US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV6874

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006874 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE 
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
USMISSION GENEVA 
USMISSION UNESCO PARIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECON, KWBG, IS, TS, EG, LE, AG, JO, IR, GOI EXTERNAL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: (C) FM SHALOM DISCUSSES SECURITY CONCERNS, 
RELATIONS WITH MUSLIM COUNTRIES WITH A/S WELCH 
 
Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: NEA Assistant Secretary David Welch on 
December 8 met with FM Silvan Shalom to discuss regional and 
Israeli-Palestinian issues.  Shalom expressed concern about 
the security situation, claiming that there had been an 
increase in infiltrations by terrorists and weapons smuggling 
since the opening of the passages.  While reiterating U.S. 
support for Israel's right to defend itself, A/S Welch 
cautioned that retaliation against terrorists should be 
calibrated to not adversely affect people who simply want to 
trade or travel.  Shalom detailed progress in relations with 
Muslim countries and asked for U.S. help in promoting such 
ties.  End summary. 
 
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Concern about the Security Situation 
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2. (C) NEA Assistant Secretary David Welch met with FM Silvan 
Shalom December 8 to discuss regional and Israeli-Palestinian 
issues.  Shalom expressed concern about the current security 
situation.  He said that Islamic Jihad continues to fire 
rockets into Israel and claimed that the smuggling of weapons 
and infiltration from Egypt to Gaza and into Israel has 
increased since the opening of the passages.  The Netanya 
suicide bomber had, he said, entered Israel through one of 
the "gates" (in the barrier in the West Bank).  Shalom said 
that it is difficult to check 100 percent of all vehicles 
entering Israel.  He noted that he had raised this problem in 
meetings with Abbas in Tunis and had warned him that Hamas 
could undermine the existence of the Palestinian Authority 
(PA).  Pointing to the example of Hizballah, Shalom cautioned 
that Hamas could become more powerful following the 
Palestinian elections.  A/S Welch asserted that the GOI's 
withdrawal from Gaza presents the Palestinians with a great 
opportunity for progress, but, at the same time, the security 
of Israel must be maintained.  The U.S. publicly and 
privately supports Israel's right to defend itself, he said. 
A/S Welch noted, however, that in bringing the terrorists to 
account, it is important not to punish those people who just 
want to trade or travel. 
 
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Relations with Muslim Countries 
--------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Shalom expressed great satisfaction with his visit to 
Tunis and detailed how well his hosts and the other guests 
treated him.  He pointed out that he shared a table with 
heads of state or government from Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan, 
and Qatar as well as with Mahmud Abbas, wryly noting that no 
one, except Abbas, spoke to him.  Shalom noted the progress 
in relations between Israel and Arab and Muslim states; 
previously, Arab representatives would leave the hall if a 
representative of Israel was addressing the gathering, but 
not now, he said. Shalom said that currently there are many 
opportunities to improve relations with Muslim states.  He 
said that Israel would like to start a dialogue with former 
Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri's son, Lebanon's Druze 
community, and other moderates in that country.  Shalom said 
the new president of Mauritania has said that he wants to 
continue relations with Israel. 
 
4.  (C) Shalom claimed that Iraqi representatives have 
expressed an interest in having relations with Israel. 
Israel, however, is very cautious, believing that the time 
might be too soon for the Iraqis to take this step without 
causing themselves further problems.  He asked for U.S. help 
in letting Israel know when would be the right time to take 
up the Iraqi offer.  He said that now would be a good time to 
try to upgrade relations with Pakistan, the Gulf countries, 
and Morocco.  Shalom said that other countries (Jordan) 
follow the lead of Egypt, which has good relations with 
Israel, Tunisia and Morocco.  Shalom asked that the U.S. 
influence Morocco to renew an active dialogue with Israel, 
which has been sidelined since Hariri's assassination in 
February.  He said that the GOI is discussing direct flights 
to Tunisia and the possibility of doing things in that 
country under the umbrella of UNESCO. 
 
5.  (C) A/S Welch advised Shalom to proceed carefully with 
Lebanon, because the government there is divided and needs to 
increase in confidence.  He said that King Abdullah of Jordan 
seems determined to go ahead with reforms, despite the recent 
suicide bombing in Amman.  A/S Welch noted that Abdullah had 
appointed a minister who formerly served in Israel, and there 
had been no reaction from the Arab press.  This is a sign of 
progress, he said.  On Iran, A/S Welch said that the Iranian 
president's statements on Israel are galvanizing further 
European disdain.  He said that the current policy on the 
Iran nuclear issue is meeting with some success 
diplomatically, but the U.S. remains cautious. 
 
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MDA, Strategic Dialogue 
----------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Shalom thanked the U.S. for its active support of the 
Third Protocol, adoption of which December 7 in Geneva paves 
the way for entry of Magen David Adom into the Red Cross/Red 
Crescent movement.  A/S Welch commented that the strategic 
dialogue in Washington had been very successful and said that 
the U.S. is taking a serious look at a number of Israeli 
proposals, he said. 
 
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JONES