OUTPOSTS: DEMOLITION ORDERS HANDED OUT, TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002113 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SETTLEMENTS SUBJECT: OUTPOSTS: DEMOLITION ORDERS HANDED OUT, TALKS WITH SETTLERS REF: A. TEL AVIV 02077 ¶B. TEL AVIV 02001 ¶C. JERUSALEM 02164 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d) This cable has been cleared by Consulate General Jerusalem. ¶1. (C) Summary: Brig. Gen. (ret.) Baruch Spiegel said on May 31 that Kadima MK Otniel Schneller's comments about the expansion of Hebron settlements were "not relevant." He added that the GOI does not intend to expand Beitar Illit, Givat Ze'ev, Oranit, and Maskiyyot settlements, and that recent press announcements refer only to zoning changes in the settlements because the settlements' master plans have technical problems. He confirmed that the GOI plans to demolish Havat Maon outpost near Hebron, along with four others, because the settlers there have regularly attacked Palestinians and cut down Palestinians' olive trees. He expects that the demolition of Havat Maon will be delayed, however, because the settlers will appeal to the High Court and the legal proceedings will be lengthy. Spiegel remarked that the inter-ministerial committee considering recommendations in the Talia Sasson report must implement legislative changes to make it easier for the GOI to undertake demolitions, and added that the committee is "much more focused than before" now that Justice Minister Haim Ramon is the chairman. Ramon's initial meeting with settler leaders on removal of outposts "went well," and he made clear that the settlers would have to follow the rule of law or "all bets are off," according to Spiegel. He claimed that the removal of outposts is one of the top priorities of the GOI. End summary. -------------- Expansion of Settlements Not True -------------- ¶2. (C) Brig. Gen. (ret.) Baruch Spiegel told EconCouns and econoffs on May 31 that Kadima MK Otniel Schneller's recent comments about a possible expansion of Hebron-area settlements were "out of context" (ref A). He characterized Schneller's statements as "not relevant," and said that the GOI continues to deal with illegal settler activity in Hebron. Spiegel also referred back to last week's announcement that the GOI has approved plans to expand Beitar Illit, Givat Ze'ev, Oranit, and Maskiyyot settlements (ref B). He said that although he signed off on the order, Defense Minister Amir Peretz was not involved in the process, which had begun under former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz's tenure. Spiegel claimed that the GOI does not intend to expand the settlements, and that the MOD is only making "zoning changes" because there are technical problems with the settlements' master plans. EconCouns noted that despite Spiegel's denials, the zoning changes amount to expansion of settlement areas. Spiegel replied that a committee has been evaluating these problems for the past year, and that the changes made to the settlements' plans are not meant to expand the settlements or to allow additional construction. -------------- Plans to Demolish Problematic Outposts... -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to econoff's question about demolition orders delivered to Havat Maon outpost near Hebron, Spiegel replied that this is one of five outposts that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Peretz had asked him to look into within 2-3 days upon first entering office. (Note: He did not provide the names of the other four outposts. End note.) Spiegel explained that Havat Maon and the other outposts will be demolished because they are very problematic since settlers from these outposts regularly attack Palestinian children, clash with innocent Palestinians, and cut down olive trees. He said that the demolitions will require IDF involvement because they "will not be easy." -------------- ...But It Will Take Time -------------- ¶4. (C) Spiegel remarked, however, that Havat Maon will probably not be demolished within the next few days, contrary to press reports, because the settlers always have the chance to appeal the demolition orders in the High Court, and legal proceedings can take some time. He commented that until Justice Minister Haim Ramon and the inter-ministerial committee considering recommendations in the Talia Sasson report propose new legislation to make it easier to demolish unauthorized outposts, the settlers will always have the chance to appeal to the court and impede the work of the IDF, even if the prime minister and defense minister have ordered the demolitions. Spiegel related that the committee is "much more focused than before" now that Ramon is the chairman, and mentioned that he expects decisions and legislative suggestions to be implemented "in a relatively short time." -------------- Negotiations with Settlers -------------- ¶5. (C) In response to a question about Ramon's meeting with settler leaders on removal of outposts, Spiegel replied that the meeting was preliminary to get a basic understanding of each sides' positions, and assessed that it "went well" (ref C). He explained that while neither side delved into particulars, Ramon clearly laid out the "pre-condition" that the settlers would have to follow the rule of law and not engage in violent acts, or "all bets are off." According to Spiegel, the settlers came with several proposals, including removing outposts in different stages, and possibly moving some outposts to "legal" places, whether settlement blocs or in Green Line Israel. Spiegel continued that if the two sides come to a deadlock in the negotiations, eventually the Israeli "government will decide on its own what to do," although it recognizes that it would be beneficial to have the settlers on the GOI's side. He remarked that ultimately, however, the 24 post-March 2001 outposts "are going to have to go no matter what because they are unauthorized and the settlers know this." (Note: The USG counts 44 post-March 2001 outposts. End note.) ¶6. (C) Spiegel said that now that the GOI has completed a two-year comprehensive study of all settlements and outposts in the West Bank, it knows better than Peace Now and "better than you," referring to the USG, exactly where and what is on the ground. He acknowledged that there are occasional changes based on the addition of one or two caravans, but he emphasized that the GOI usually knows what is happening and knows the legal status of all construction in the West Bank. He made clear that outposts have become a top priority for this government, particularly for Peretz, and stated that the MOD has a "significant database, which is accessed by the highest levels of government." ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** JONES