US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5905

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 005905 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KWBG, KPAL, PTER, IS, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, COUNTERTERRORISM, GOI EXTERNAL, GOI INTERNAL 
SUBJECT: SHARON ADVISOR TOURGEMAN ON CONTACTS WITH THE PA 
AND ARAB STATES; DEALING WITH HAMAS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1. 4 (B) and (D) 
. 
 
1. (C) Summary:  During a meeting with the Ambassador on 
September 27, Prime Minister Sharon's foreign policy adviser, 
Shalom Tourgeman, stressed the importance of the political 
process with the Palestinians.  He said the GOI is preparing 
a list of possible steps to assist PA President Mahmud Abbas, 
but has delayed the planned Sharon-Abbas meeting due to 
events in Gaza.  Admitting that the GOI does not have an 
answer to the problem of Hamas, Tourgeman cautioned that 
"Hamas's participation in the elections means the end of the 
roadmap."  Tourgeman acknowledged that Sharon and FM Silvan 
Shalom have different views on how to open ties with Arab 
states, saying Sharon preferred a more open approach.  He 
complained that Jordanian pre-conditions are complicating 
planning for King Abdullah's visit to Israel.  Tourgeman 
predicted an Israeli Cabinet reshuffle in November.  He asked 
the USG to receive the GOI's point man for the Strategic 
Dialogue, Tzachi Hanegbi, at an appropriate level in 
Washington.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
GOI-PA Contacts Continue; Sharon-Abbas meeting on Hold 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
2. (C) Tourgeman claimed that in New York the President had 
told Sharon that disengagement had given the Palestinians a 
chance to succeed, an interpretation that the GOI shares. 
Tourgeman stressed the importance of the political process 
with the Palestinians, saying it was important to demonstrate 
to Israelis that the process begun with disengagement is not 
over.  When asked by the Ambassador about plans for 
high-level GOI-PA contacts, Tourgeman said that the GOI is 
not currently meeting PA officials because of the recent 
attacks in Gaza.  Sharon adviser Dov Weissglas and PA 
negotiator Sa'eb Erakat will probably see each other during 
the first half of October.  Tourgeman reassured the 
Ambassador that telephone contact continues on a daily basis, 
noting that he had spoken with Erakat twice that day. 
 
3. (C) Tourgeman said the planned meeting between Sharon and 
Abbas has been postponed because the Israelis realize that 
Abbas needs "tangible results" from a summit.  The GOI is 
still considering its options, Tourgeman said, adding that 
Israel will seek to fulfill "all" the Palestinian requests 
for Gaza.  While the GOI is preparing a list of possible 
steps to assist Abbas, Tourgeman insisted that Abbas must 
"help himself" by acting against terrorists.  The Ambassador 
stressed the importance of strengthening Abbas prior to the 
PLC elections, suggesting that items from the Wolfensohn 
agenda -- such as job creation and movement on Rafah -- would 
help.  Tourgeman admitted that the PA and GOI need to meet to 
resolve issues such as Rafah, although he claimed Abbas is 
using Rafah as an "excuse" for inaction on other issues. 
Tourgeman insisted that Israel could not make concessions on 
the release of prisoners, especially those with "blood on 
their hands," an issue he said tops Abbas's priority list. 
He also rejected any third-party role, predicting that the 
Palestinians would use the third party to obscure its own 
lack of action. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
GOI Uncertain How to Deal with Hamas and the PLC Elections 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
4. (C) Tourgeman told the Ambassador that the GOI's main 
issue at present is how to deal with Hamas, cautioning that 
"Hamas's participation in the elections means the end of the 
roadmap."  In Tourgeman's view, Hamas will never disarm.  Its 
participation in the PLC elections would legitimize the 
group, lead to an increase in funding for the group, and 
result in increased contacts between European officials and 
Hamas.  He admitted that the GOI does not have an answer on 
how to approach the problem.  Sharon intends to speak with 
Abbas and examine possible options, he said, including 
postponing the vote.  In the meantime, Tourgeman predicted 
that the Israeli security services will continue to keep the 
pressure on Hamas to force them to maintain the "calm."  The 
Ambassador stressed that the U.S. policy on Hamas remains 
unchanged and noted the Quartet's statement mentioning 
extremist groups on September 20. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Sharon's Views on Relations with the Arab States 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5. (C) The Ambassador asked about efforts to improve ties 
with Arab states.  Tourgeman complained that the Arabs had 
missed the opportunity provided by disengagement to improve 
ties with Israel and support the PA.  He admitted that Sharon 
and FM Shalom have differing view on the issue.  The MFA has 
worked continuously on a number of minor -- and often secret 
-- steps in an effort to slowly build contacts.  According to 
Tourgeman, Sharon is open to improved relations, but prefers 
a more open approach and opposes quasi-clandestine Israeli 
missions such as the one in Dubai.  When the Tunisian 
President quietly urged Sharon not to attend the World Summit 
on the Information Society, Sharon's response was "if they 
don't want me I won't go." 
 
