Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV456
2006-01-31 16:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

HEBRON SETTLERS LEAVE VOLUNTARILY, REACH

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 TEL AVIV 000456 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: HEBRON SETTLERS LEAVE VOLUNTARILY, REACH
COMPROMISE WITH IDF

REF: A. TEL AVIV 000296

B. TEL AVIV 000389

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)

This is a joint Embassy Tel Aviv/Consulate General Jerusalem
cable.

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000456

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: HEBRON SETTLERS LEAVE VOLUNTARILY, REACH
COMPROMISE WITH IDF

REF: A. TEL AVIV 000296

B. TEL AVIV 000389

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)

This is a joint Embassy Tel Aviv/Consulate General Jerusalem
cable.


1. (U) According to press reports, settlers left the Hebron
market "voluntarily" on the night of January 30 in exchange
for a deal made with the GOI that they would be permitted to
return legally at a later date. They have until Thursday,
February 2, to clear out their belongings. Brigadier General
Yair Golan, IDF commander in the West Bank, reportedly agreed
with the settlers that if they left voluntarily, the IDF
would speed up a legal examination of the possibility of
expropriating the land from the municipality and leasing it
to the settlers at a future date. Per refs A and B, this
would entail removing the Palestinian shop-keepers' protected
status, thus resulting in their legal rights to the
buildings. (Note: The Palestinian shop-keepers' were
evicted by the IDF in 1994. End note.) Some settlers were
quoted in the press saying, "We have an agreement in our
hands. We intend to honor it and we expect and are certain
that the other side (GOI) will also honor it."


2. (U) Attorney General Menachem Mazuz immediately denied
that a promise was given to the settlers that they would be
able to live in the Hebron market again. He admitted,
however, that in the State's response to the High Court, the
GOI will examine the possibility "of leasing the stores to
Jewish settlers subject to the approval of the attorney
general, on condition that the stores are not leased to the
squatters," i.e., the current settlers in the market.


3. (C) Comment: The only distinction between the settlers'
and Mazuz's statements appears to be that the State does not
intend to let the original settlers return to the Hebron
market. It seems clear, however, that the GOI plans to at
least study the issue of expropriating the land, and possibly
begin legal proceedings in the near future. Econoff asked
Boaz Karni, treasurer of the Economic Cooperation Foundation,
whether this meant that settlers -- the squatters or others
-- may eventually return to the market, even if the legal
battle is protracted. He responded, "I'm afraid you are
right."

********************************************* ********************
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