Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV2947
2005-05-11 08:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

SETTLER SPOKESMAN: WE WILL FIGHT DISENGAGEMENT TO

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002947 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: SETTLER SPOKESMAN: WE WILL FIGHT DISENGAGEMENT TO
THE END

Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002947

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2015
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: SETTLER SPOKESMAN: WE WILL FIGHT DISENGAGEMENT TO
THE END

Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Eran Sternberg, Gush Katif Spokesman, told
econoff on May 4 that, although some settlers are negotiating
with the GOI on disengagement planning, the majority favor a
continued struggle against the evacuation. He said the GOI
is not ready with a solution for relocation, and the settlers
must therefore fight or risk losing "respect." Sternberg
described a three-pronged attack on disengagement comprised
of settlers who will resist on the day of by refusing to be
evacuated, supporters who will help them disturb electricity
and water supplies, and security personnel who will refuse
orders. He explained that whether settlers were willing to
negotiate or not, most do not believe Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, and they feel they will be forgotten in temporary
caravans after disengagement rather than receiving the houses
the GOI has talked about in the Nitzanim area. Sternberg
denied that settlers are removing agricultural equipment from
the greenhouses in the Gaza Strip because if disengagement
falls through, the settlers will need this equipment in Gaza.
End summary.

--------------
Some Willing to Talk to GOI...
--------------


2. (C) Eran Sternberg, Gush Katif Spokesman, told economic
officer on May 4 that some Gaza Strip settlers are
negotiating with the GOI on disengagement and relocation
because they want to "prepare an insurance policy." The
settlers want to have somewhere to go once they are
evacuated, he explained, and are participating in the
dialogue to have a say in their fates.

--------------
...Others Fight to the End
--------------


3. (C) Sternberg reported, however, that the majority of the
settlers remain in favor of continuing the struggle. He said
for them there is no other option because the GOI will not be
ready to relocate them in three months' time. Since they
will be "refugees," they will fight the evacuation to at
least "save their respect." Sternberg added that even some
who are willing to talk to the GOI will still fight the
disengagement plan.


4. (C) In response to econoff's question on how they plan to
fight the evacuation, Sternberg described the struggle as a

triangle. He said the first leg is the settlers themselves
who will stay in their homes and resist the soldiers or
police on evacuation day. The second leg consists of
supporters who will go to the Gaza Strip to live with the
settlers. According to Sternberg, some of the supporters are
settlers from the West Bank, but also residents of cities in
Israel such as Tel Aviv who support the settler movement.
Sternberg continued that the two together, the settlers and
their supporters, will increase the amount of acts of civil
disobedience and will "paralyze the system without violence."
As examples, he cited cutting off electricity and water
supplies, and stopping trains. Sternberg said the final leg
of the triangle is comprised of soldiers and police who will
refuse orders to evacuate settlers. He did not provide any
other details besides saying, "they're our brothers" and will
help. Sternberg estimated that these tactics will have a
50-50 chance of stopping disengagement.

--------------
No One Trusts Sharon Regardless
--------------


5. (C) Sternberg explained that the settlers who do not want
to negotiate with the GOI are refusing because they are
disappointed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, whom they are
now calling "Crime Minister Sharon." According to Sternberg,
the settlers feel that Sharon is conditioning the relocation
solution to Nitzanim on them being "good kids," but the fact
is that the GOI does not have a solution at all. He said
this makes the settlers angry and they feel Sharon is
"destroying people's lives" and is "not serious" about a
relocation plan.


6. (C) Even for the settlers who are willing to negotiate
with the GOI, they are only doing so to try to get the
government to fulfill its promise to the settlers and "not
cheat us," according to Sternberg. He explained that these
settlers are trying to delay the evacuation by six months or
a year so that they will see houses in Nitzanim rather than
temporary caravans. Sternberg continued that these settlers
do not believe Sharon either and feel they will be forgotten
after disengagement, so they want to see permanent homes on
the ground and not just trailers.


7. (C) Sternberg said that regardless of whether settlers
are willing to negotiate with the GOI on relocation planning
or not, the general perception is that Sharon "means the
contrary when he says something." He cited the example of
Sharon's actions vis-a-vis Jonathan Pollard: Sharon
allegedly was supposed to ask the President on the settlers'
behalf for Pollard's release during his visit to Crawford
Ranch, but Sternberg's sources in the U.S. told him Sharon
never did. Sternberg also said Sharon "forgot a petition
signed by 112 MKs" in support of Pollard's release. In
response to econoff's question on whether the settlers would
evacuate peacefully if Pollard were released, Sternberg
responded that it would "not avoid the struggle, but it could
reduce the flame some amount." Ultimately, he concluded, the
Pollard incident proves to the settlers that Sharon cannot be
trusted.

--------------
Equipment Still in Greenhouses
--------------


8. (C) With respect to settlement assets, Sternberg said he
personally did not care whether the settlers' homes are
destroyed or left intact for the Palestinians. On the
greenhouses, he reported that he has not seen farmers moving
their agricultural equipment to new greenhouses outside of
the Gaza Strip because the settlers think there is a chance
disengagement will fall through. If the settlers stay in
Gaza, they will need the equipment in the greenhouses, he
explained.

--------------
Comment
--------------


9. (C) It is difficult to determine how far the settlers are
willing to go to fight the disengagement plan. Sternberg
claims that even those who are negotiating with the GOI plan
to disturb the process. Yonatan Bassey of the Disengagement
Authority, however, recently told us that the settlers who
are secretly talking to him will speak out against the
evacuation for symbolic reasons but in the end will go
without much of a fight. Regardless of what the settlers may
or may not be currently planning, Defense and Finance
Ministry contacts have told us the GOI is willing to up the
ante financially to ensure the evacuation takes place as
smoothly as possible. End comment.

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