OFRA: A "FLAGSHIP" PESSIMISTIC AND ANGRY ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002431

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2017
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: OFRA: A "FLAGSHIP" PESSIMISTIC AND ANGRY ABOUT
ANNAPOLIS


Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Residents of the West Bank settlement of
Ofra told Poloffs November 16 that convening Annapolis is a
mistake and they will stay in Ofra regardless of USG policy
or political developments. Six long-time residents of this
settlement movement "flagship" said the USG ignores lessons
from previous failed peace initiatives and Annapolis will
only result in more violence. They criticized the activities
of more radical "settler youth" and said the movement should
focus on strengthening existing "communities." END SUMMARY


2. (C) Poloffs met November 16 with six long-time residents
of the northern West Bank settlement of Ofra. They described
the settlement, founded in 1975, as a "flagship" for the
movement. Interlocutors were professionals. They included a
well known Hebrew University geologist, a Hadassah doctor,
and a former resident of GAZA settlement Gush Katif.

Violence Doomed to Follow Annapolis
--------------


3. (C) The Ofra settlers said they are frustrated that the
GOI is moving forward on negotiations without any public
discussion of that decision. They said the timing is wrong
for Annapolis, and they anticipate that forcing the meeting
will produce intense violence. They said the GOI should not
negotiate with the Palestinians, given Hamas' election to the
PLC, and these negotiations risk Israel's security. They
expressed concern that in post-Annapolis violence, Ofra will
be on the front lines and said Ofra is crucial to Israel's
security. However, they said they will remain in Ofra
regardless. They urged the U.S. to be realistic in thinking
about the region and asked "Why has the U.S. not learned its
lesson from similar failed peace efforts of the past?"


4. (C) The settlers said Ofra's neighboring Palestinians
are "not ready" for statehood. They said they "don't want to
throw the Palestinians out," but they also do not want to
govern them, and "there is no room for two states." The
settlers said they accept the principle of "land for peace,"
but that scenario is no longer possible, noting that "endless
rockets into Sderot" followed Israeli WITHDRAWAL from Gaza.
They lamented that Israel did not annex the West Bank in 1967
and indicated that Jordan should be the Palestinian homeland.
Looking at a 1950's map of Israel, the settlers noted that
Tulkarm is only 15km to the sea, which they believe means
that giving up the West Bank means giving up Israel. They
said fundamentally the conflict is not about land, but rather
the inability of Israelis and Palestinians to live together.
They said the Palestinians should recognize Israel
specifically as a Jewish state and expressed nostalgia for
the 1980's when they shopped in Ramallah.

Grabbing hilltops unproductive
--------------


5. (C) The settlers criticized the activities of settler
youth, noting that the "hilltop youth" undermine the image of
settlers, especially with secular urban Israelis. The
settlement movement, they said, should expend resources on
"strengthening real communities, not grabbing additional
hilltops."

DUFFY