UPTICK IN SETTLER VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN MAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000807

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM ASEC IS KWBG KPAL PTER
SUBJECT: UPTICK IN SETTLER VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN MAY

REF: A. JERUSALEM 698

B. JERUSALEM 697

C. JERUSALEM 648

D. JERUSALEM 615

E. JERUSALEM 219

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


1. (C) Summary. NGO and Palestinian security contacts have
reported multiple incidents of settler violence during the
first two weeks of May, continuing a trend reported in March
and April (reftels). Specific recent incidents include
Hebron area settlers attacking Palestinian farmers, settlers
continuing attacks on Palestinian villages southwest of
Bethlehem, and an assault on a Palestinian farmer west of
Nablus. End summary.

More Settler Violence in Hebron Area
--------------


2. (C) Head of NGO Rabbis for Human Rights Arik Ascherman
told Poloff on May 15 that settlers from Mitzpe Yair outpost,
south of Yatta, have been routinely attacking Palestinian
shepherds and farmers grazing their sheep and harvesting
wheat crops on Palestinian land. Ascherman said these
Palestinians "have never had a problem here before," but now
the settlers are attempting to expand the buffer zone around
their outpost, and are assisted by "young IDF soldiers whose
default is to kick out the Palestinians first and ask
questions later."


3. (C) NGO Ta'ayush activist Ezra Nawi told Poloff on May
15 that a dozen settlers from Karmel, south of Hebron,
attacked three Palestinian homes in Abu al-Khair village,
east of Yatta, on May 13, shooting and killing two dogs.
Nawi said Karmel settlers are engaging in violence to
pressure over 150 Palestinians in Abu al-Khair to evacuate
their homes, which are located near a new settlement road.
The head of the Hebron office for the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC),Matteo Benatti, told Poloff on May
14 that such incidents are becoming so common that
Palestinians are generally not reporting incidents unless
they cause serious injuries or damage.


4. (C) NGO Ta'ayush activist Amiel Bardi told Poloff on May
15 that said that settlers from Hebron attacked a shepherd
harvesting wheat west of Kiryat Arba settlement on May 13,
breaking his finger. Bardi said Palestinian landowner Abu
Jabari won a case in the Israeli High Court of Justice in
2002, granting him the right to cultivate his land, but
"there is little we can do to enforce the court orders," and
settlers have routinely attacked Palestinians there. (Note:
Jabari's land is in the same area as the Rajabi Compound,
from which settlers were evacuated in December 2008. End
note.)


5. (C) PA security sources said that Hebron settlers
marched through H2 to Kiryat Arba settlement on May 14,
protesting an IDF plan to open the road to local Palestinian
vehicles. The IDF distributed leaflets in early May
instructing Palestinian vehicle owners in H2 to apply to the
Israeli Civil Administration for permits, while declaring an
extension of the closure of the road for Palestinian vehicle
owners for another six months, until November.

Multiple Incidents Around Beit Ummar
--------------


6. (C) PA security sources reported on May 1 that settlers
from Bat Ayin entered Kirbat Safa village, north of Beit
Ummar, and clashed with Palestinians there until IDF soldiers
intervened, injuring two Palestinians with rubber bullets.
On May 9, Bat Ayin settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers drove
off Palestinians from Kirbat Safa attempting to cultivate
their land. (Note: Bat Ayin settlers have frequently
targeted Khirbat Safa and Beit Ummar Palestinians since the
April 2 axe attack in which a Palestinian killed one settler
child and injured another (ref D). End note.) PA security
sources also reported that settlers from Karmi Tzur, south of
Bet Ummar, repeatedly prevented Palestinians from accessing
their land during May.

Palestinian Farmer Attacked and Road Blocked Near Nablus
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Ascherman said settlers from Havat Gilad settlement,
west of Nablus, physically assaulted a 20-year-old
Palestinian farmer on May 1 with rocks and an unknown gas

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substance; the farmer was later treated for contusions and
facial burns.


8. (C) PA security sources said on May 15 that
approximately 20 settlers from Yitzhar temporarily blocked
the main road leading to Nablus on May 14. No injuries or
damage were reported.


WALLES