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

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 001582 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA (MAHER) 
STATE FOR S/CT (AMBASSADOR CRUMPTON) AND NP/RA (ODLUM) 
PENTAGON FOR OSD ISRAEL DESK OFFICER (ANDERSON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016 
TAGS: PREL PTER PINS MASS MNUC EG SY LE IR IS GOI EXTERNAL COUNTERTERRORISM
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DEFMIN MOFAZ DISCUSSES IRAN, TERROR THREAT 
WITH SENATORS COCHRAN, DODD AND GREGG 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones.  Reason: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (S) In a meeting April 20 with Senators Thad Cochran 
(R-MS), Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), Israeli 
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz expressed Israel's gratitude for 
U.S. support in the Global War on Terror, and its cooperation 
in military and defense industry matters.  Mofaz listed the 
threats to Israel -- beginning with the greatest -- as Iran, 
Palestinian terrorism, Syria and Lebanon, and the Global 
Jihad.  On Iran, he said that he is against military action 
at the moment, preferring the route of effective UNSC 
sanctions with the hope they will inspire internal pressure 
on Ahmadinejad's extremist regime.  He explained that 
Palestinian terrorist groups have increased their attacks 
against Israelis since Hamas took control of the Palestinian 
Authority, and said that Israel considers the PA a terrorist 
state.  Mofaz described how Syria uses Hizballah to keep 
Israel tied up on its northern border, and sends direction, 
know-how and financial support to terrorist groups in the 
Occupied Territories.  As for the Global Jihad, Mofaz warned 
that Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad are trying to penetrate 
Israel.  Senators Cochran, Dodd and Greg assured the Defense 
Minister of America's support for Israel.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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IRAN IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO ISRAEL 
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¶2. (S) DefMin Mofaz said Iran is currently the greatest 
threat to Israel, and noted that Tehran had announced in 
March its successful enrichment of uranium as part of its R&D 
program.  In Israel's view, Iran is "running quickly" to 
achieve a nuclear weapons capability -- a prospect which 
threatens not only Israel, but also the region and 
international security.  Mofaz said he would take any chance 
to stop Iran from acquiring such a capability -- as long as 
the cost merited the risk -- but stressed that he is against 
military action at this stage.  "Let the UN Security Council 
impose effective sanctions on Iran.  My hope is that after 
1-2 years, the Iranian people would rise up against the 
regime" and pressure it to abandon its program.  Mofaz 
suggested that the U.S. should ask for a "deep and large" 
inspection of all of Iran's nuclear sites. He added that he 
had doubts about the effectiveness of a military strike 
against Iran at this time, saying that while much is known 
about Iran's overt, civilian nuclear program, there are gaps 
in intelligence about its covert military program.  Drawing 
analogies to Hitler, Mofaz stressed that Iranian President 
Ahmadinejad appears outrageous in his behavior and claims, 
but must be taken seriously.  He said that Iran is dangerous 
also because of its missile program, and the leadership role 
it plays in radical Islamist movements in the region.  He 
feared Iran would use a nuclear arsenal as a shield to enable 
it to step up its destabilizing efforts. 
 
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THE RISE OF HAMAS 
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¶3. (S) Mofaz said that the Hamas-led PA's outrageous response 
to terrorist attacks -- including the April 17 suicide 
bombing in Tel Aviv that killed 9 and injured dozens -- 
justifies Israel's decision to make no distinction between 
the PA and Hamas.  "The PA and Hamas are one entity, and they 
share the same address," he added.  He noted that the PA 
government to date has refused to accept the three conditions 
the Quartet has set for the resumption of peace process 
negotiations, and that the PA failed to condemn the April 17 
suicide bombing -- describing it instead as a "defensive 
action."  He added that the PA had never reacted on 
information on planned terrorist activity that the Israeli 
security services gave it in the past.  Mofaz said attacks 
have increased since January because terrorist groups are 
inspired by Hamas's victory in the January elections, and 
because groups like the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) wish 
to demonstrate that they "represent the Palestinians' true 
aspirations for freedom."  Mofaz claimed that PIJ and other 
terrorist groups in the Occupied Territories have received 
USD ten million dollars, and direction and know-how from Iran 
and Syria since the beginning of the year. 
 
