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Cablegate: Fm Shalom's Briefing to Diplomatic Corps

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

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 003956

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: FM SHALOM'S BRIEFING TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS

1. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom summoned Chiefs of Mission
to Jerusalem June 22 to give an update on disengagement from
Gaza and related issues. Clarifying PM Sharon's previous
comments concerning disengagement under fire, he said that
extremist attacks would halt disengagement only long enough
to allow the IDF to deal with the specific threats or
attacks, but that otherwise it would proceed on schedule. He
also pleaded with the international community not to be in
direct contact with Hamas or Islamic Jihad, saying that such
contact undercuts moderates and strengthens the hands of
extremists. He repeatedly stated his hope that withdrawal
from Gaza would create a new model for peace, and would lead
to better relations with the Arab world and a re-opening of
the Arab embassies and interest sections closed in October
2000.

2. He also stated his belief that what he termed Palestinian
President Abbas' failure to comply with the commitments made
at the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit threatens Israel's ability to
maintain the popular political will to continue with
withdrawal and endangers the other (unspecified) steps the
GOI is planning to take in the near future to ease conditions
for Palestinians. A highlight of the address was a four
minute video of a recent would-be female suicide bomber
stopped at the Erez checkpoint on her way to blow up a Be'er
Sheva Hospital where she had received burn treatments.

********************************************* ********************
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.
********************************************* ********************
CRETZ

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