This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000543 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SECRETARY RICE 
NSC FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER 
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT 
NEW YORK FOR AMBASSADOR BOLTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KWBG KPAL IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: YOUR MEETING WITH ISRAELI FM TZIPI LIVNI 
 
REF: A) TEL AVIV 0515 B) TEL AVIV 0282 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
¶1. (C) Tzipi Livni's first visit to Washington and New York 
as Foreign Minister offers her a chance to demonstrate on an 
international stage the same confidence, frankness and poise 
that have made her one of Israel's most popular politicians. 
Considered too young, at 47, to be Prime Minister Sharon's 
deputy, Livni has assumed this role under Alternate Prime 
Minister Ehud Olmert, even though Shimon Peres technically 
outranks her.  In parliament for less than seven years, Livni 
has already held seven ministerial portfolios and has 
developed into one of the most influential leaders of the 
centrist Kadima party.  She is still learning to juggle her 
three current ministerial jobs while simultaneously 
spearheading much of Kadima's campaign efforts and raising 
two sons.  In the event of a Kadima victory on March 28, this 
former lawyer and Mossad agent will likely have her pick of 
cabinet postings. 
 
¶2. (C) The Foreign Minister has three clear priorities for 
her February 6-8 visit: 1) discussing how to deal with the 
Palestinians; 2) countering threats from Iran and Hizballah; 
and 3) obtaining U.S. financial assistance for protecting the 
border from Gaza to Eilat.  Following Sharon's departure from 
the political scene and the surprise Hamas victory, Livni's 
visit comes at a time when the Israeli public is increasingly 
worried about the future.  The Israeli Government is 
uncertain how to deal with the Palestinians and concerned 
about what course the United States will ultimately take.  As 
a result, Livni will be seeking private and public 
reassurances of our opposition to Hamas and support for 
Israel. 
 
¶3. (C) Livni is nervous about a possible U.S. rejection or 
postponement of Israel's request for assistance.  In the wake 
of the victory by Hamas, she now sees protection of the 
southern border as an urgent need and may press for inclusion 
of funding for security upgrades in the USG's February budget 
supplemental request.  For her, such a step would boost both 
Israel's security and Kadima's political future.  It would 
also provide a visible sign of U.S. support for 
disengagement, the removal of illegal outposts, and efforts 
to re-focus settlement activity away from the West Bank. 
Livni and Olmert are anxious for good news from Washington to 
help counter images of truncheon-wielding mounted policemen 
charging lines of teenage protesters during the February 1 
removal of part of the Amona outpost near Ramallah.  They 
also want to quiet criticism from the right following the 
Cabinet's decision on February 5 to transfer tax and custom 
revenues to the Palestinians. 
 
¶4. (C) In discussions with the Embassy, Livni has predicted 
that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- and not economic 
issues -- will determine the winner of the March 28 Knesset 
elections.  Livni's position on peace with the Palestinians 
has evolved over the years from vocal criticism of the Oslo 
process to support for the roadmap and territorial compromise 
as necessary steps to maintain Israel's Jewish character. 
She has clear reservations about continued revenue transfers 
to the Palestinians after Hamas forms a government and is 
sensitive to U.S. pressure on the issue.  She has, however, 
admitted the logic of strengthening President Abbas before 
Hamas assumes power.  While in Washington, she needs to hear 
that we are working to address Israel's concerns with 
implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access, 
particularly regarding the Rafah crossing.  Her visit follows 
what Livni describes as a "very positive" February 1 trip to 
Cairo, where she met alone with President Mubarak for more 
than two hours. 
 
¶5. (C) Livni has welcomed the President's February 1 remarks 
on Israel and Iran.  She may reiterate Israel's view that the 
Lebanese Armed Forces should deploy along the blue line to 
prevent continued attacks by Hizballah. 
 
¶6. (C) We understand that Livni is quite legalistic in her 
approach to issues.  Senior advisers at the MFA told us that 
they are trying to get her to focus on the "bigger picture," 
i.e., the international political context in which events are 
taking place.  The Foreign Ministry staff has welcomed the 
changeover from former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who 
did not have Livni's political savvy or influence with Sharon 
and Olmert. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
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