Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV3937
2006-10-05 16:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
PEACE NOW REPORT DETAILS CONSTRUCTION IN ILLEGAL
how-tonull Carol X Weakley 10/06/2006 02:50:14 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 03937 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: ECON INFO: IPSC SCI IMO CONS RES POL DCM AMB AID ADM FCS PD DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RJONES DRAFTED: ECON:RRUFFER CLEARED: DCM:GCRETZ, ECON:WWEINSTEIN VZCZCTVI332 OO RUEHC RUEHXK DE RUEHTV #3937 2781637 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051637Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6756 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003937
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS
SUBJECT: PEACE NOW REPORT DETAILS CONSTRUCTION IN ILLEGAL
OUTPOSTS AND SETTLEMENTS
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
-----------------------------
Construction Boom in Outposts
And Settlements Continues
-----------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003937
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS
SUBJECT: PEACE NOW REPORT DETAILS CONSTRUCTION IN ILLEGAL
OUTPOSTS AND SETTLEMENTS
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
Construction Boom in Outposts
And Settlements Continues
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador on October 4 raised the
recently-published Peace Now report on construction in
illegal outposts and settlements with BGen (ret.) Baruch
Spiegel and Ministry of Defense (MOD) Senior Adviser Haggai
Alon.
2. (U) Peace Now published a report on October 2 detailing
extensive growth in illegal outposts in the West Bank from
April-August 2006. According to the report, various types of
construction are taking place in outposts across the West
Bank, including the paving of roads, construction of water
reservoirs, addition of mobile homes, and leveling of ground.
The report also states that construction of permanent homes
and other structures is ongoing in Gva'ot Olam, Hanekuda,
Tekoa B and C, Kiryat Arba South, Pnei Kedem, Zayit Ra'anan,
Kida, Mitzpe Ha'ai, Mitzpe Kramim, Palgei Mayim, Givat
Haroel, Haresha, Bruchin, and Neve Erez outposts. The report
points out that the outpost of Yitav East near Jericho was
evacuated during this period, but it was an uninhabited
outpost with three mobile homes.
3. (U) Peace Now reported that the majority of construction
-- many hundreds of housing units -- taking place from
April-August 2006 in established settlements is in the main
settlement blocs, Beitar Illit (Gush Etzion bloc),Ma'ale
Adumim, Modi'in Illit, and Alfei Menashe's Givat Tal
expansion (Ariel bloc). The settlements with "medium"
construction, which Peace Now defines as many dozens to a few
hundred housing units, are in Givat Ze'ev (north of
Jerusalem),Ariel (Ariel bloc),and Efrata, Alon, Elazar, and
Rosh Tzurim (Gush Etzion bloc) settlements. In addition, a
few dozen housing units, mainly private homes, are being
built in 25 other settlements.
4. (C) Yariv Oppenheimer, secretary general of Peace Now,
told econoffs on September 29 that he met with MOD officials
two weeks ago, along with other non-governmental
organizations, to discuss the outposts phenomenon. He said
that he did not get the sense that the MOD is prepared to
tackle the problem because it does not want to see soldiers
fighting settlers after the Lebanon war. He opined that
although nine houses were demolished at Amona outpost at the
beginning of the year, the settlers won in the long-run
because the GOI is afraid to pit soldiers against settlers
yet again. "This is the real victory of Amona," according to
Oppenheimer.
--------------
MOD Response
--------------
5. (C) Spiegel responded to the Ambassador's query saying
that the MOD is fully aware of the illegal construction in
the West Bank, and that this is an issue that Defense
Minister Amir Peretz will be handling in the near future in
coordination with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Spiegel
claimed that the MOD has "100 percent coverage" of the West
Bank, and that "very high levels" in the GOI are concerned
about what is taking place. To address Israel's commitments
to the USG on settlements and outposts, the MOD is forming a
team of eight or nine people, which will include Alon, Mike
Herzog (Yitzhak Herzog's brother),and Lt. Col. Oded Herman,
which will study the issues, according to Spiegel. The
Ambassador pointed out that this is a question of rule of law
for Israel, and emphasized that enforcement of the law should
not be seen by the GOI as a concession to Palestinians. He
asked whether Peretz's demolition orders for 47 illegal
structures in outposts would still be carried out in
mid-October after the Sukkot holidays. Spiegel demurred and
suggested that the Ambassador raise this issue with Peretz.