¶4. (S) When Senator Dodd noted that he would be traveling on 
to Egypt, Mofaz asked him to tell the Egyptians to stop the 
smuggling of terrorists and weapons from Egypt into Gaza 
through the Rafah passage.  Senator Dodd praised Israel for 
showing restraint in its response to the April 17 suicide 
bombing.  Mofaz replied that he believes that Israel needs to 
be patient and balanced in responding to terrorist attacks. 
He added that Israel is trying to ease the Palestinian 
people's suffering, and does not wish to see a humanitarian 
catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.  He said 
that it is important that USAID continue its work with the 
Palestinians to address their humanitarian needs.  Mofaz 
added that Israel keeps the Karni passage between Israel and 
the Gaza Strip open in the face of constant terrorist threats 
so that the Palestinian people can receive goods.  The 
Defense Minister added that Israel is ready for a dialogue 
with the Palestinians according to the Roadmap "the moment 
Hamas accepts the Quartet's conditions." 
 
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SYRIA IS WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO STRIKE 
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¶5. (S) Mofaz said that Syria is under incredible pressure 
from the international community, and is looking for any 
opportunity to open up a second front on Israel's northern 
border with the hope of deflecting attention away from its 
own problems.  He said it would accomplish this by unleashing 
Hizballah and the other terrorist groups that it is harboring 
in Damascus.  Mofaz recounted that Hizballah continues to 
launch Katyusha rockets into Israel, and has tried to 
infiltrate into northern Israel with the aim of kidnapping 
soldiers.  He claimed that Hizballah possesses Fajar-5 and 
Fajar-7 long-range rockets with ranges of 40 kilometers. 
Mofaz said that Syria is allowing Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad 
terrorists to cross Syria into Iraq so that they can strike 
at U.S. and coalition forces there. 
 
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THE GLOBAL JIHAD IS TRYING TO PENETRATE ISRAEL 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6. (S) Mofaz claimed that Al Qaeda and the Islamic Jihad are 
patiently working to penetrate Israel, and have already 
established contacts with sympathetic Palestinians.  He said 
that both groups have been very active in Egypt and Jordan 
over the last two years, and claimed that they were behind 
the launching of Katyushas from southern Lebanon into 
northern Israel in recent months.  Mofaz noted that Israel 
has ongoing strategic dialogues with the U.S., Egypt and 
Jordan regarding the Global Jihad and the Iranian nuclear 
threat, but urged more intelligence cooperation with the 
U.S., especially on the ground. 
 
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DEFMIN URGES MORE CT AND DEFENSE INDUSTRY COOPERATION 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶7. (S) In response to a question from Senator Dodd, Mofaz 
said that the U.S., Israel and European intelligence agencies 
need to cooperate more on Iran.  He added that he plans to 
make this point when he visits the U.S. "in the next few 
months."  Mofaz praised the results of long-standing 
U.S.-Israeli joint defense projects -- e.g., the Arrow and 
Patriot anti-missile programs, reactive armor, and the means 
to detect and destroy IEDs -- and said that more should be 
done in this area, especially in counterterrorism 
technologies.  MOD Director General Jacob Toren cited the 
State Department's Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) 
program as an excellent program that yields effective CT 
technologies in a short period of time.  He noted that the 
products are co-produced, and are being fielded by U.S. and 
Israeli military and CT forces to their countries' mutual 
benefits.  Toren said Israel seeks continued political and 
financial support from both the Administration and Congress 
for these kinds of "win-win" programs. 
 
¶8. (S) Senators Cochran, Dodd and Gregg made it clear that 
the reason for their visit was to reassure Israel of 
America's steadfast support, especially in light of the 
current situation with Hamas running the Palestinian 
Authority.  They said that the Iranian missile and nuclear 
threats demonstrate the need for continued U.S.-Israel 
cooperation.  The senators said that the USG has spoken 
clearly and forcefully on all of these issues, and expressed 
their hope that Congress's involvement will contribute to 
U.S. policy and deter -- if not prevent -- Iran from 
acquiring a nuclear capability. 
 
¶9. (U) Senators Cochran, Dodd and Gregg did not have an 
opportunity to review this cable. 
 
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JONES