
the allegiance of security personnel in Gaza. 
 
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Fugitive Issue Key to Progress on Handover of Cities 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
10. (C) Mofaz stressed the importance of dealing with 
Palestinian fugitives, saying that Israel is prepared to hand 
over control of additional towns if this issue is resolved. 
He insisted that first Dahlan, and later President Abbas and 
Yusif, had agreed that the fugitives would disarm, cease 
terrorist activity, place themselves under PA supervision, 
and remain in their current locations.  Mofaz complained that 
the PA is integrating the fugitives into the Palestinian 
security services, stressing that the PA could not expect the 
terrorists of yesterday to be in charge of security today. 
He cautioned that if the fugitives continue to be involved 
with terrorist activities, "we will target them."  General 
Ward asked about the status of joint Palestinian and Israeli 
efforts to resolve this issue.  Mofaz replied that he and 
Dahlan would address the issue on April 21. 
 
11. (U) A/S Welch and Deputy NSA Abrams have cleared this 
message. 
 
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