US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV6798

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006798 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/IPA, NP/RA 
PENTAGON FOR OSD (JAMES ANDERSON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PARM, MARR, MASS, KPAL, KWBG, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GOI EXTERNAL, U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MOD DG TOREN ON NOVEMBER 14 AGREEMENT 
IMPLEMENTATION, U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS, CHANGES TO EXPORT 
CONTROL SYSTEM 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones.  Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) Israeli MOD Director General Jacob Toren told the 
Ambassador December 5, only hours after the deadly Netanya 
suicide bombing, that his people are sparing no effort to 
implement their undertakings vis-a-vis the Palestinians per 
the November 14 agreement brokered by Secretary Rice.  Toren 
complained, however, that the Palestinians are not 
responding, and pointed to their (negative) position on 
development of the Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel as 
an example.  Toren said he was satisfied with the November 28 
Strategic Dialogue session in Washington, but urged the USG 
to stiffen European resolve in confronting Iran's nuclear 
program.  He briefly noted steps the MOD is taking to modify 
its lead role in Israel's export control system, stressing 
that the MOD would not wait for the Knesset to pass needed 
legislation before moving to improve its handling of export 
controls.  The Ambassador praised GOI efforts to comply with 
the Statement of Understanding and restore USG trust in 
Israel's export control system, but cautioned that much work 
remains to be done over a long time ahead.  The Ambassador 
expressed condolences for the victims of the suicide bombing 
in Netanya earlier in the day that killed five people and 
wounded 50.  He urged caution and precision in Israel's 
punishment of the source of the terrorist attack.  End 
Summary. 
 
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TOREN ON GAZA CROSSINGS: "WE ARE SPARING NO EFFORTS." 
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2. (C) Referring to the MOD's responsibility to expedite 
crossings between Gaza and Israel per the November 14 
agreement brokered by Secretary Rice, Toren said he and his 
staff are "sparing no efforts" to meet their obligations. 
Toren, however, complained that the Palestinian side is, 
rather than cooperating with improving the terminal and 
making progess on opening the Erez crossing, is instead 
focusing on disputing where the northern border between Gaza 
and Israel runs.  He asked the Ambassador to weigh in with 
the Palestinian negotiators.  Toren confirmed that MOD 
POL-MIL Director Amos Gilad and Baruch Spiegel are working 
overtime to get this year's Gaza harvest out of Gaza and to 
markets in Israel and beyond on time.  He claimed that the 
Palestinians are, however, giving priority passage at the 
Karni crossing to scrap metal merchants at the expense of 
farmers.  In response, Gilad is examining whether some of the 
harvest could be processed through Kerem Shalom.  Toren said 
that the unresolved security issues at the Rafah crossing 
will soon lead the Israeli side to tighten security at the 
other crossings between Gaza and Israel.  The Ambassador 
urged that the MOD ensure there are sufficient budget and 
manpower resources to achieve agreed milestones for expedited 
movement through crossings, noting that the USG has USD 50 
million to invest in scanners and other security upgrades for 
crossings between Gaza and Israel.  Toren said that Israel 
will seek to use some of this amount to cover the scanners' 
installation and maintenance costs. 
 
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ISRAEL LOOKING TO BROADEN STRATEGIC COOPERATION WITH U.S. 
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3. (C) Toren expressed satisfaction with the November 28 
Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C., and said he had 
fruitful side meetings with Defense Under Secretaries Cambone 
(Intelligence) and Krieg (Acquisitions, Technology and 
Logistics).  Toren said more consideration needs to be given 
to optimizing U.S.-Israeli cooperative research on defense 
and counterterrorism technologies, noting that Israel's 
contributions in counter-IED technology are just a "sample" 
of what can be done.  Toren noted that he also met with 
Defense Under Secretary for Policy Edelman to discuss Israeli 
defense contracts with Venezuela, and looks forward to 
further discussion of the matter at the Joint Pol-Mil Working 
Group session in Israel in January. 
 
4. (C) Toren noted that Israel's anxiety level over Iran's 
nuclear program had increased palpably over the last few 
days.  He said Israel understands European and Russian 
positions, but looks to the U.S. to set the world approach 
and timetable.  He acknowledged that some Israeli 
politicians' comments on Iran have been intemperate, but 
assured the Ambassador that Israel will work for a 
"responsible solution."  Toren said that "Syria is being 
taken care of, but Hizballah is not being treated fully in 
the way we expect."  (NOTE: Toren did not elaborate on his 
comment regarding Hizballah.  END NOTE.) 
 
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MOD MAKING CHANGES TO IMPROVE EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM 
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5. (C) Without prompting, Toren said that the MOD is 
implementing the Statement of Understanding (SOU) and making 
regulatory and administrative changes to Israel's export 
control system.  Toren said he will enact those changes in 
parallel to legislative work being carried out by the 
Knesset, and stressed that, "We cannot wait for the Knesset." 
 In response to the Ambassador's query on the possibility of 
an inter-ministerial export licensing process in the future, 
Toren said that this cannot be done:  "It would take at least 
three years for the MFA and other GOI agencies to get up to 
speed on the issues."  The Ambassador praised GOI efforts to 
date to make needed changes to its export control system and 
implement the SOU.  He cautioned, however, that restoring USG 
trust in Israel's export control system would take time and 
require more work on Israel's behalf.  He urged Toren to 
consider allowing a greater role for the MFA in the export 
control system. 
 
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ISRAEL TO CAUTIOUSLY PUNISH SOURCES OF NETANYA TERROR ATTACK 
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6. (C) The Ambassador expressed condolences for the families 
and victims of the suicide bombing that took place earlier in 
the day in Netanya, killing five people and wounding 50.  The 
Ambassador said he understands that Israel will want to 
punish terrorist group reponsible for the attack, but urged 
that Israel strive for precision and avoid other measures 
which could have unintended negative consequences on economic 
activity.  Toren suggested that terrorists in the Al Qaeda 
mold (i.e., PIJ) were behind the attack, and that they 
probably hope to influence the domestic political situation. 
He noted that he would be meeting with DefMin Mofaz 
immediately after his meeting with the Ambassador to discuss 
options for a response. 
 
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JONES