The vast majority of the cable was actually directed at the Palestinian Authority and I strongly suggest you review the material there. It included these topics:
Palestinian Leadership and Governance
1) Governance Issues (DEPS-1)
2) Security Forces' Capabilities (DEPS-1)
3) Palestinian Leadership (LEAD-1)
4) Fatah-HAMAS Relationship (LEAD-1)
5) Economic and Financial Stability (ECFS-2)
6) Civil Society and the Rule of Law (DEPS-1)
7) US, Regional, and International Foreign Policy (FPOL-4)
Palestinian Internal Security and Control
1) Palestinian Counterterrorism Capabilities and Response (TERR-2)
2) Role of Palestinian Authority Security
Organs/Individuals in Terrorism (TERR-2)
3) Intelligence Services and Security Forces (CINT-5)
4) Illegal Activities (MONY-4)
D. Terrorism and Islamic Activism
1) International and Indigenous Terrorist Activities (TERR-2)
2) Internal and External Support for Palestinian Terrorists (TERR-2)
3) Islamic Activism (DEPS-1)
4) Threats Against American Citizens (TERR-2)
E. Palestinian Social Development and Infrastructure
1) Human Rights (HRWC-3)
2) Demographics (DEMG-3)
3) Water Management (ENVR-4)
4) Infectious Disease and Health (HLTH-5)
5) Civilian Infrastructure (INFR-3)
But what was also intriguing and annoying and potentially damaging was what she wanted collected on the Israel side and, as Caroline Glick wrote that this was a
massive espionage operation against Israel
and
that the US is carrying out a deeply hostile policy against Israel in the face of massive public support for Israel in the US. That is, whereas two-thirds of Americans support Israel, a minority constituency in the US government treats Israel with scorn and hatred.
and she termed it
Rice’s spy cable
all of which lead to a situation whereby
US government officials will be able to continue to implement policies that treat Israel with the contempt due to a banana republic.
Having been engaged with US dipolomats, as well as those of many other countires since 1983 or so, while most of the targets outlined are quite legitimatre and can be culled also from newspapers and other media reports, the requests regarding IDF military operations such as
Details on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations underway or planned against the HAMAS-controlled Palestinian militants in Gaza, terrorists, or terrorist infrastructure, including targeted assassinations and tactics/techniques used by ground and air units.
or
Israeli leaders' involvement in decisions on response to terrorist attacks
is really outside the realm of normal diplomatic activity.
And to judge for yourself, here is the relevant Israel-connected sections of cable's text (minus the material on the PA):-
R 311525Z OCT 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN, BEIRUT, CAIRO, DAMASCUS, RIYADH
DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHI-1B/CLM//DP//
CIA WASHINGTON DC//NHTC// 0000
S E C R E T STATE 116392
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2033
TAGS: PINR KSPR ECON KPAL PREL PTER XF
SUBJECT: (S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: PALESTINIAN ISSUES
REF: A. 08 STATE 001379
B. 08 STATE 64936
Classified By: CATHERINE BROWN, DAS, INR/IPC. REASON: 1.4(C).
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: This cable provides the full text of the new National HUMINT Collection Directive (NHCD) on Palestinian Issues (paragraph 3-end) and encourages Department personnel at post to assist in compiling Palestinian biographic information (paragraph 2).
A. (S/NF) The NHCD results from a recent Washington review of reporting and collection needs for Palestinian Issues and sets forth a list of priorities intended to guide participating USG agencies as they allocate resources and update plans to collect information on Palestinian Issues. The priorities may also help the Embassy manage reporting and collection, including formulation of Mission Strategic Plans (MSPs).
...B. (S/NF) When it is available, reporting officers should include as much of the following information as possible: office and organizational titles; names, position titles and other information on business cards; numbers of telephones, cell phones, pagers and faxes; compendia of contact information, such as telephone directories (in compact disc or electronic format if available) and e-mail listings; internet and intranet "handles", internet e-mail addresses, web site identification-URLs; credit card account numbers; frequent flyer account numbers; work schedules, and other relevant biographical information.
3. (S/NF) Palestinian NHCD outline - priority issues:
A. Palestinian-Israeli Peace Process
1) Conflict Resolution and Palestinian Relations with Israel (SRCC-1)
2) Final Status Issues (SRCC-1)
3) Perceptions of US Role in the Peace Process (SRCC-1)
4) Role of Regional Neighbors (SRCC-1)
5) Role of International Community in the Peace Process (SRCC-1)
...F. Government of Israel Plans, Policies, and Actions
1) Israeli Leadership Plans and Intentions on the Peace Process (LEAD-1)
2) Conflict Resolution (SRCC-1)
3) Government of Israel Security Issues (SRCC-1)
4) Military Response to Palestinians and Terrorism (FMCC-2)
5) Settlements (SRCC-1)
6) US and International Community (FPOL-3)
F. Government of Israel Plans, Policies, and Actions
1) Israeli Leadership Plans and Intentions on the Peace Process (LEAD-1).
