Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV668
2006-02-14 14:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

HOUSING MINISTER BOIM DISCUSSES OUTPOSTS,

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 000668 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV SENV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: HOUSING MINISTER BOIM DISCUSSES OUTPOSTS,
SETTLEMENTS, AND SEPARATION BARRIER WITH THE AMBASSADOR

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000668

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV SENV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: HOUSING MINISTER BOIM DISCUSSES OUTPOSTS,
SETTLEMENTS, AND SEPARATION BARRIER WITH THE AMBASSADOR

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a February 8 meeting with the
Ambassador, Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim said
that the GOI would evacuate outposts because Israel promised
the USG that it would do so under the road map, and because
outposts are unauthorized and Israel is a country that
follows the rule of law. Boim doubted, however, that the GOI
would remove any outposts before the elections on March 28
because it is not the "right time" to take tough steps from a
political point of view. He acknowledged that the GOI is
talking to the YESHA leadership about future evacuations of
outposts, and said that this line of communication is
important because the YESHA Council can positively or
negatively influence how well future evacuations go. Boim
told the Ambassador that he would continue to approve tenders
for construction in the settlement blocs, and that the
Ministry of Defense is currently undertaking a study to
determine what the future needs of the settlers living in
those settlements are. He said the GOI may expand the
municipal boundaries of settlements to take into account the
growth needs of those populations. Boim claimed that the
separation barrier would be complete by mid-2007. End
summary.

--------------
Outpost Removals: Yes, But
Not Before the Elections
--------------


2. (C) Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim , who
also serves as agriculture minister, told the Ambassador on
February 8 that he is unsure whether there will be further
dismantling of outposts before the elections. He explained
that it is not the "right time" to take tough steps on
outposts from a political point of view, and admitted that in
August 2005 GOI officials had asked the High Court to let
them wait to demolish the nine permanent houses in Amona
outpost until after the elections. Boim said, however, that
as former deputy defense minister, he has been deeply
involved in the government's policy on outposts, and assured
the Ambassador that the GOI is ready to dismantle them in the

future for two reasons. The first is that, from a political
perspective, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised the USG and
President Bush that the GOI would evacuate outposts, and the
GOI will fulfill this commitment. The second reason,
according to Boim, is that from an internal Israeli
perspective, the outposts are "constructed against all
(Israeli) laws," and Israel is a country that follows the
rule of law. Boim said Israelis should ask themselves
whether they want to live in a society where some people
break the rules, and asked rhetorically, "What kind of
society and culture is that?" He emphasized that Acting
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is very determined to act against
outposts in the future, as demonstrated at Amona, and his
policy is clear.


3. (C) Boim remarked that, on one hand, dismantling outposts
in the future should be easier after the implementation of
Gaza disengagement because the GOI "succeeded without
bloodshed." He said that Israelis understand that the
government is determined and has the capability to evacuate
outposts. On the other hand, however, future evacuations
will be more difficult because the settlers' resistance in
the West Bank will be tougher. For these settlers, he
explained, there is no difference between a "legal"
settlement and an illegal outpost, and for them it is a
question of "to be or not to be?" because once they see that
the GOI has the determination to remove outposts, they will
assume that the GOI is prepared to bring down "legal"
settlements as well, and will step up their resistance
activities.


4. (C) The Ambassador asked whether reports that Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni is secretly talking to settlers on
further removals of outposts are true, and Boim acknowledged
that there are GOI contacts with the YESHA Council. He said
that these talks are important because the YESHA Council
"still controls in a way" how other settlers behave, and
therefore can positively or negatively influence how well
future evacuations go. Boim commented that while the settler
youth may not believe in the YESHA leadership, the majority
of other settlers still obey and follow them, so it is
important for the GOI to maintain these lines of
communication. He said that in his and Olmert's opinion,
however, the GOI should talk to the settlers in a frank way,
"not saying one thing but meaning another." He explained
that the settlers should know what the Israeli government's
policy is, underscoring that Olmert's February 7 interview on
Channel 12 outlined the principles that would guide Israeli
demands regarding a final agreement:

-- a free, independent Palestinian state with borders fixed
after negotiations;

-- maintaining the most important settlement blocs for the
sake of Israel's security: Ariel, Gush Etzion, Ma'ale
Adumim, and a united Jerusalem;

-- and restricting Palestinian access to the Jordan Valley as
strategic protection against the (potential) external "Arab
threat."

Boim added that there are no details now on the exact points
that Olmert or others are contemplating for the border, and
that this would wait until Israel and the Palestinians reach
that particular phase in negotiations.

--------------
We Plan More Construction
in the Settlement Blocs
--------------


5. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question on whether
the GOI's policy of building in the settlement blocs would
continue despite its road map commitment, Boim acknowledged
that it would, and informed the Ambassador that the Ministry
of Defense (MOD) is currently doing a study to determine what
the "right size" of a settlement's master plan should be, to
include the possibility of expanding each settlement's
municipal boundaries if need be. He explained that the MOD
is trying to determine what "natural borders" each settlement
should have for demographic purposes -- new families,
children becoming adults and wanting to raise their own
families in that settlement. Boim said that the GOI should
plan "the municipal borders not according to the last line of
houses in a settlement," but taking into account growth and
the needs of the (Israeli) people. The Ambassador asked
whether Boim would revive a previous practice of providing
the Embassy advance warning -- before publication -- of any
tenders that the GOI plans to issue, and Boim tentatively
agreed. He said that his ministry has a list of future plans
for houses it plans to build in certain settlements, and that
he is going to meet with Olmert in approximately ten days to
show him the Ministry's plan. He said he would get Olmert's
approval to pass the list to Post.

--------------
Separation Barrier Done in mid-2007
--------------


6. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question on the
timing of the completion of the separation barrier, Boim
replied that the GOI would have a continuous, fully
operational fence from Bet Shean in the north to Metzudat
Yehuda in the south in six to seven weeks, with the exception
of the settlement blocs. He said that the entire separation
barrier should be complete by mid-2007. Boim claimed that
the fact that the barrier is not complete around Jerusalem is
a problem because all of the six suicide bombers that got
into Green Line Israel in 2005 entered through Jerusalem in
private taxis. He asserted that the barrier around the Ariel
bloc is important for security, but also for strategic
reasons in a final agreement with the Palestinians because 60
percent of Israelis receive their water from the Mountain
Aquifer that lies mostly under this bloc. (Note: The
Mountain Aquifer underlies almost the entire West Bank. End
note.) He acknowledged that the GOI is having problems
getting the settlers to agree to the separation barrier in
the Gush Etzion bloc, but the government continues to try to
convince them nevertheless.


7. (C) Comment: We appreciate Boim's candor, but his
comments on GOI plans to continue building in existing
settlements suggest friction in this area will continue in
the event of a Kadima election victory. End comment.

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