SETTLERS RIOT AND BURN OLIVE TREES IN RESPONSE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001760

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS PTER
SUBJECT: SETTLERS RIOT AND BURN OLIVE TREES IN RESPONSE TO
REMOVAL OF YAD YAIR

REF: JERUSALEM 1710

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese, per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 18, in response to the IDF
removal of structures at Yad Yair near Dolev settlement,
north of Ramallah, settlers burned olive trees, hurled rocks,
and blocked roads near Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron. On
September 19, Poloff saw an increased police and IDF presence
near Ramallah and Nablus area settlements and some burnt
olive trees, but could not verify the extent of the
destruction. END SUMMARY.

IDF Actions: Yad Yair
--------------


2. (C) Press reported that IDF and Civil Administration
officials removed a makeshift synagogue and several
structures from Yad Yair (near Dolev settlement, north of
Ramallah) on September 18. (Note: Yad Yair is the site of a
former IDF outpost that settler youth use as a demonstration
site. Several recent IDF attempts at removals have prompted
settler attacks on the IDF (reftel). End Note.) Dolev
settler and former Binyamin Regional Council Chairman Adi
Mintz confirmed to Poloff the site's complete removal. He
said settlers purchased the land at Yad Yair for a memorial
to settler Yair Mendelson, who was killed during the first
intifada. Mintz said one family and several youth lived at
Yad Yair until September 18 and, in coordination with the
Yesha Council, are pursuing legal action to reclaim the site.
Settler outpost activist and Amcit Daniella Weiss condemned
the IDF act as a "pogrom" on Israeli radio September 19 and
pledged its rebuilding.

Nablus Area Settlers Respond
--------------


3. (C) In response to the removal at Yad Yair, Nablus area
settlers set fire to olive trees between Yitzhar and the
village of Madama and in Sura Village, near Havat Gilad
outpost (both some 25 kilometers north of the Yad Yair site).
(Note: The settlers were acting under their "new policy" to
counter IDF actions against them (reftel). End Note.) Press
report settlers hurled rocks at Palestinian homes and cars
near Ramallah and at the Horesh Doron IDF base near Yad Yair
and also blocked main roads across the West Bank. Poloff
noted an increased Israeli police presence near settlements
north of Ramallah and an increased IDF presence near
settlements around Nablus September 19.

Extent of Damage to Olive Trees Unclear
--------------


4. (C) PA Civil Defense sources report that they
extinguished fires that had destroyed some 300 trees and
threatened 700 more near Sura village, and press reported
some 200 dunams of olive trees burned near Madama. However,
Poloff could not verify such extensive damage on visits to
the West Bank. Rabbis for Human Rights director Rabbi Arik
Ascherman confirmed a fire destroyed some 10 trees and
severely damaged another 20-30 trees in Madama September 18;
he personally extinguished the fire. He noted that the IDF
prevented Palestinian firefighters from accessing the scene.
MARCHESE