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 03 TEL AVIV 001945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM KPAL KWBG IR LE IS KNNC UN GOI EXTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: A/S SILVERBERG AND FM LIVNI DISCUSS IRAN, 
CONVERGENCE, AND UN/PALESTINIAN ISSUES 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons: 1.4 (B and D). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told IO 
A/S Silverberg and the Ambassador May 14 that time is running 
out in the international community's efforts to prevent Iran 
from developing a nuclear weapon.  She outlined Israel's 
justification for the "convergence" plan, denying that the 
GOI intends to act unilaterally and explaining the need for 
international support.  Livni noted Israel's desire for 
greater involvement in UN institutions and asked whether the 
international community's resolve against Hamas could be 
leveraged into a less anti-Israel position within the UN. 
Livni cautioned against allowing internal politics in Lebanon 
to distract from full implementation of UNSCR 1559.  The 
Ambassador and Assistant Secretary raised a number of 
Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) and humanitarian 
issues, including security for President Mahmud Abbas, the 
customs protocol, exports from Gaza, the Security Working 
Group, the EU's temporary international mechanism, medical 
payments to the  Augusta Victoria Hospital, and fuel 
supplies.  The meeting concluded with a discussion of 
anti-trafficking efforts, with the Ambassador and A/S 
Silverberg urging additional steps prior to PM Ehud Olmert's 
upcoming visit to Washington.  FM Livni was accompanied by 
Director General Ron Prosor, Deputy Director General for the 
UN and International Organizations Aharon "Ronny" Leshno 
Yaar, Chief of Staff Yaki Dayan, Director for UN Political 
Affairs Roni Adam, and Special Adviser Hillel Newman.  End 
summary. 
 
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IRAN: TIME IS WORKING AGAINST US 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Livni expressed concern that time to prevent Iran 
from developing nuclear weapons is running out.  In her 
assessment, Russia will not support UNSC sanctions.  "The 
question," she added, "is what will the United States do?" 
A/S Silverberg said the EU is preparing a package of 
"positive and negative consequences" for Iran.  The U.S. and 
the EU will endorse incentives if Iran abandons its nuclear 
ambitions, and will ask Russia and China to agree to the 
negative consequences if Iran persists.  The more difficult 
debate in the UNSC will be on a second resolution that will 
be required to impose sanctions if Iran continues to defy the 
international community.  She said that the USG does not have 
unlimited patience and will move outside the UNSC if 
necessary.  Livni asked about the possibility of using the 
G-8 to pressure Iran.  A/S Silverberg replied that the USG is 
considering all alternatives. 
 
¶3.  (C) Livni complained that Iran does not pay any price for 
President Ahmadinejad's unacceptable anti-Israel statements. 
She suggested that the UNSC consider a new resolution 
condemning Iran's bellicose position against a fellow UN 
member state.  A/S Silverberg replied that the USG is open to 
such suggestions, but would need to carefully consider timing 
so as not to give UNSC members the opportunity to focus on 
this resolution in place of other tough actions on Iran.  She 
noted that the Secretary expresses outrage at Ahmadinejad's 
statements whenever she discusses Iran. 
 
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CONVERGENCE PROMOTES A TWO-STATE SOLUTION 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Livni outlined the GOI's justification for the 
"convergence" plan, which will remove settlers from east of 
the separation barrier while consolidating remaining 
settlements west of the barrier.  She maintained that the 
Palestinians are not fulfilling their obligations under the 
Roadmap; Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas is 
incapable of taking necessary steps and Hamas has no interest 
in doing so.  This situation, in her analysis, condemns any 
Israeli-Palestinian negotiation at present to failure and 
will inevitably lead to stagnation and violence. 
Consequently, Israel -- in conjunction with the international 
community -- wants to examine other options.  She described 
the role of the international community, especially the 
United States, as "essential" in promoting and implementing a 
two-state solution.  She said that PM Olmert plans to discuss 
the plan in general terms with the President on May 23. 
 
¶5.  (C) Complaining that "Israel is being misunderstood," 
Livni acknowledged that it is "not in Israel's interests to 
take unilateral steps."  She stressed that the GOI sees 
convergence as compatible with the Roadmap because it divides 
the historical "Land of Israel" into two and creates the 
possibility of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state, 
while leaving what she called the "hard core of the conflict" 
-- refugees and Jerusalem -- for final status talks.  She 
expressed optimism that the USG and GOI would not differ 
significantly on the route of the "fence" and "borders" that 
would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side-by-side in 
relative peace and security.  She acknowledged, however, that 
the Palestinians will not accept anything less than 
negotiated final borders.  The Ambassador noted that 
statements on unilateral moves and final borders have also 
raised the anxiety of some Quartet members.  He suggested 
that the GOI emphasize elements of its plan that will ease 
the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians.  Livni said that 
ending the occupation is in the interests of both sides. 
Israel is willing to "make a real change" and take "risky 
steps," but the GOI needs the support of the international 
community. 
 
