ISRAELI MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT VIEWS ON GAZA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006548

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014
TAGS: IS KPAL KWBG PGOV PREL SENV GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT VIEWS ON GAZA
DISENGAGEMENT

REF: TEL AVIV 6442 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein, reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).

This message has been cleared with Consulate General
Jerusalem.


1. (C) Summary: The Israeli Ministry of Environment has
begun to focus on critical environmental issues related to
disengagement from Gaza. Ministry officials believe that
unless there is close coordination among Israeli ministries
and between Israeli and Palestinian officials, there will be
negative environmental and health consequences for both
Israelis and Gaza residents after disengagement. End summary.


2. (C) MK Ilan Shalgi, until recently the Minister of
Environment, told ESTH Officer on margins of an environmental
film festival December 9 that he had convened a meeting on
December 3, his last day in office, to consider the
environmental consequences of Gaza disengagement. He
referred ESTH Officer to MoE DG Miki Haran for more details
on MoE thinking. MoE International Affairs Director Ori
Livne, acting on instructions from DG Haran, subsequently
sent ESTHoff a summary of the Ministry's internal
deliberations. Livne noted that a report in the December 10
Hebrew language newspaper "Yediot Musaf" provided additional
detail on the MoE's discussions.


3. (C) According to the summary provided to Embassy, the
Ministry is concerned that if disengagement happens without
coordination, the potential exists for the following
environmental "problems and nuisances":

-- Untreated wastewater flowing to the Mediterranean and
polluting the desalination plant in Ashkelon;
-- Untreated wastewater polluting aquifers that provide
drinking water to the population and for agricultural needs;
-- Open dumps for municipal solid waste causing air pollution
and nesting grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and flies;
-- Untreated industrial waste and wastewater; and
-- Untreated hazardous waste from industry and hospitals,
"etc."


4. (C) The Ministry's discussions focused on the need for
coordination among GOI officials in the following areas:

-- Construction and Demolition Waste: If settlement
buildings and infrastructure are destroyed, there will be
large quantities of waste. MoE believes this waste must be
treated properly, i.e. shredded and re-used or landfilled.
(Note: The Palestinian Authority may push for the rubble from
GOI-demolished structures to be removed before the handover.
End note.)
-- The Relocation of "New" Army Bases: Bases currently
located in Gaza that will have to be moved to Israel should
not add unneeded infrastructure and roads, but should be
located near existing towns and villages to preserve open
spaces and nature reserves.
-- Relocation of Civilians: Relocations should take place
according to the National Master Plan. New settlements
should not be built; existing settlements (within Israel)
should be strengthened and enlarged according to existing
development plans.


5. (U) The article in "Yediot Musaf" said Ministry officials
estimated the cost of handling the debris from settlements
following the departure of about 8,000 settlers from Gaza and
600 from "Northern Samaria" would be about 85 million NIS
(approximately USD 20 million). Some in the MoE discussion
questioned whether homes should be destroyed at all, given
the complexities of disposing of the debris. The discussions
identified various alternatives for disposal. Ministry
officials assumed that industrial installations will be
transferred to the Palestinians "with the brokering and
financing of international bodies."


6. (U) According to the article, Shalgi stressed the
importance of minimizing damage to water, sewage, electricity
and road infrastructure. The discussion also identified the
importance of future handling of sewage within Gaza.
Hazardous and radioactive substances could become ticking
time bombs unless identified and handled properly. Ministry
officials opposed the creation of new settlements in the
Negev, which already has problems of handling sewage and dry
garbage.


7. (C) Comment: The environmental issues related to Gaza
disengagement are daunting, and will require close
coordination among Israeli ministries and between Israeli and
Palestinian officials. The MoE discussion represent a
starting point in addressing a wide range of serious
environmental concerns. End comment.


********************************************* ********************
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.
********************************************* ********************
KURTZER