Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV4035
2005-06-27 11:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
BASSEY UPDATE ON DISENGAGEMENT PREPARATIONS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 004035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON EAGR KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: BASSEY UPDATE ON DISENGAGEMENT PREPARATIONS
REF: -
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
This cable was cleared by ConGen Jerusalem
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 004035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON EAGR KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: BASSEY UPDATE ON DISENGAGEMENT PREPARATIONS
REF: -
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
This cable was cleared by ConGen Jerusalem
1. (C) Summary: Yonatan Bassey, Director of the
Disengagement Authority (SELA),told Economic Counselor on
June 14 that although only 300 families have applied for
financial compensation, he expects a flood within the next
two weeks. He said that 450 mobile homes will be ready in
Nitzanim two weeks before disengagement, and that permanent
houses will be built in a year. Bassey said that the issue
of where to move the graves has not yet been resolved. He
also said that SELA has already given 55 agricultural settler
families alternate land near Ashkelon in compensation and
that 70 SELA psychologists are working in the settlements to
ease the transition. Bassey cautioned that the settlers are
prepared to take all of the greenhouses out of Gaza within
the next few weeks. He acknowledged that Sa Nur will be the
most problematic of the four West Bank settlements slated for
evacuation because there have been "a lot of arrivals." He
maintains, however, that the IDF is well-prepared to carry
out the evacuation. End summary.
--------------
Agricultural Assets and Negotiations
--------------
2. (C) Yonatan Bassey, Director of the Disengagement
Authority (SELA),told Economic Counselor on June 14 that the
settlers are prepared to take all of the greenhouses out of
Gaza, and that it would be a pity because it would take the
Palestinians a decade to rebuild and reinvest in the
infrastructure there. He said that for him it is easier to
destroy the agricultural assets, but it would be better for
the Palestinians if they bought them. Bassey noted, however,
that up until now he has not seen a "courageous Palestinian
leader to say we,re here to take responsibility for
everything."
3. (C) Bassey told EconCouns that he has given some settler
farmers alternate land in Green Line Israel, about 40 dunams
per family. Some of the farmers may take their greenhouses
and rebuild them on this land. According to Bassey, however,
even if these settlers do not stay in agriculture, they may
choose to destroy their assets before evacuation day. Bassey
commented that the land is near Kibbutz Ziqim south of
Ashkelon, and that 1,600 dunams that are going to 55 families
are already being farmed. The rest is not arable yet, but
300 dunams are being prepared, he said. Bassey noted that
many settlers are hesitating to sign up for the land because
they are over 50 years old and "too old to re-start in
farming" but they have a week to decide. He explained,
however, that SELA would give them the land even after
disengagement.
--------------
Compensation Applications
--------------
4. (C) Bassey said that about 300 families have applied for
compensation, and that he expects "a flood" within the next
two weeks. He reported that in the last two months, the
settlers have understood that he is trying to help them so
the settler leaders are not pulling compensation applications
out of mailboxes as reported in recent press articles.
5. (C) Bassey could not say how many settlers he has
negotiated with on behalf of the GOI because many settler
leaders go to him alone and he does not always know how many
people they represent. He says sometimes settler leaders
have gone to him on their own without the settlers knowing
that their leaders are talking to SELA. Bassey commented
that many are still in denial, however, and are hoping that
this will be like GOI statements of evacuating the
settlements in the Golan Heights that never come true. He
concluded that the August 15 deadline will put a lot of
pressure on the settlers to seek moving solutions.
--------------
Getting Nitzanim Ready
--------------
6. (C) Bassey reported that the contract to buy the land in
Nitzanim for the settlers, new homes was signed on June 9.
He also said that the GOI is preparing the camp where 450
mobile homes will be set up. According to Bassey, developers
are working very hard to clear the area and the mobile homes
should be ready two weeks before evacuation day in August.
(Note: Econoff drove by on June 1 and several bulldozers
were working as late as 9:00 P.M. End note.) He contended
that the caravans are not "luxury caravans" as the press has
reported. He also said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Chief
of Staff Ilan Cohen had no choice but to promise the caravans
because the settlers are not "preparing themselves for the
day after." Bassey acknowledged that, although most settlers
missed the deadline to sign up for a mobile home, SELA will
give them a few more weeks.
7. (C) Bassey noted that the current plan is to build 450
houses within a year, but the GOI can build as many as 700
houses in the area depending on how many settlers sign up.
He said the GOI would "build as many houses" as it needs to.
8. (C) Bassey noted that the GOI is not concerned about the
court petition from the current residents of Nitzanim against
expanding their community for the settlers. He said
Nitzanim,s residents have been there for nine or ten years,
and that they go to the High Court "every year for
something," but they "always get kicked out." Bassey did not
foresee that the petition would cause problems in the GOI,s
relocation plan for the settlers.
