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.

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Top Priority: Cooperation with Palestinians
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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.

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Regional Projects and Cooperation with Jordan
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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.

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Environmental Priorities in Green Line Israel
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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.

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