VZCZCXRO0006
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHTV #0762/01 0921151
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 011151Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6114
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000762 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
H PASS TO CODEL MCCAIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV IS OVIP IR
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: PERES MEETS MCCAIN, WARNS OF 
GROWING IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN LEVANT, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES 
 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD H. JONES FOR REASONS 1. 
4 (B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (U) This cable replaces Tel Aviv 731.  Please see 
correction in paragraph 6. 
 
¶2. (C) Summary. On 18 March, U.S. Senators John McCain, 
Joseph Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham met with Israeli 
President Shimon Peres to discuss security concerns in the 
region. Their discussion centered on the growing threats of 
Iranian nuclear development and expansionism.  Peres 
highlighted the growing Iranian influence in Syria, Lebanon, 
and the Palestinian Territories, and noted that this 
influence combined with the lack of strong national 
leaderships is already having significant destabilizing 
effects in the region. End Summary. 
 
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IRAN 
---- 
 
¶3. (C) In a meeting on 18 March, U.S. Senators John McCain, 
Joseph Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham met with Israeli 
President Shimon Peres to discuss security concerns in the 
region.  Peres raised the issue of Iranian nuclear 
development and expansionism as the most significant 
challenge, not only to Israeli security, but to that of the 
region and the world.  He pointed to Iran's development of 
expensive long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear 
warheads, and questioned the need for these weapons if Iran 
does not aspire to nuclear weapons capability, as its 
leadership has claimed. Peres highlighted the destabilizing 
effects of Iranian expansionism in Syria and Lebanon, and 
noted that this is a major impediment to potential 
negotiations on the Golan Heights. Peres was emphatic in 
stressing that Syria cannot claim the Golan Heights while 
still supporting Iranian efforts to turn Lebanon into a 
satellite state by way of its patronage of Hizballah. He 
suggested that the Arab world needs to look at these issues 
and be willing to contribute to a solution. 
 
¶4. (S) Senator McCain echoed Peres's concerns, noting that 
his visit to Iraq several days prior had left him with an 
even greater sense of the threat posed by Iranian ambitions. 
He pointed to intelligence reports that Iran is now sending 
dangerous copper explosives into Iraq, and directing funds 
through Hizballah to train and send more terrorists into the 
country, as well. Senator Lieberman observed that Iran is 
likewise gaining a foothold in the Palestinian arena, most 
especially through its growing influence in Hamas, and 
suggested that this influence could threaten 
Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. 
 
------ 
JORDAN 
------ 
 
¶5. (C) Asked by Senator Lieberman what could be done to 
reduce Iranian influence in Israel-Palestinian peace 
negotiations, Peres replied that Jordan would be an 
especially important country moving forward towards the 
establishment of a Palestinian state.  He suggested that 
Jordan would be ready and willing to help stabilize a 
Palestinian government and to help build a secure and 
"hi-tech" Palestinian economy.  This would be essential, 
Peres argued, in showing Gazans that there is a better 
alternative. 
 
----- 
SYRIA 
----- 
 
¶6. (C) McCain asked Peres to provide his perspective on the 
Syrian regime and specifically on Bashar al-Asad.  Peres 
replied that Bashar "suffers from the fact of having a wise 
father," because the same can rarely be said of the son.   He 
noted that the Syrian leader is full of hesitation and 
indecision, and provided the example of Bashar's 
contradictory statements about the existence of a Syrian 
nuclear facility and Israel's alleged bombing of it.  Peres 
suggested that Bashar is a fundamentally flawed leader and 
will remain unable to make the decisions necessary to advance 
any potential peace negotiations. He said of the Syrian 
leader, "what we need to do is replace him, not negotiate 
with him."  (NOTE: REFTEL reported that this remark 
referenced Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.  This is 
incorrect.  Peres was referring to Syrian leader Bashar 
al-Assad. END NOTE.)  Asked by McCain whether this meant 
Israel might intervene, Peres was quick to reply "we must act 
with great wisdom and carefulness." 
 
TEL AVIV 00000762  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
---- 
IRAQ 
---- 
 
¶7. (C) McCain briefed Peres on the progress of the Iraq War. 
He emphasized that while a year ago it wasn't clear whether 
the U.S. was winning, there is now a lot of evidence that 
U.S. efforts are succeeding, and that General Petraeus is 
making significant strides.  He noted that one of the new 
challenges is the growing trend of suicide bombings, which 
are dangerous, if not for their tactical effects, then for 
their significant damage to public opinion.  Peres reassured 
the senators that the success of US efforts, if not 
immediately evident, will be seen in years to come.  He 
provided the analogy of the Vietnam War, which was ostensibly 
lost by the U.S., but which produced a country that years 
later is capitalist and democratic. 
 
¶8. (C) Peres acknowledged that Israel is "not modest," but 
said his country does have a sense of proportion and is ready 
to be "a good foot soldier" to make the world a better place. 
Peres thanked the senators for their support of the Iraq War, 
and remarked that if the Middle East had been threatened by 
both Saddam Hussein and Ahmedinejad at the same time, "we 
would have to go somewhere else." 
 
¶9. (U) CODEL McCain has not cleared this message. 
 
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