--------------
Negotiations on Graves Pending
--------------
9. (C) With respect to evacuating settler graves from Gaza,
Bassey said that it will be a "big emotional trauma," and he
currently has two psychologists secretly working with a
settler rabbi on the issue. He explained that many settlers
want their loved ones, graves to be moved to the Holon
Cemetery to be close to them, but according to Bassey, Holon
is full, so negotiations continue. Bassey noted that the IDF
Chief Rabbi will perform the transfer ceremony, but suspected
this may create a controversy because the Rabbi,s cousin
belongs to one of the most difficult settler families in Gaza.
--------------
Under Cover Psychologists
--------------
10. (C) Bassey also said that SELA has employed a staff of
70 psychologists to help the settlers with other aspects of
disengagement. The psychologists are employed by the
regional councils, but are secretly financed by SELA. Many
settlers go to the psychologists, Bassey said, who would not
go if they knew they were being paid by SELA. According to
Bassey, they are in schools and working as family counselors.
He explained that Avner Shimoni, Regional Council Head of
Neve Dekalim, is against disengagement, but he agrees with
engaging the psychologists because he "does not want to
destroy families."
--------------
SELA,s Budget
--------------
11. (C) Bassey reported that SELA has only received NIS 50
million with which to operate, and hire accountants and
lawyers. For anything else, such as buying the land at
Nitzanim, he has to go to the Knesset. All of the funds for
compensation, renting apartments, or building new homes are
appropriated by the Knesset from the budget, and come from
"here and there" within the budget because there is no
disengagement line item.
--------------
Northern West Bank Settlements
--------------
12. (C) Bassey predicted that there will not be any problems
with evacuating the settlers from Gannim and Qaddim. They
are planning to move to Afula, and the settlement will "be
empty by mid-July." According to Bassey, he is currently
negotiating with Homesh,s settlers to move to a moshav. He
acknowledged that Sa Nur is the biggest problem because the
IDF cannot close the settlement since it does not have a
surrounding fence. Bassey admitted that recently there have
been "a lot of arrivals" to the settlement, but that it
should not be difficult to evacuate any assets. He said
there are few public services, and no industry or agriculture
because most of the settlers work in the north, near Afula,
so there is not much to evacuate.
--------------
The IDF is Ready
--------------
13. (C) Bassey continued that he meets with the IDF every
week, and that he thinks the GOI is very well-prepared. "We
are doing a good job" regardless of what the papers say,
according to Bassey, and SELA and the IDF coordinate
everything together.
********************************************* ********************
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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON EAGR KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: BASSEY UPDATE ON DISENGAGEMENT PREPARATIONS
REF: -
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
This cable was cleared by ConGen Jerusalem
1. (C) Summary: Yonatan Bassey, Director of the
Disengagement Authority (SELA),told Economic Counselor on
June 14 that although only 300 families have applied for
financial compensation, he expects a flood within the next
two weeks. He said that 450 mobile homes will be ready in
Nitzanim two weeks before disengagement, and that permanent
houses will be built in a year. Bassey said that the issue
of where to move the graves has not yet been resolved. He
also said that SELA has already given 55 agricultural settler
families alternate land near Ashkelon in compensation and
that 70 SELA psychologists are working in the settlements to
ease the transition. Bassey cautioned that the settlers are
prepared to take all of the greenhouses out of Gaza within
the next few weeks. He acknowledged that Sa Nur will be the
most problematic of the four West Bank settlements slated for
evacuation because there have been "a lot of arrivals." He
maintains, however, that the IDF is well-prepared to carry
out the evacuation. End summary.
--------------
Agricultural Assets and Negotiations
--------------
2. (C) Yonatan Bassey, Director of the Disengagement
Authority (SELA),told Economic Counselor on June 14 that the
settlers are prepared to take all of the greenhouses out of
Gaza, and that it would be a pity because it would take the
Palestinians a decade to rebuild and reinvest in the
infrastructure there. He said that for him it is easier to
destroy the agricultural assets, but it would be better for
the Palestinians if they bought them. Bassey noted, however,
that up until now he has not seen a "courageous Palestinian
leader to say we,re here to take responsibility for
everything."
3. (C) Bassey told EconCouns that he has given some settler
farmers alternate land in Green Line Israel, about 40 dunams
per family. Some of the farmers may take their greenhouses
and rebuild them on this land. According to Bassey, however,
even if these settlers do not stay in agriculture, they may
choose to destroy their assets before evacuation day. Bassey
commented that the land is near Kibbutz Ziqim south of
Ashkelon, and that 1,600 dunams that are going to 55 families
are already being farmed. The rest is not arable yet, but
300 dunams are being prepared, he said. Bassey noted that
many settlers are hesitating to sign up for the land because
they are over 50 years old and "too old to re-start in
farming" but they have a week to decide. He explained,
however, that SELA would give them the land even after
disengagement.
