IDF BLOCKS SETTLERS RE-ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH OUTPOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002995

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
GOLDBERGER/SHAMPAINE/ROSENSTOCK/PECCIA; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IS KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: IDF BLOCKS SETTLERS RE-ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH OUTPOST

REF: JERUSALEM 02044

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 (
b),(d)


1. (C) In a conversation with econoff on October 15, Oded
Herman, Senior Advisor to MOD Political-Military Director
Amos Gilad clarified that the IDF did not evacuate an
existing outpost, as Israeli press had reported earlier that
day. According to Herman, the IDF stopped settlers from
establishing the Shvut Ami outpost located near the Qedumim
settlement in the northern West Bank. Peace Now's Hagit Ofran
also confirmed to econoff that the IDF had already removed
settler activists associated with the Eretz Israel Youth
organization from the site three times last week. Ofran
added that although the IDF sometimes allowed settlers to
spend the night at sites where they wanted to establish
outposts, the IDF usually removes settlers from these areas
if they try to build structures.


2. (C) Settler activists have threatened to establish five
new outposts since May 2007. Most recently, on September 30,
as a protest against the November international meeting on
the Middle East, settlers established five temporary outposts
during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot: Harchivi near the Elon
Moreh settlement, Shvut Ami near the Qedumim settlement,
Nofei Hashmonaim near the Hashmonaim settlement, Giv'at
Ha'Eitam near the Efrata settlement, and Ma'alot Halhoul (or
Hill 1013) near the Qiryat Arba settlement. Hundreds of
settlers flocked to these sites and, in some cases, built a
few temporary structures, which the IDF promptly demolished
(REFTEL).


3. (C) Despite the IDF's recently demonstrated willingness
and ability to quickly stop settlers' attempts to create new
outposts, settlers will likely continue to revisit the sites
and try to establish new strongholds. Similar to repeated
attempts by settlers to re-establish an Israeli presence at
the Homesh settlement -- which was evacuated by the GOI
during the 2005 disengagement -- settlers from the Harchivi
outpost have also stated their intention to return to
Harchivi. In recent months, we have received several reports
of attempts by settlers to re-establish outposts at sites
previously evacuated by the IDF, in addition to attempts to
create a presence at Giv'at Ha'Eitam.

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