MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ADVISOR, BRIGADIER GENERAL

S E C R E T TEL AVIV 003987 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ADVISOR, BRIGADIER GENERAL (RES.) SPIEGEL CLARIFIES PRESS REPORTS OF PLANS TO EXPAND JORDAN VALLEY SETTLEMENTS Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Gene Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (S) IN A 24 JUNE MEETING, MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ADVISOR, BRIGADIER GENERAL (RES.) BARUCH SPIEGEL PROVIDED ECONOMIC COUNSELOR CLARIFICATION ON A PRESS REPORT INDICATING THAT PLANS WERE UNDERWAY TO EXPAND SETTLEMENTS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY. AS MUCH OF THE RURAL LANDS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY, SPIEGEL SUGGESTED THAT THE PLAN WAS PROBABLY LEAKED TO THE PRESS BY THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AS A "PROVOCATION." SPIEGEL CONTINUED THAT THIS PLAN HAS NEVER BEEN RAISED WITH THE DEFENSE MINISTRY FOR APPROVAL. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE ARTICLE, WHICH STATED THAT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (MOF) HAD APPROVED FUNDS, YOSSI GORDON, MOF SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, TOLD ECONOMIC OFFICER THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY NEW FINANCING OF SETTLEMENT PROJECTS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY. ¶2. (C) AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE 24 JUNE EDITION OF YEDIOTH AHRONOTH STATED THAT AGRICULTURE MINISTER YISRAEL KATZ WAS SUBMITTING A PLAN TO THE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE FOR RURAL AFFAIRS (UNDER THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE) TO FURTHER DEVELOP AND EXPAND SETTLEMENTS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY AND THE BEIT SHE'AN VALLEY. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, THE PLAN HAD ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED TO PRIME MINISTER SHARON AND HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE MINISTRY'S BUDGET DIRECTOR KOBI HABER. THE PLAN WAS EXPECTED TO REACH NIS 145 MILLION AND TO INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF 50 NEW HOUSING UNITS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY SETTLEMENTS PER YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, SETTLEMENTS THAT SUBMITTED AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR USING LARGE AREAS WOULD RECEIVE GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF NIS 100 MILLION AND USE OF WATER NEARLY FREE OF CHARGE. CRETZ ********************************************* ******************** 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