FARMERS FRET OVER FALL OLIVE HARVEST PERMITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001748

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/IPA AND S/P (DEATHERAGE); NSC FOR
ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PBTS ECON KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: FARMERS FRET OVER FALL OLIVE HARVEST PERMITS

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary. Palestinian farmers living along the
separation barrier in the northern West Bank have expressed
concern over GOI restrictions on permits to cross
agricultural gates in the barrier. These restrictions would
hamper their efforts to bring in the olive harvest, a
significant source of income for Palestinian farmers. They
said the permit regime during the recent off-season has been
more restrictive than those of previous years, and that they
are concerned the GOI will not grant access to laborers and
family members needed during the harvest. End summary.

Villagers: Access to Land Restricted;
Permits Increasingly Difficult to Obtain
--------------


2. (C) Jayyus (pop. 4,000) mayor Mohammed Taher Jaber and
village farmers told POLOFF September 15 that obtaining
permits from the Israeli Civil Administration to access their
land, located west of the barrier, has become increasingly
difficult. Jaber said the village council's survey of
residents determined that only 18% of village residents
needing permits to access farm lands had them. (Note: The
route of the barrier near Jayyus and Zufim settlement has
been the subject of litigation before the Israeli High Court.
Mayor Jaber had told POLOFF August 27 that the village
retained an attorney to contest the most recent GOI plan to
reroute the barrier north of Jayyus on the grounds that the
plan would return only one of five water wells and one-third
of the land belonging to the village. End note.)


3. (C) Jayyus residents said the requirements for proving a
connection to the land were onerous and resulted in a high
percentage of denials, some of which they attributed to
discrepancies between Israeli and Jordanian systems for
recording personal names. Additionally, they noted that, as
land passes between generations through inheritance, plots
are sub-divided by the GOI and assigned to each descendant.
Jaber said farmers with plots of land smaller than one-half
dunum (one-eighth of an acre) are not entitled for permits to
work the land under GOI regulations.


4. (C/NF) Farmers from Falamya (pop. 800) and Kafr Sur (pop.
1,200) told POLOFF September 17 that they rely on the
able-bodied and young to do much of the manual labor, but it
is harder for younger people to obtain permits. According to
Falamya mayor Jamil Abdel Ghani, those over 60 are most
likely to receive permits. Villagers said Israeli
authorities have encouraged them to apply directly, bypassing
the village council and the PA, suggesting that doing so
would increase the odds of obtaining a permit. Several
farmers said many young farmers who have trouble obtaining
permits do not take this option because of concerns that they
will be perceived as collaborators.

Specific Obstacles for Seam Zone Villages
--------------


5. (C) Awani Ibrahim, mayor of Khirbet Jubarah (pop. 450),a
village located in the Seam Zone south of Tulkarem, told
Poloff September 17 that most residents can access their
olive trees for the upcoming harvest, but he is concerned
that the village's location between the Green Line and the
separation barrier will make it difficult for a sufficient
number of laborers to gain access and help with the harvest.
(Note: Access to these trees requires a Seam Zone-specific
permit that is only given to Khirbet Jubarah residents and
their immediate family members. End Note.) He said that
bringing olives to market has been more difficult since the
barrier was completed in October 2003, because wholesalers
cannot get permits to cross Jubarah checkpoint to purchase
directly from the farmers, and farmers must drive their goods
to Tulkarem or Nablus.

MARCHESE