US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5798

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 005798 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KWBG, IS, U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS, GOI INTERNAL, GOI EXTERNAL 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER 
SHALOM 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: In their introductory meeting September 25, 
Foreign Minister Shalom told Ambassador Jones that the United 
States remains Israel's best friend and that he hopes for 
continued USG support to expand Israel's ties to the Arab 
world, an area on which he has focused.  He offered no 
prediction on Monday's Likud Central Committee vote, other 
than to say that a high turnout would benefit Sharon.  He 
called for Israel's inclusion in the visa waiver program.  He 
also thanked the USG for its support in pressuring Iran on 
its nuclear program. ED SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) Shalom was equivocal on the prospects for Prime 
Minister Sharon to avoid a Likud Central Committee decision 
calling for early primaries.  He cited three groups as among 
those who are using the primaries issue to oppose Sharon: a 
group led by Natan Sharansky that is still angry over 
Sharon's refusal to appoint Sharansky head of the Jewish 
Agency; the followers of "extremist" Moshe Feiglin; and the 
"founders," or elderly Likud founding members who simply 
cannot change their fundamental stance.  He numbers the total 
of those groups at some 500 to 600 of the Central Committee's 
2,500 members.  He suggested that if more than 90 percent of 
Central Committee members vote, Sharon "has a chance" of 
avoiding early primaries.  If fewer than 80 percent vote, it 
will "not be good." 
 
3.  (C) Shalom called on PA President Mahmoud Abbas to 
dismantle terrorist infrastructure and to stop Hamas and PIJ 
attacks on Israel.  Shalom said that he has many times 
pointed out that progress depends on what happens in Gaza, 
and right now, it looks like it's not working.  He cited the 
risk to progress from even a single high-casualty attack on 
Israelis, terming it very risky for the future.  He pointed 
to recent Hamas statements reiterating the organization's 
call for the destruction of Israel and the "full liberation" 
of Palestinian lands, arguing that previous agreements with 
the Palestinians (the Oslo accords) prohibit the 
participation in the political process of parties that call 
for Israel's destruction. 
 
4.  (C) Ambassador Jones responded that the USG and Israel 
need to develop a strategy that weakens Hamas and PIJ and 
strengthens the PA, and find a way for those people willing 
to take part peacefully in the political process to do so, 
while eliminating the violent component.  The Ambassador 
noted that the Secretary had spoken with Abbas the day 
before, calling on him once again to denounce the Hamas 
attacks and take action to stop terror.  Abbas has responded 
with the right words, he added, but words have to be matched 
by deeds.  Shalom agreed. 
 
5.  (C) Shalom pointed out his recent activities to enhance 
ties with Arab countries, and indicated without further 
elaboration that talks, mostly confidential, are ongoing with 
many countries.  He said Israel has no conflict with the 
broader Arab world -- not on territory and not on economic 
issues.  He cited the Gulf countries as being the most 
promising targets for improved relations -- he cited Bahrain, 
Qatar, Oman, and Dubai -- and suggested that Morocco "needs 
some push," which he said he hopes the U.S. administration 
will undertake.  Shalom said he will be traveling to Tunisia 
with the Israeli minister of communications for a November 
16-18 conference and expects to visit Morocco shortly 
thereafter.  He also noted Israel's participation in the 
Barcelona Process meeting in Barcelona some two weeks after 
the Tunis event, referred to positive indications from 
Indonesia, and pointed out that Pakistan President Musharraf 
faced only minor public demonstrations following public 
meetings between Shalom and the Pakistani foreign minister in 
Turkey.  Asked about the situation in Lebanon via a vis the 
LAF taking control of the south from Hizballah, the 
Ambassador said he sees little chance for LAF action as long 
as President Lahoud remains in office.  Lahoud he noted, was 
an ally of Syria, and once headed the Lebanese armed forces. 
The LAF are thus unlikely to take any action toward Hizballah 
without his endorsement. 
 
6.  (C) On bilateral relations, Shalom said he hopes for a 
Joint Political Military Group (JPMG) session in the near 
future and for resumption of the Strategic Dialogue.  He 
noted that MFA DG Ron Prosor had discussed the resumption of 
the Strategic Dialogue recently with U/S Burns in Washington. 
 He termed the bilateral economic dialogue "very good," and 
said he hoped for talks on major issues to move to twice a 
year and to involve "daily contact" with USG interlocutors. 
For instance, he said, Israel has proposed twice-yearly 
meetings with Secretary Rice, an idea that he understands USG 
officials view favorably.  He also cited as a strong tie the 
bilateral trade relationship that he said now amounts to USD 
20 billion annually, but added that he hopes for stronger 
cooperation in high tech areas. 
 
7.  (C) Shalom called for new USG consideration of Israel's 
request to be included in the visa waiver program, an issue 
he has pushed since becoming foreign minister.  Shalom said 
that he understands that the 92 to 94 percent issuance rate 
precludes Israel's participation in the program, but 
suggested that what he believes is a higher refusal rate for 
Israeli Arabs is skewing the issuance/refusal rate against 
Israel.  The Ambassador doubted there was such 
discrimination, but observed lower-income applicants 
sometimes have a harder time showing lasting ties to their 
countries of origin.  Shalom was quick to acknowledge this 
and distance himself from any allegation of discrimination. 
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JONES