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