ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE: MAZUZ DECISION UNLIKELY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000664 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2015 TAGS: PREL PHUM KWBG IS JE GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SUBJECT: ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE: MAZUZ DECISION UNLIKELY TO BE CHALLENGED REF: TEL AVIV 652 Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) In a conversation with Deputy Economic Counselor February 3, Deputy Attorney General Blass discounted the possibility of a serious challenge to AG Mazuz's January 31 decision on the Absentee Property Law. Although he was unaware that Finance Minister Netanyahu had told Ha'aretz February 3 that he planned to "speak with" Mazuz about the decision, Blass said that as far as he knew all was set to implement the AG's decision with no changes. He also doubted that the AG would "change his mind, since his decision was based on the actions of his predecessors." Furthermore, Blass found concerns that the Knesset would change the decision through legislative means unrealistic: "Knesset members know we have a Supreme Court and have to take that into account." ¶2. (C) When asked about the level of progress being made on developing a permit system to allow West Bank Palestinians to access their land on the Jerusalem side of the seamline barrier, Blass said planning was just at the initial stages. He emphasized, however, that the AG aimed to create a fair system that would allow those with a bona fide connection to property to access it. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) Mission will follow up with the Attorney General to urge rapid development of the new permit system. ********************************************* ******************** 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