--------------
Compensation Applications
--------------
4. (C) Bassey said that about 300 families have applied for
compensation, and that he expects "a flood" within the next
two weeks. He reported that in the last two months, the
settlers have understood that he is trying to help them so
the settler leaders are not pulling compensation applications
out of mailboxes as reported in recent press articles.
5. (C) Bassey could not say how many settlers he has
negotiated with on behalf of the GOI because many settler
leaders go to him alone and he does not always know how many
people they represent. He says sometimes settler leaders
have gone to him on their own without the settlers knowing
that their leaders are talking to SELA. Bassey commented
that many are still in denial, however, and are hoping that
this will be like GOI statements of evacuating the
settlements in the Golan Heights that never come true. He
concluded that the August 15 deadline will put a lot of
pressure on the settlers to seek moving solutions.
--------------
Getting Nitzanim Ready
--------------
6. (C) Bassey reported that the contract to buy the land in
Nitzanim for the settlers, new homes was signed on June 9.
He also said that the GOI is preparing the camp where 450
mobile homes will be set up. According to Bassey, developers
are working very hard to clear the area and the mobile homes
should be ready two weeks before evacuation day in August.
(Note: Econoff drove by on June 1 and several bulldozers
were working as late as 9:00 P.M. End note.) He contended
that the caravans are not "luxury caravans" as the press has
reported. He also said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Chief
of Staff Ilan Cohen had no choice but to promise the caravans
because the settlers are not "preparing themselves for the
day after." Bassey acknowledged that, although most settlers
missed the deadline to sign up for a mobile home, SELA will
give them a few more weeks.
7. (C) Bassey noted that the current plan is to build 450
houses within a year, but the GOI can build as many as 700
houses in the area depending on how many settlers sign up.
He said the GOI would "build as many houses" as it needs to.
8. (C) Bassey noted that the GOI is not concerned about the
court petition from the current residents of Nitzanim against
expanding their community for the settlers. He said
Nitzanim,s residents have been there for nine or ten years,
and that they go to the High Court "every year for
something," but they "always get kicked out." Bassey did not
foresee that the petition would cause problems in the GOI,s
relocation plan for the settlers.
--------------
Negotiations on Graves Pending
--------------
9. (C) With respect to evacuating settler graves from Gaza,
Bassey said that it will be a "big emotional trauma," and he
currently has two psychologists secretly working with a
settler rabbi on the issue. He explained that many settlers
want their loved ones, graves to be moved to the Holon
Cemetery to be close to them, but according to Bassey, Holon
is full, so negotiations continue. Bassey noted that the IDF
Chief Rabbi will perform the transfer ceremony, but suspected
this may create a controversy because the Rabbi,s cousin
belongs to one of the most difficult settler families in Gaza.
--------------
Under Cover Psychologists
--------------
10. (C) Bassey also said that SELA has employed a staff of
70 psychologists to help the settlers with other aspects of
disengagement. The psychologists are employed by the
regional councils, but are secretly financed by SELA. Many
settlers go to the psychologists, Bassey said, who would not
go if they knew they were being paid by SELA. According to
Bassey, they are in schools and working as family counselors.
He explained that Avner Shimoni, Regional Council Head of
Neve Dekalim, is against disengagement, but he agrees with
engaging the psychologists because he "does not want to
destroy families."
--------------
SELA,s Budget
--------------
11. (C) Bassey reported that SELA has only received NIS 50
million with which to operate, and hire accountants and
lawyers. For anything else, such as buying the land at
Nitzanim, he has to go to the Knesset. All of the funds for
compensation, renting apartments, or building new homes are
appropriated by the Knesset from the budget, and come from
"here and there" within the budget because there is no
disengagement line item.
--------------
Northern West Bank Settlements
--------------
12. (C) Bassey predicted that there will not be any problems
with evacuating the settlers from Gannim and Qaddim. They
are planning to move to Afula, and the settlement will "be
empty by mid-July." According to Bassey, he is currently
negotiating with Homesh,s settlers to move to a moshav. He
acknowledged that Sa Nur is the biggest problem because the
IDF cannot close the settlement since it does not have a
surrounding fence. Bassey admitted that recently there have
been "a lot of arrivals" to the settlement, but that it
should not be difficult to evacuate any assets. He said
there are few public services, and no industry or agriculture
because most of the settlers work in the north, near Afula,
so there is not much to evacuate.
--------------
The IDF is Ready
--------------
13. (C) Bassey continued that he meets with the IDF every
week, and that he thinks the GOI is very well-prepared. "We
are doing a good job" regardless of what the papers say,
according to Bassey, and SELA and the IDF coordinate
everything together.
********************************************* ********************
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