Wikileaks: Israel: Our "good Palestinians & Lebanese"!

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 02950 ... "... ¶5. (C) Livni said that Israel tried to separate the "good Palestinians" from the bad for many years. The problem, she continued, is that the "good Palestinians," like Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas, are weak. She noted the similarities between Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Abbas and said their weakness comes at Israel's expense. Livni stressed that an effort to split Hamas by strengthening PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh would give legitimacy to a terrorist. She then referenced an op-ed piece that Haniyeh wrote, saying that his ideas -- including his statements on Palestinian refugees -- take the conflict all the way back to¶1947. (Note: Livni probably was referring to Haniyeh's op-ed piece that appeared in the Washington Post on July 11. END NOTE). Instead of legitimizing Haniyeh, she said, we should press him to accept the three requirements stipulated by the Quartet declaration of January 30, calling for Hamas to renounce violence, accept previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements, and recognize Israel. If they accept these requirements, they will be a partner, according to Livni..."