Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV2113
2006-06-01 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

OUTPOSTS: DEMOLITION ORDERS HANDED OUT, TALKS

This 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 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.

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."

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