ESCALATING SETTLER VIOLENCE IN HEBRON AS IDF

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002187

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: KWBG PHUM ASEC IS PBTS PTER
SUBJECT: ESCALATING SETTLER VIOLENCE IN HEBRON AS IDF
PREPARES TO EVACUATE RAJABI COMPOUND

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


1. (C) Summary. The IDF declared the area surrounding the
Rajabi compound a "closed military zone" on December 2, and
deployed four Border Police companies to Hebron. Violence
instigated by settlers injured at least 20 Palestinians as
well as some Israeli security personnel, acording to
international contacts in Hebron and media report. Settler
contacts predicted that the Rajabi compound could be
evacuated soon. End summary.

SETTLER YOUTH ATTACK PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES
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2. (C) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Hebron Delegate Catherine Plumridge told Poloff on December 3
that around 20 Palestinians have been hospitalized over the
past two days for injuries from settler violence. She said
three boys were ambushed and badly beaten, one woman was hit
with a tear gas cannister, four men were attacked and bitten
by settlers' dogs, and a seven-month-old baby suffered from
inhalation of tear gas fired by the IDF. Press reports said
18 Israeli security forces personnel and settlers had been
injured on December 2. Plumridge said Palestinians in Hebron
describe the situation as the "worst ever." She said she met
with the local head of the Civil Administration December 2,
because the system designed to allow ICRC ambulances access
to the area is "not working."


3. (C) UNOCHA southern field worker Hamad Qawasneh told
Poloff December 2 that settlers had attempted to burn three
Palestinian houses that day. Many Palestinians near the
Rajabi compound, especially the elderly and pregnant women,
are suffering from "nervous breakdowns" and fear additional
settler attacks, he said. Qawasneh added, "some people fear
there will be a massacre."

BORDER POLICE ARE "THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE"
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Plumridge said December 3 that around 150 Border
Policemen are now deployed around the Rajabi compound,
calling them "the right people in the right place with the
right orders and the will to carry them out." She said this
is a "turning point" in the situation, because the GOI is
"taking measures that are more effective." She said, for
example, that Border Police on December 3 caught and detained
three settlers from Kiryat Arba who were trying to enter a
Palestinian area; Plumridge called this level of vigilance
"unprecedented." (Note: Plumridge said there are currently
150 people in the Rajabi compound. End note.)

MIXED PREDICTIONS FROM SETTLERS
ON THE TIMING OF THE OPERATION
--------------


5. (C) David Wilder, spokesman for the Hebron settlers,
told Poloff December 2 that "we're trying very hard to keep
this under control," and that "Barak is not interested in the
massive and explosive violence" that would occur if the
evacuation is attepted. Asked if the operation is imminent,
Wilder said, "logic and rationale don't apply here." Wilder
told Poloff that "the Yesha does not represent us; we didn't
ask them to help and are not obligated by anything they do or
say." Head of the Yesha Rabbinical Council and radical
Kiryat Arba rabbi Dov Lior issued a December 3 statement:
"The injustice is shouting up to the high heavens...(I) call
upon all to immedidately come to Beit Hashalom in Hebron to
protect and defend the house and the honor of the People of
Israel and the Land of Israel."


6. (C) Elkana settler Mel Borenstein told Poloffs December 3
that he believes a Rajabi compund evacuation would happen
that night. He said several Elkana settlers went to Hebron
in support of the Rajabi compound, but departed quickly
because of the surrounding chaos. "Nobody is in charge, and
the kids are running wild," he said. Mayor of Ariel
settlement Ron Nachman told Poloffs that the probable
evacuation of the Rajabi compound foreshadows future
settlement evacuations, and the damage the settlers will
consequently cause. Nachman warned against any attempt to
evacuate Ariel, saying that Rajabi compound is "the ant, and
we are the elephant."


WALLES