US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV6799

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006799 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, KWBG, KPAL, IR, IS, LE, SY, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, GOI EXTERNAL, U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: SHALOM OUTLINES GOI REACTION TO ATTACK, BLAMES PA 
PRESIDENT ABBAS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told the 
Ambassador December 6 that in response to the December 5 
Netanya terrorist attack, the Security Cabinet decided to 
cancel special travel privileges for Palestinian VIPs, to 
resume targeted killings, and to combat terrorism and arms 
smuggling into Gaza by other security measures.  Shalom 
called on the international community to pressure Abbas to 
act against terrorist infrastructure.  On other matters, 
Shalom expressed satisfaction with the resumption of the 
Strategic Dialogue between Israel and the U.S., and 
underlined his view that the USG must act to prevent Iran 
from producing nuclear weapons.  Within the context of his 
recent visit to Tunisia, Shalom noted the GOI's intention of 
developing ties with Muslim countries, including through 
"trilateral" relationships involving third parties.  Building 
on an idea presented by MFA's DG Ron Prosor during the 
November 28 Strategic Dialogue meeting in Washington, Shalom 
asked for USG assistance in developing a "trilateral" 
relationship with Lebanon.  The Ambassador asked for a more 
detailed presentation of GOI thinking in this area, but also 
offered to explore possibilities on the U.S. side.   Shalom 
also took credit for solving the tax issue concerning the 
Jerusalem Consulate annex construction project and asked the 
Ambassador to inform the Secretary.  End summary. 
 
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Shalom: Israel Will "Do The Work" if Abbas Will Not 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
2.  (C) Shalom met with the Ambassador directly after he 
participated in a special morning Security Cabinet meeting to 
discuss what actions the GOI should take in response to the 
Netanya terrorist attack in which five people were killed and 
over 50 wounded.  The meeting began with a short press 
availability during which Shalom -- in Likud candidate mode 
-- criticized the PA for not acting against terrorism and 
discussed measures the Security Cabinet decided to take in 
response to the attack.  He called on the international 
community to pressure PA President Mahmud Abbas to act 
against terrorism.  Shalom said that the GOI will convey 
information to the USG and other countries on what he claimed 
is a large amount of weapons that have been smuggled into 
Gaza from Egypt since Israel left Gaza in August.  He also 
criticized Syria for what he said is its role in supporting 
terrorism in Israel.  As part of the press availability, the 
Ambassador offered his condolences to the Israeli people and 
stressed that such attacks not only take innocent Israeli 
lives, but damage the hopes and dreams of the Palestinian 
people. 
 
3.  (C) Shalom told the Ambassador that the Netanya attack 
had "damaged efforts to move forward" with the Palestinians. 
He noted that when he was in Tunisia in mid-November, he met 
twice with PA President Abbas and "begged him" to do 
something against terrorism.  Shalom said that Abbas 
complained about being too weak to act.  Comparing Abbas to 
Arafat, who, Shalom claimed, used the same complaint, Shalom 
also noted that Abbas refuses to bar Hamas from the upcoming 
Palestinian Legislative Council elections.  Shalom outlined 
what decisions the Security Cabinet took earlier in the day 
as a response to the attack, including: 
 
-- canceling Palestinian VIP travel privileges; 
-- restricting access into Israel of Palestinian workers; 
-- resuming "targeted killings" of "ticking bombs." 
 
4.  (C) Commenting that the situation "looks very bad," 
Shalom said that "it's election time now...everyone's blaming 
Sharon for leaving Gaza and not getting anything in return." 
The Ambassador noted that all indications show that the 
perpetrator of the Netanya attack was from the West Bank and 
not from Gaza. 
 
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Strategic Dialogue 
------------------ 
 
5.  (C) Turning to other matters, Shalom expressed 
satisfaction with the resumption of the U.S.-Israel Strategic 
Dialogue in Washington last week.  He said he is happy that 
the next meeting will take place in Israel.  Shalom 
underlined his concern over Iran's nuclear program. 
Asserting that Iran is "very close" to producing nuclear 
weapons, Shalom cautioned that the USG should not 
"subcontract out" to other countries the job of dealing with 
Iran. 
 
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GOI Seeks Trilateral Plans 
-------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Discussing the GOI's ongoing efforts to enhance 
relations with certain Muslim countries, Shalom said he was 
very well received in Tunisia.  Shalom said he was treated as 
a head of state, and joked that it was as if they already 
knew his future.  Shalom said that at a state dinner, he sat 
with several Muslim heads of state, including the presidents 
of Algeria, Sudan, and Mauritania.  He said he also met with 
the president of Mauritania and the foreign minister of 
Tunisia.  In recounting some of the Muslim countries with 
which the GOI had made contact, Shalom listed Pakistan, 
Indonesia, Qatar, and Oman, and said that he will "keep 
confidential" the names of other countries.  He said that 
 
SIPDIS 
Saudi Arabia is one of the only countries with which Israel 
has had no contact.  The GOI has noted a difference in 
relations with Pakistan since his meeting with Pakistan's 
foreign minister, with Israeli diplomats in various countries 
now receiving social invitations from Pakistani embassies. 
Shalom said that Israel once had a channel with Malaysia, and 
suggested that USG assistance could be useful in 
re-establishing contact.  Shalom also claimed that Iraq has 
been interested in establishing ties to Israel -- more so 
than vice versa. 
 
7.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's query as to whether 
the GOI has a larger plan to develop relations with Muslim 
countries, Shalom said that the GOI is now using "trilateral" 
approaches, whereby it provides technological, agricultural 
or other support to Muslim countries with the financial 
support of a third country or party whose involvement 
provides necessary political cover.  He gave the example of 
Israel providing Tunisia with technological support for a 
project that is being funded by UNESCO.  He also mentioned a 
project the GOI is doing in Egypt funded by the Japanese 
Government.  Shalom said that it is easier for Israel to 
undertake projects in Muslim countries through third parties. 
 Building on an idea presented by MFA's DG Ron Prosor during 
the November 28 Strategic Dialogue meeting in Washington, 
Shalom asked whether the USG could help establish a 
trilateral dialog with Lebanon.  He asked the Ambassador for 
project ideas and personal contacts in Lebanon with whom the 
GOI could meet "outside the region" to discuss such a 
project.  The Ambassador asked for more details of the GOI's 
thinking in this area and said that he would consult within 
the USG on how we might be of help. 
 
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Other Issues 
------------ 
 
8.  (C) Turning to other matters, Shalom told the Ambassador 
that he had "solved" the tax problem that Secretary Rice had 
discussed with him during their November 14 meeting and that 
this is not a problem for the USG anymore. He asked the 
Ambassador to convey the news to the Secretary. 
 
9.  (C) In response to an earlier query by Shalom, the 
Ambassador noted that the visa waiver program is only 
available to countries that have a two percent or less 
refusal rate.  Since Israel has approximately an eight 
percent refusal rate, it would not be eligible.  Shalom said 
that he believes that the Israeli-Arab applicants raise the 
refusal rate for Israel due to their relatively low 
socio-economic status. 
 
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