6. (C) Tourgeman confided that Sharon had asked Jordan's King 
Abdullah to make a public visit to Israel following 
disengagement, noting that such a trip would demonstrate to 
the Israeli people that disengagement is not a dead end.  The 
Jordanians agreed, but with a number of conditions: 1) no 
press; 2) no public events during the visit; and 3) progress 
on the release of Jordanian prisoners responsible for the 
injury or death of Israeli citizens from Israeli jails. 
Tourgeman said he is frustrated that the Jordanians are 
making the same demands during preparations for the visit 
that the King announced while he was at the White House in 
September.  Tourgeman also complained of recent statements by 
President Mubarak to the effect that Sharon is "an obstacle 
to peace." 
-------------------------- 
Keep the Pressure on Syria 
-------------------------- 
 
7. (C) In response to a question by the Ambassador, Tourgeman 
said he believes that the Mehlis report will implicate the 
Syrians in Hariri's murder.  Tourgeman acknowledged that the 
GOI is concerned that Asad will attempt to shift the 
spotlight from Syria by fomenting Hizballah attacks against 
northern Israel, but reassured the Ambassador that the GOI 
"got your message" and will exercise restraint.  Tourgeman 
urged the USG to increase pressure on Syria's unstable 
regime, suggesting that two deliverables might be progress 
towards demarcation of the Syrian-Lebanese border and the 
closure of terrorist offices in Damascus.  He expressed 
concern, however, that terrorists expelled from Syria will 
make their way to Gaza. 
 
8. (C) The Ambassador inquired about prospects for peace with 
Lebanon and Syria.  Tourgeman stressed the preeminence of 
negotiations on the Palestinian track and insisted "we cannot 
domestically open another front."  He said it would be 
possible to discuss confidence-building measures and water 
issues with Beirut, but he believes that such steps would 
weaken the new Lebanese government at home.  Turning to 
Syria, he maintained that the outline of a final peace treaty 
is well known, but questioned why the GOI would take any step 
that might assist Asad in escaping his international 
isolation. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
Sharon's Victory in Likud/Hanegbi Heads Strategic Dialogue 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
9. (C) Addressing Sharon's defeat of Netanyahu's leadership 
challenge in Likud on September 26, Tourgeman predicted a 
Cabinet shake-up in November.  He observed that Sharon took 
the campaign "very personally" and will seek to reward his 
supporters and make it more difficult for his opponents to 
obtain backing for their policy or budget priorities.  He 
predicted that coalition whip Gideon Sa'ar, Health Minister 
Dani Naveh, and Education Minister Limor Livnat will face 
Sharon's wrath.  At the same time, Sharon plans to appoint 
Ehud Olmert as finance minister and promote Roni Bar'on or 
Ze'ev Boim to the Trade Ministry.  Tourgeman singled out FM 
Silvan Shalom for praise.  Although Shalom initially opposed 
disengagement, he fully supported Sharon and had personally 
swung 100 voters in Sharon's favor, resulting in Sharon's 
victory. 
 
10. (C) Tourgeman said that Minister without Portfolio Tzachi 
Hanegbi will be rewarded for his support of Sharon by being 
placed in charge of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Dialogue.  In 
addition, Hanegbi will assume an (unspecified) important 
ministerial portfolio following the conclusion of the ongoing 
judicial investigation into his hiring practices while 
serving as Minister of Internal Security.  Tourgeman said 
that Hanegbi would soon travel to Washington and seek 
appointments with U/S Burns and at the NSC.  Tourgeman urged 
the USG to receive him at an appropriate level and to set a 
date for the Strategic Dialogue. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website. 
********************************************* ******************** 
JONES