The Ambassador asked about the 39 illegal structures in
Palestinian villages that are also scheduled to be
demolished, and Spiegel said these would take place. The
Ambassador commented that he supports equal enforcement of
the law, noting that the Palestinians should have the same
ability to obtain building permits as Israelis.
********************************************* ********************
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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS
SUBJECT: PEACE NOW REPORT DETAILS CONSTRUCTION IN ILLEGAL
OUTPOSTS AND SETTLEMENTS
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
Construction Boom in Outposts
And Settlements Continues
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador on October 4 raised the
recently-published Peace Now report on construction in
illegal outposts and settlements with BGen (ret.) Baruch
Spiegel and Ministry of Defense (MOD) Senior Adviser Haggai
Alon.
2. (U) Peace Now published a report on October 2 detailing
extensive growth in illegal outposts in the West Bank from
April-August 2006. According to the report, various types of
construction are taking place in outposts across the West
Bank, including the paving of roads, construction of water
reservoirs, addition of mobile homes, and leveling of ground.
The report also states that construction of permanent homes
and other structures is ongoing in Gva'ot Olam, Hanekuda,
Tekoa B and C, Kiryat Arba South, Pnei Kedem, Zayit Ra'anan,
Kida, Mitzpe Ha'ai, Mitzpe Kramim, Palgei Mayim, Givat
Haroel, Haresha, Bruchin, and Neve Erez outposts. The report
points out that the outpost of Yitav East near Jericho was
evacuated during this period, but it was an uninhabited
outpost with three mobile homes.
3. (U) Peace Now reported that the majority of construction
-- many hundreds of housing units -- taking place from
April-August 2006 in established settlements is in the main
settlement blocs, Beitar Illit (Gush Etzion bloc),Ma'ale
Adumim, Modi'in Illit, and Alfei Menashe's Givat Tal
expansion (Ariel bloc). The settlements with "medium"
construction, which Peace Now defines as many dozens to a few
hundred housing units, are in Givat Ze'ev (north of
Jerusalem),Ariel (Ariel bloc),and Efrata, Alon, Elazar, and
Rosh Tzurim (Gush Etzion bloc) settlements. In addition, a
few dozen housing units, mainly private homes, are being
built in 25 other settlements.
4. (C) Yariv Oppenheimer, secretary general of Peace Now,
told econoffs on September 29 that he met with MOD officials
two weeks ago, along with other non-governmental
organizations, to discuss the outposts phenomenon. He said
that he did not get the sense that the MOD is prepared to
tackle the problem because it does not want to see soldiers
fighting settlers after the Lebanon war. He opined that
although nine houses were demolished at Amona outpost at the
beginning of the year, the settlers won in the long-run
because the GOI is afraid to pit soldiers against settlers
yet again. "This is the real victory of Amona," according to
Oppenheimer.
--------------
MOD Response
--------------
5. (C) Spiegel responded to the Ambassador's query saying
that the MOD is fully aware of the illegal construction in
the West Bank, and that this is an issue that Defense
Minister Amir Peretz will be handling in the near future in
coordination with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Spiegel
claimed that the MOD has "100 percent coverage" of the West
Bank, and that "very high levels" in the GOI are concerned
about what is taking place. To address Israel's commitments
to the USG on settlements and outposts, the MOD is forming a
team of eight or nine people, which will include Alon, Mike
Herzog (Yitzhak Herzog's brother),and Lt. Col. Oded Herman,
which will study the issues, according to Spiegel. The
Ambassador pointed out that this is a question of rule of law
for Israel, and emphasized that enforcement of the law should
not be seen by the GOI as a concession to Palestinians. He
asked whether Peretz's demolition orders for 47 illegal
structures in outposts would still be carried out in
mid-October after the Sukkot holidays. Spiegel demurred and
suggested that the Ambassador raise this issue with Peretz.
The Ambassador asked about the 39 illegal structures in
Palestinian villages that are also scheduled to be
demolished, and Spiegel said these would take place. The
Ambassador commented that he supports equal enforcement of
the law, noting that the Palestinians should have the same
ability to obtain building permits as Israelis.
********************************************* ********************
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