US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV4883

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004883 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PGOV, ECON, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: CODEL KING'S MEETING WITH GOI SECURITY MINISTER 
GIDEON EZRA 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b 
) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Codel King met with Minister of Public 
Security Gideon Ezra where discussions focused on 
disengagement, anti-disengagement protests, and related 
security concerns.  Ezra stressed the importance of 
intelligence gathering and sharing as a necessary tool in 
combating terrorism, both in the U.S. and Israel.  Ezra 
underscored GOI concerns about the growing danger of Iran's 
extremist ideology and its historical support for Hizballah. 
End Summary. 
 
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Security Officials: Disengagement Top Priority 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2. (C) U.S. Representatives Peter King, Charlie Dent, Michael 
McCaul, and Donna Christensen, accompanied by staff members 
Steve Devine, Tom Dilenge, Josh Weerasinghe, Margaret 
Peterlin, Sue Ramanathan, Tom Finan, and Air Force House 
Liaison Officer Colonel Darrell Adams met with Minister of 
Public Security Gideon Ezra on August 3.  Ezra was 
accompanied by Rani Falk, Director General, Ministry of 
Public Security; Major General Yohanan Danino, Head of 
Operational Staff Unit; Natan Rotenberg, Director, 
International Relation Department; and Colonel Yehoshua 
Bauer, ministry spokesman.  Econoff (notetaker) accompanied 
Codel King.  Falk said security remains a major concern for 
the GOI as pullout opponents seek to disrupt settlement 
evacuations from the Gaza Strip. 
 
3. (C) Disengagement opponents have shown support for the 
Gaza settlers by demonstrating in various towns and cities in 
Israel, Falk noted.  He said recent demonstrations in places 
like Sderot and Ofakim have numbered in the several 
thousands.  Falk said protesters want to enter Gaza to 
interrupt security operations and bolster support for 
settlers who may resist evacuation.  He said there are 
approximately nine thousand settlers living in Gaza in 21 
settlements.  When disengagement begins, Falk said he 
believes that 50 percent of these settlers will depart 
without causing any problems. 
 
4. (C) Falk said that 25,000 security personnel will 
implement the evacuation plan.  According to Falk, evacuation 
opponents might smuggle weapons into Gaza in order to support 
the settlers.  Falk indicated, however, that he remains 
confident that Israeli forces are able to tackle this hurdle. 
 Bauer said the issue of security personnel refusing orders 
is not a major concern because there have only been four 
cases where police officers have refused to carry out their 
disengagement-related duties. 
 
5. (C) Falk said that the GOI has built three-to-four hundred 
homes for Gaza settlers in Ashdod, Askelon and Tel Aviv for 
approximately 1,700 families.  As of August 2, only 23 or 24 
families have moved into these homes.  He said Gaza settlers 
are "angry and unhappy" because of uncertainties after their 
relocation.  The GOI has offered Gaza settlers many benefits 
to ease the transition, he noted.  He said Jewish communities 
across Israel have and continue to offer assistance to the 
settlers. 
 
6. (C) The GOI and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are 
cooperating on the disengagement plan.  Falk said officials 
from both sides meet daily to address security-related 
issues.  He said cooperation between the GOI and Egypt on the 
disengagement plan is positive, citing agreement for the 
eventual placement of 750 Egyptian border guards on the 
Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Ezra: Intelligence Sharing Is Important 
--------------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) Ezra said the relationship between the GOI and the 
U.S. is very important for both nations.  He said he hopes 
that this relationship will continue to grow and become 
stronger over time.  Ezra said good intelligence is needed to 
thwart possible threats and that Israel has been able to 
respond effectively because of good intelligence.  He said if 
police officials were not able to gather information about a 
pending terrorist attack, there would be more casualties in 
Israel.  Ezra said the U.S. must also gather intelligence by 
monitoring Muslim communities and try to recruit informants, 
if it wants to ensure its security. 
 
8. (C) Israel has problems because its borders, especially 
with Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon are not secure.  Ezra said 
smuggling of weapons into Israel remains a concern.  He said 
security capabilities are becoming more enhanced in Israel 
because private companies and other security experts are 
sharing ideas which help the GOI to take effective security 
measures.  He said the U.S. and GOI must also share ideas 
regarding new technologies that can benefit both countries. 
9. (C) Surveillance of mass transit is difficult, but doable, 
Ezra noted.  He said that the USG should focus more on 
placing surveillance equipment on trains and subways, instead 
of on buses.  He said GOI security forces have had little 
success preventing terrorists from bombing buses because of 
the difficulty in monitoring or responding in time. 
 
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Ezra: Hizballah, Hamas, and Iran, Threaten the World 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
10. (C) Ezra underlined that Hizballah is a major threat to 
the world and Hamas is a threat to Israel.  He said Hizballah 
is supported by Iran, which is "enemy number one now."  Iran 
has proved to the world that an extremist Muslim state can 
exist, he noted.  It would be good if the Iranian system did 
not succeed, said Ezra. 
 
11. (U) Codel King did not clear this cable. 
 
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