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ISRAELI INVOLVEMENT AT THE UN AND CONCERNS ABOUT HAMAS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Livni told A/S Silverberg that Israel wants to be 
involved more broadly in the UN, not just on issues related 
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  MFA Deputy 
Director-General for the UN and International Organizations 
Ronny Leshno Yaar noted that he had discussed this issue in 
depth with A/S Silverberg on May 11 (septel), especially 
Israel's desire for greater interaction in the Western 
European and Others Group (WEOG).  A/S Silverberg agreed that 
the goal is to ensure Israeli participation in WEOG's policy 
discussions, not just election issues.  She noted that Yaar 
had promised to develop a non-paper with priorities.  She 
suggested that Israel focus on a small number of issues 
outside the region, mentioning human rights in Burma as an 
example, and noted that it will be easiest to make progress 
in technical organizations, citing Israeli involvement at the 
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  A/S 
Silverberg said that such activities help reinforce the idea 
that Israel can be a constructive player on all issues. 
 
¶7.  (C) Livni expressed concern that UN contacts with the PA 
could weaken the Quartet's strong principles on Hamas.  She 
asked whether the international community's united stand 
against Hamas could be leveraged to alter UN policy on issues 
such as the separation barrier and settlements, or at least 
to reduce the number of gratuitous references to Israel in 
unrelated resolutions and statements.  A/S Silverberg said 
she had reiterated the USG's views on contacts with Hamas 
during recent meetings with UN officials in both New York and 
in Jerusalem.  She agreed that gratuitous references to 
Israel continue to be a concern. 
 
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LEBANON AND SYRIA:  IMPLEMENT 1559 FULLY 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) Livni expressed understanding for the international 
community's desire to strengthen Lebanese PM Siniora, but 
said that this policy should not be linked to Lebanon's full 
implementation of UNSCR 1559.  Livni compared Siniora to PA 
President Abbas, complaining that both want "something 
without doing anything."  She urged the international 
community to save any rewards for Siniora until after he has 
earned them.  A/S Silverberg stressed that the USG continues 
to call for full implementation of UNSCR 1559 and described 
efforts to negotiate a solution in New York.  When asked 
about the Sheba farms/Har Dov area, Livni urged the 
international community to take Israeli considerations into 
account and not leave the border demarcation solely to 
Lebanon and Syria. 
 
----------------- 
AMA and PA Issues 
----------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Noting concerns about the personal security of 
President Abbas and the important role played by the 
Presidential Guard at Rafah, the Ambassador asked the GOI to 
provide permission for donors to supply the Presidential 
Guard with a limited quantity of ammunition.  The Ambassador 
also repeated previous requests on Agreement on Movement and 
Access (AMA) issues, including Israeli acceptance of a 
customs protocol, GOI participation in the Security Working 
Group, and increasing opportunities for Palestinian exports 
through Karni.  Chief of Staff Yaki Dayan interjected that 
the problem at Karni is related to scanning containers.  The 
Ambassador replied that the USG has provided a scanner 
capable of addressing this problem and could deploy a second 
one to accelerate processing if need be.  Livni said she 
would check with her Cabinet colleagues on the ammunition and 
AMA issues. 
 
¶10.  (C) The Ambassador raised the EU's work on a temporary 
international mechanism to ensure direct delivery of 
humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.  He 
suggested that the GOI has an opportunity to influence the EU 
by explaining its plans to use PA tax revenues for 
humanitarian purposes.  Beyond payments for electricity, 
water, and medicine, he inquired whether the tax revenues 
could be utilized for fuel purchases, e.g., some sort of 
humanitarian fuel reserve under NGO oversight.  Livni noted 
that Abbas had so far not used assets from the Palestinian 
Investment Fund to finance fuel or salaries and has been 
ambiguous when addressing the issue with donors.  Saying 
"maybe he (Abbas) knows better," Livni suggested that an 
alternate funding mechanism might work against the interests 
of Abbas.  In response to a comment by the Ambassador, MFA 
Director General Ron Prosor said the GOI is close to 
resolving the issue of funding for Palestinian patients at 
the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. 
 
------------------------ 
Anti-trafficking Efforts 
------------------------ 
 
¶11.  (C) In preparation for PM Olmert's upcoming visit to 
Washington, the Ambassador mentioned the President's strong 
interest in world-wide anti-trafficking efforts.  He urged 
the GOI to maintain momentum against trafficking in persons, 
suggesting that the GOI consider further action on a draft 
bill to criminalize labor trafficking.  The Assistant 
Secretary reinforced these points.  Livni said that she had 
 
SIPDIS 
discussed anti-trafficking efforts with PM Olmert earlier 
that morning.  Saying that the United States is "pushing on 
an open door," she added that the GOI intends to issue a 
statement on the issue prior to Olmert's trip.  She also 
welcomed the Ambassador's expressed intention to broach the 
draft bill with Justice Minister Haim Ramon, who is 
responsible for managing the GOI's legislative agenda.  Livni 
and Prosor both noted that she had discussed anti-trafficking 
difficulties along the Egyptian border during her last visit 
to Washington. 
 
¶12.  (U) This cable was cleared by A/S Silverberg. 
 
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