NABLUS AREA SETTLERS SEEK IMAGE MAKEOVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001990 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2018 TAGS: KWBG PHUM ASEC IS PBTS SUBJECT: NABLUS AREA SETTLERS SEEK IMAGE MAKEOVER Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. PolOffs met on October 29 with David Haivri, head of a newly established International Liaison Office in Barkan settlement (southwest of Nablus),tasked with strengthening northern West Bank settlers' external relations in Israel and abroad. Haivri admitted but downplayed the recent increase in settler violence, said settlers should "physically fight" attempts to remove outposts by the GOI, and described efforts to increase settler access to Joseph's tomb in Nablus. End summary. Looking for outside support -------------- ¶2. (C) David Haivri, head of the northern West Bank settlers' International Liaison Office, said that his office works on behalf of approximately 30 settlements in the northern West Bank to "find outside support" in Israel and abroad. He said few people outside the West Bank understand Jewish historical ties to the area and have developed negative opinions on settlers based on media information. He said his office is attempting to "open a window" to outsiders. Haivri said he is reaching out to American Jewish communities and asking for their support on local construction, education and commercial development. "This Is the Middle East--It's a Violent Place" -------------- -- ¶3. (C) Haivri downplayed the recent increase in settler violence, saying "this is the Middle East, it's a violent place." He said the Palestinians also engage in violence, but the media focuses more attention on settler attacks. Haivri distanced himself from Yesha Council efforts to negotiate with the GOI over illegal outposts such as Migron, saying that giving up any outpost would be "harmful to the cause," even if it meant permanent construction in a new and "legal" site. Haivri said settlers should "physically fight" an evacuation rather than agree to move Migron to another location. "In the current context, it's better to fight than negotiate." (Note: For its part, YESHA Council Chairman Dani Dayan said Haivri is "one of the most extreme settlers" in the West Bank. End note). Joseph's Tomb -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Haivri, the IDF has recently provided protection one night per month for settlers to visit Joseph's Tomb in Nablus. Haivri said that during the Jewish holiday of Succoth, some 1,000 settlers were transported back and forth in armored buses during the middle of the night, and hundreds more walked towards the Tomb but were stopped at Huwwara checkpoint south of Nablus. He said the tours are so popular that his office does not announce visit dates in advance because they would be overwhelmed by the response. Haivri said he hopes to increase regular settler access to Joseph's Tomb and said he is negotiating with the IDF on the issue. He admitted that handfuls of settlers are sneaking into the tomb "nightly," and often must be rescued by the IDF. Another settler factory shut down -------------- ¶5. (C) Haivri noted that some 120 factories are currently operating in Barkan's industrial area, which employ about 4,000 Palestinians. He confirmed that Mul-T-Lock -- the Israeli subsidiary of a Swedish company -- will soon close its plant there following pressure by Swedish NGOs about operating in the West Bank. Haivri commented that it is "ironic that supporters of the Palestinians would lobby for closure of a workplace employing Palestinians." He said that earlier this year, Barkan Winery moved its operation to Kibbutz Hulda in Israel (but kept the Barkan name) after international pressure on Heineken, owner of the group that operates the winery. WALLES