Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM67
2009-01-07 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

SETTLERS STRONGLY SUPPORT IDF OPERATION IN GAZA

Tags:  PREL MOPS KWBG IS GZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1353
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0067 0071353
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071353Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3740
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000067 

SIPDIS

S/ES-O FOR SECRETARY'S TRAVELING PARTY, NEA FOR FRONT
OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS KWBG IS GZ
SUBJECT: SETTLERS STRONGLY SUPPORT IDF OPERATION IN GAZA

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 000067

SIPDIS

S/ES-O FOR SECRETARY'S TRAVELING PARTY, NEA FOR FRONT
OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS KWBG IS GZ
SUBJECT: SETTLERS STRONGLY SUPPORT IDF OPERATION IN GAZA

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


1. (C) Summary. The Yesha Council Chairman told Poloff
that four of the six IDF soldiers killed in Gaza since the
beginning of military operations on December 27 were settlers
from the West Bank/East Jerusalem. Settler contacts told
PolOff that they strongly support IDF operations in Gaza, but
blame Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005 for allowing
Hamas to gain a stronghold in Gaza and launch attacks on
Israeli cities. Some extreme settlers are calling for the
GOI to take advantage of the ground invasion to re-establish
settlements in Gaza for strategic purposes. Most settlers do
not support this initiative. End summary.

SETTLERS MOURN DEATHS OF IDF SOLDIERS;
STAUNCHLY SUPPORT THE OPERATION IN GAZA
--------------


2. (C) Of the six IDF soldiers killed in Gaza through
January 7, four were from settlements: Staff Sergeant Dvir
Emanuelof from Givat Ze'ev, Major Dagan Vertman from Maale
Mikhmas, Captain Yonatan Netanel from Kedumim, and Sergeant
Nitai Stern, from Pisgat Ze'ev in East Jerusalem. Yesha
Council Chairman Dani Dayan told Poloff January 6 that it is
"no coincidence" that so many of the dead soldiers were
settlers, given the high number of settlers serving in the
IDF.


3. (C) Amcit Givat Ze'ev settler Rabbi Ari Kahn said Givat
Ze'ev is mourning the family's loss and staunchly supports
the IDF operation in Gaza, adding that "people think the
operation is long overdue, given the suffering of so many
Israelis threatened by Hamas' mortars." Former Ofra
spokeswoman Ruchie Avital told Poloff January 5 that, with
many children of Ofra settlers in the IDF, there is universal
support in Ofra for military operations in Gaza.

SETTLERS OPPOSE PA CONTROL OVER GAZA
--------------


4. (C) Elyakim Haetzni, co-founder of the Kiryat Arba
settlement, told Poloff January 6 that disengagement from
Gaza in 2005 paved the way for Hamas to consolidate its power
and launch mortars at Israeli cities. Haetzni and other
settler contacts expressed concern that the GOI will hand
over Gaza to the PA at the conclusion of the operation.
Haetzni and Dayan said the PA is "also a terrorist
organization" that will continue Hamas' attempt to "destroy
Israel." They said they will oppose PA control over Gaza,
believing that a unified PA would be better positioned for
permanent status negotiations, threatening West Bank
settlements.

EXTREME IDEOLOGICAL SETTLERS:
ISRAEL MUST "RETURN TO GUSH KATIF"
--------------


5. (C) Haetzni told Poloff that Israel has "no choice" but
to re-establish settlements in Gaza, as strategic positions
for the IDF to maintain security in Gaza. Haetzni said the
IDF "is at home" in the West Bank because so many settlers
are in its ranks, and he attributed the relative calm in the
West Bank to the IDF presence there. Haetzni said many
settlers believe that "land for peace" is not a viable
formula, arguing that Gaza disenagement meant "land for
rockets." He said the world has a "psychological block"
against "the idea of occupation in Gaza," but Israel is
"being forced to see that there is no other choice."


6. (C) Dayan said re-establishing settlements in Gaza is
popular among settlers, but is "wishful thinking," with most
realizing that it is "not feasible in the near future."
Rabbi Ari Kahn said moderate settlers "realize that is not a
mature position," because settlements in Gaza are not
defensible.

HEIGHTENED SECURITY CONCERNS AMONG SETTLERS
--------------


7. (C) The Yesha Council website cautions settlers against
hitchhiking in the West Bank, warning of kidnappings by
Palestinians posing as helpful Israelis. Avital told Poloff
January 5 that settlers and Israeli police are on "high
alert" in the West Bank in fear of Palestinian protests and
attacks on cars, and that many settlers are taking longer
routes to avoid "unsafe areas."


WALLES