MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT'S TOP PRIORITY IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002430 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IPA, NEA/RA, OES/PCI AND OES/SENV USEPA FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 TAGS: SENV EAID PREL KPAL KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUBJECT: MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT'S TOP PRIORITY IS COOPERATION WITH PALESTINIANS Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein, reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Environment Minister Gideon Ezra told NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson June 15 that his top priority is cooperation with the Palestinians on sewage and other pollution concerns. He said that Defense Minister Peretz had determined that such cooperation was humanitarian and in Israel's interest, as had been the case with avian influenza. Ezra asked that the U.S. move forward with the suspended Hebron wastewater treatment project. He hoped the U.S. could undertake small-scale sewage projects in rural areas, working with local governments or others not controlled by Hamas. He endorsed the idea of continuing peace process activities in the areas of the environment and water, working with NGOs and academics rather than the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ezra is interested in cooperation with Jordan as well, particularly in rehabilitation of the Jordan River and environmental enforcement. Israel's internal priorities include water quality, sewage and industrial wastes, preservation of open spaces, energy efficiency, asbestos and public awareness. The minister and his staff expressed appreciation for the advice of a USEPA team on resolving pollution problems at the Ramat Hovav industrial and hazardous waste facility in the Negev. End summary. -------------- Top Priority: Cooperation with Palestinians -------------- ¶2. (C) NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson, accompanied by ESTH Officer, met with Environment Minister Gideon Ezra in Tel Aviv June 15. Ezra was accompanied by his Director General (DG),deputy DG for policy, acting international director and ministry spokesperson. Ezra led off by saying his top priority was humanitarian cooperation with Palestinians on sewage and other pollution issues of mutual concern. Defense Minister Peretz had made a decision that such issues would be treated as humanitarian, as had been the case with avian influenza, Ezra said. The MFA had also stated that sewage treatment projects could and should continue. Ezra said that major unaddressed sewage problems in Beit Lehiya, Ramallah and Hebron were of particular 
concern to Israel. Untreated sewage from West Bank areas sometimes flows into Israel and can cause concentrations of mosquitoes, in addition to affecting the quality of life of many Palestinians. ¶3. (C) Ezra noted that there were cooperative projects between Israeli settlements and Palestinian cities in the West Bank and said the GOI was willing to address such mutual concerns with Palestinians who were not part of the Hamas government. Pointing out that Germany and other European countries were moving ahead with sewage treatment projects, Ezra asked that the U.S. proceed with building the Hebron waste water treatment plant. Lawson explained that the USG had put the Hebron project on hold after Hamas came to power in the PA. Ezra said he would be asking FM Livne and Israel's embassy in Washington to make the same request. He also suggested that the U.S. undertake small-scale sewage projects in rural areas, working with local governments and NGOs not associated with Hamas. Ezra stated that the GOI had paid UNDP the first USD five million of a 50 million dollar contract to clean up rubble left behind at previous Israeli settlements in Gaza and had give its agreement to the process proposed by UNDP. Lawson reported that the United Nations Environment Programme was trying to raise funds to clean up the Erez Industrial Zone. -------------- Regional Projects and Cooperation with Jordan -------------- ¶4. (C) Lawson briefed Ezra on U.S. efforts to restart Multilateral Peace Process activities in water and environment working with Palestinians not associated with the PA or Hamas. He invited the MOE's suggestions of possible Palestinian partners, noting that the U.S. was tried to reschedule a workshop on pollution from gas stations and other petroleum storage facilities that had to be postponed after the Hamas electoral victory. Lawson and Ezra touched on efforts by Jordan and Israel to advance their own environmental enforcement. Both agreed that was a good area for the two countries to compare efforts. Israel also wants to work with Jordan on rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River, including looking for ways to increase water flow. -------------- Environmental Priorities in Green Line Israel -------------- ¶5. (SBU) DG Miki Haran listed Israel's internal environmental priorities and concerns as water availability and quality, sewage treatment and disposal, industrial and solid waste, the lack of open spaces in populated areas, energy efficiency and educating the next generation on environmental issues. She noted that the ministry had sent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a request for training assistance on asbestos removal. Minister Ezra and his staff expressed their appreciation for the December visit by an expert EPA team. The visit had helped MOE move towards a resolution with industry of serious pollution problems at the Ramat Hovav industrial and hazardous waste disposal site in the Negev. Plans now called for industry to invest USD 800 million for treatment of wastes at ponds connected to each plant at the site. MOE will be issuing international tenders totaling USD 220 million for rehabilitation of pre-existing hazardous landfills located at Ramat Hovav within the year, Haran said. ********************************************* ******************** 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