MASKIYOT: 20 HOUSES APPROVED IN NEW WEST BANK

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001343

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: MASKIYOT: 20 HOUSES APPROVED IN NEW WEST BANK
SETTLEMENT

REF: A. TEL AVIV 1599

B. JERUSALEM 347

C. 06 JERUSALEM 5065

D. 06 TEL AVIV 4994

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Settlers confirmed to POLOFF July 24 a
decision by MOD Barak to approve 20 construction of houses in
Maskiyot, in the upper Jordan Valley, for families evacuated
from Shirat Hayam in Gaza in 2005. The houses are part of a
2006 plan initiated and then canceled by then-MOD Amir
Peretz. Jordan Valley Regional Council Chairman Dubi Tal
told POLOFF he expects construction to begin by November.
Permanent civilian houses built at Maskiyot - a military
training camp - constitute a new West Bank settlement. END
SUMMARY

Defense Ministry Approves 20 New
Houses in Jordan Valley Nahal Camp
--------------


2. (C) Jordan Valley Regional Council Chairman Dubi Tal
told POLOFF July 24 that MOD Barak approved construction of
20 houses in Maskiyot. Following a 15-day public review
period, Tal said infrastructure preparations would begin. Tal
said he expects the houses to be built in the same area that
then-MOD Amir Peretz approved in 2006 (Peretz subsequently
ordered construction halted after U.S. and international
protest). The houses are intended for families evacuated
from the former Gaza Strip settlement of Shirat Hayam in
2005, who are presently living in temporary housing in nearby
settlements. (Note: Currently, several families live in six
trailers and existing structures at Maskiyot. The site was
established as a military training school Nahal in 1982. End
Note)


3. (C) Tal told POLOFF the Maskiyot approval is "just a
headline", calling it "insignificant and overdue" and
proclaiming hope for approval of 2,000 houses at the site.
Addressing Maskiyot's original establishment as a military
training base, Tal claimed Maskiyot "has always had a
civilian presence."


4. (C) Yesha Council Chairman Dani Dayan told POLOFF July
24 that MOD Barak approved the 20 new houses but denied press
reports that the move was a "reward" for settler agreement to
move outposts. Maskiyot settlers told POLOFF July 24 they
had not been officially informed of the decision and asked if
were true.

Comment
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5. (C) Construction of permanent civilian houses at
Maskiyot, which is currently a Nahal site under the
jurisdiction of the IDF, would, as we understand the
situation, constitute the establishment of a new West Bank
settlement, contrary to GOI Roadmap commitments and promises
by PM Olmert at the time of the Annapolis Conference. The
envisioned housing plots are well outside Maskiyot's current
built-up area and would significantly increase its existing
footprint. END COMMENT.
WALLES