--Government of Israel (GOI) leadership's negotiating positions, strategies, and goals in interactions with the Fatah-affiliated Palestinian Authority officials, with supporters or elements affiliated with HAMAS, and with other Palestinian parties concerned with the peace process.
--Israeli leaders' perceptions of and relations with Palestinian leaders and negotiating counterparts. Evidence of informal channels, either sanctioned or unsanctioned by the Israeli leadership, to discuss peace steps with Palestinian leaders.
--Israeli leadership views and intentions regarding the impact of their negotiations with Syria on their negotiations with the Palestinians.
--Israel's decision-making process for launching military operations and determining retaliation for terrorist attacks.
--Israeli leaders' involvement in decisions on response to terrorist attacks.
--Israeli leadership intentions and strategy toward managing the US relationship; views of prime minister and advisors toward the US and its counterterrorism policies. Israeli thoughts and views on impact of Israeli domestic politics, including changes in GOI leadership, on GOI approach to and conduct of the peace process and negotiations.
2) Conflict Resolution (SRCC-1).
--Negotiating positions for Israeli talks with Palestinians on bilateral issues, particularly the extent of Israeli control of Jerusalem, right of return of Palestinian refugees to Israel, Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, exchanges of territory, and "end of claims".
--GOI views and positions on final-status issues; water rights, transportation and energy infrastructure issues, access to the Israeli economy, security, and safe passage between areas of Israeli and Palestinian control, legal matters and prisoners, and Jerusalem (including sovereignty, governance, and access to/control of the "Holy Basin").
--Attitudes of the Israeli public, including Israeli Arabs, toward Israeli-Palestinian talks. Efforts by opposition parties or members of the ruling coalition to influence government positions on the peace process.
--Attitudes of Israeli security forces toward peace negotiations with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Current plans and intentions regarding Palestinian access and movement, in particular, access and movement with economic consequences, e.g. movement of produce, access to fields, and movement of commercial goods between Palestinian villages.
3) Government of Israel Security Issues (SRCC-1). --Government of Israel (GOI) views and assessments of military strengths and vulnerabilities.
--Perceptions of threats posed by Palestinian rejectionists, including the potential for conflict with their state sponsors, Syria and Iran, and Lebanon.
--GOI negotiating positions, strategies, and goals in interactions with Syria, and Lebanon, especially on final status issues.
--Israeli views of an Egyptian or Jordanian role in the context of final status issues.
--Israeli views on a future regional security pact.
--GOI plans, intentions and reactions to Palestinian intentions to develop Gaza off-shore natural gas reserves.
GOI plans and actions to continue construction of security fence including views on boundaries, funding constraints, and external influences on decision-making.
--GOI plans and actions to implement agreements with Palestinians on bilateral security measures and to implement unilateral security measures over Israeli - and Palestinian-controlled areas.
--Views and actions on prisoner swaps/releases; information on Israel's treatment of Palestinian prisoners or detainees, including interrogation methods.
--Information on and motivations for any increased Israeli population emigration from Israel.
4) Military Response to Palestinians and Terrorism FMCC-2).
--Details on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations underway or planned against the HAMAS-controlled Palestinian militants in Gaza, terrorists, or terrorist infrastructure, including targeted assassinations and tactics/techniques used by ground and air units.
--Israeli efforts to counter short-range rockets and mortars.
--IDF preparations to conduct increased operations against Palestinian targets in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Lebanon.
--Impact of Israeli efforts against rocket attacks on Israeli views of security.
--IDF preparations to conduct combat operations against Hizballah or Syrian targets along Israel's northern border or inside Lebanon or Syria.
--IDF units, equipment, maintenance levels, training, morale, and operational readiness.
--IDF tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting conventional and unconventional counterinsurgency and counterterrorist operations.
--Israeli assessment of the impact of reserve duty in the territories on IDF readiness.
5) Settlements (SRCC-1).
--Evidence of Government of Israel support for or opposition to actions to limit and/or reduce settlement and outpostgrowth and construction.
--Information on leaders of the Israeli settlement establishment, including Golan settlers, their ideology, motivations and who they claim to represent.
--Divisions among the various settlement groups.
--Details on settlement-related budgets and subsidies.
--Settlers' relationship with the Israeli political and military establishment including their lobbying and settlement methods.
--Golan settlers' views of any potential peace agreement with Syria.
--Support for settlers within Israeli society.
--Indications of Israeli extremist groups becoming more active.
--Perceptions of US demands or requirements of Israeli government regarding, security fences and settlements.
6) US and International Community (FPOL-3).
--Israeli perceptions of US peace process approach; indications of critical or hostile reaction to US policies and views of Israeli leadership after discussions with the US.
--Attitudes of key political and military officials concerning the state of the relationship with the US.
--Plans to influence views and positions of academics, journalists, and business, religious and professional
organizations towards the US and the US-Israeli relationship.
--Views of and responses to role of the Quartet.
--Israeli plans and intentions to support US positions in the UN and other international fora.
--Israeli support for US Iraq/Iran policies and US policies and attitudes toward other Middle Eastern countries, and European Union countries; relations with Russia, China, Turkey, Pakistan and India.
What do you think?
^
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