Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM1966
2008-10-28 15:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
IDF EVACUATES AN OUTPOST NEAR HEBRON; SETTLERS
how-toVZCZCXRO6858 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1966 3021549 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281549Z OCT 08 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3128 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001966
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018
TAGS: KWBG PHUM ASEC IS PBTS PTER
SUBJECT: IDF EVACUATES AN OUTPOST NEAR HEBRON; SETTLERS
RESPOND WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS AND THREATS
AGAINST THE IDF
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001966
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018
TAGS: KWBG PHUM ASEC IS PBTS PTER
SUBJECT: IDF EVACUATES AN OUTPOST NEAR HEBRON; SETTLERS
RESPOND WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS AND THREATS
AGAINST THE IDF
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. NGO contacts confirm media reports that the
IDF evacuated an illegal outpost near Hebron on October 26,
and settlers reacted by slashing the tires of 22
Palestinian-owned cars and attacking a nearby Muslim
cemetery. Speaking to the press October 26, Hebron area
settlers called the violence against Palestinians a
"pricetag" for the evacuation and issued threats against the
IDF. End summary.
ILLEGAL OUTPOST DEMOLISHED, SETTLERS
RETALIATE AGAINST PALESTINIANS
--------------
2. (C) According to B'tsalem staff Yael Stein, a large group
of police, Border Guard, and IDF forces arrived around 1:30
a.m. October 26 at an illegal outpost near Kiryat Arba.
According to Stein, they demolished two houses that were
built by settlers several years ago on privately-owned
Palestinian land and that had been subject to a demolition
order since late 2003. Stein said one of the houses was
inhabited by extremist settler Noam Federman, who assaulted
several policemen while handcuffed during the eviction; he
and two settlers who had thrown rocks at security forces and
their vehicles were arrested. Media sources reported that
Federman was later released by a court in Jerusalem.
3. (C) Stein said that a group of settlers entered al-Ras
Muslim cemetery after the eviction, breaking about half a
dozen gravestones and throwing paint on an additional 15
gravestones. She said the settlers also slashed the tires of
22 Palestinian-owned cars. Stein said B'tsalem field staff
saw settlers still present in the Muslim graveyard October
27, although the IDF had declared the area a closed military
zone.
SETTLERS THREATEN IDF
--------------
4. (C) One settler declared to the press after the incident
that the IDF soldiers should "all be killed and slaughtered,
because that's what they deserve." Breaking the Silence
activist Yehuda Shaul told PolOff that, while the evacuation
was "nothing new," such a statement was shocking and crossed
a line. Press reported that the Israeli Attorney General
ordered a criminal investigation of the settlers' statements,
and the IDF separately requested that the police press
charges.
WALLES
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018
TAGS: KWBG PHUM ASEC IS PBTS PTER
SUBJECT: IDF EVACUATES AN OUTPOST NEAR HEBRON; SETTLERS
RESPOND WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS AND THREATS
AGAINST THE IDF
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. NGO contacts confirm media reports that the
IDF evacuated an illegal outpost near Hebron on October 26,
and settlers reacted by slashing the tires of 22
Palestinian-owned cars and attacking a nearby Muslim
cemetery. Speaking to the press October 26, Hebron area
settlers called the violence against Palestinians a
"pricetag" for the evacuation and issued threats against the
IDF. End summary.
ILLEGAL OUTPOST DEMOLISHED, SETTLERS
RETALIATE AGAINST PALESTINIANS
--------------
2. (C) According to B'tsalem staff Yael Stein, a large group
of police, Border Guard, and IDF forces arrived around 1:30
a.m. October 26 at an illegal outpost near Kiryat Arba.
According to Stein, they demolished two houses that were
built by settlers several years ago on privately-owned
Palestinian land and that had been subject to a demolition
order since late 2003. Stein said one of the houses was
inhabited by extremist settler Noam Federman, who assaulted
several policemen while handcuffed during the eviction; he
and two settlers who had thrown rocks at security forces and
their vehicles were arrested. Media sources reported that
Federman was later released by a court in Jerusalem.
3. (C) Stein said that a group of settlers entered al-Ras
Muslim cemetery after the eviction, breaking about half a
dozen gravestones and throwing paint on an additional 15
gravestones. She said the settlers also slashed the tires of
22 Palestinian-owned cars. Stein said B'tsalem field staff
saw settlers still present in the Muslim graveyard October
27, although the IDF had declared the area a closed military
zone.
SETTLERS THREATEN IDF
--------------
4. (C) One settler declared to the press after the incident
that the IDF soldiers should "all be killed and slaughtered,
because that's what they deserve." Breaking the Silence
activist Yehuda Shaul told PolOff that, while the evacuation
was "nothing new," such a statement was shocking and crossed
a line. Press reported that the Israeli Attorney General
ordered a criminal investigation of the settlers' statements,
and the IDF separately requested that the police press
charges.
WALLES