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

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