INITIAL ISRAELI REACTIONS TO NETANYAHU'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002560

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS
SUBJECT: INITIAL ISRAELI REACTIONS TO NETANYAHU'S
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SUSPENSION OF NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE
WEST BANK

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Luis G. Moreno, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) Summary. PM Netanyahu's November 25 announcement of
the "suspension of new (building) permits and new
construction" in the West Bank for a period of 10 months
appears to be generally well received in Israel even while
generating virulent opposition on the far right and with the
settler movement. Left wing commentators and editorials have
offered a mixed reaction, with some viewing the decision as a
step in the right direction while others have dismissed it as
a political ploy. Within the coalition, Netanyahu has
demonstrated political strength by obtaining the support of
key Likud hardliners Benny Begin and Moshe Yaalon, while
apparently orchestrating the ultra-orthodox Shas Party's
decision not to attend the meeting of the security cabinet
that voted in favor of the suspension. The PM's office
quickly dissociated Netanyahu from public criticism of the
U.S. by Minister of Culture Limor Livnat (Likud),and most
observers think the favorable votes by Begin and Yaalon will
insulate Netanyahu from any significant revolt within his
party. The YESHA Council representing West Bank settlers
issued a statement calling the decision "un-Jewish and
immoral" and threatening to continue to build illegally. MOD
Barak has ordered the security services to implement the
security cabinet's decision, so a test of wills is likely to
come to a head shortly. Meanwhile, the GOI is monitoring the
Palestinian reaction, which is closely linked to reports that
the indirect negotiations with Hamas over the release of
kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in return for hundreds of
Palestinian prisoners are coming to a head. End Summary.


2. (U) The security cabinet met on the afternoon of November
25 and voted in favor of a decision to suspend for 10 months
the issuance of building permits and new construction in
Israeli settlements in the West Bank. PM Netanyahu held a
short press conference after the vote to formally announce
the decision. He linked the decision to the GOI's hope that
it would contribute to relaunching peace negotiations with
the PA, and reiterated his commitment to "working closely
with the United States to advance peace and security in the
region." Netanyahu made clear that the suspension will not
include the construction of public buildings such as schools
and synagogues or infrastructure "needed to protect our
national security or to safeguard the lives of our citizens."
He also noted that the GOI does not intend to restrict
construction in East Jerusalem. He called on the
Palestinians to respond to Israel's "far-reaching step for
peace."


3. (C) The PM's announcement came as no surprise to
Israelis, since the broad outlines of a temporary freeze on
construction in the West Bank settlements have been leaked to
the press and commented on extensively for the past several
months. Nonetheless, analysts noted Netanyahu's success in
delivering all but one member of the 15-member security
cabinet, with only Minister of National Infrastructure Uzi
Landau (Yisrael Beitenu) voting "no" while the two Shas
ministers Eli Yishai and Ariel Attias were both absent, with
the Shas ministers absence reportedly agreed in advance with
the PM. David Hacham, an Arabic-speaking MOD official who
was tasked with explaining the GOI's decision to the Arabic
media, told PolCouns November 26 that he was stressing in his
interviews the significance of even a limited settlement
freeze by a right-wing government. Hacham noted that the
"yes" votes by the hard-line Likud members of the inner
cabinet, Benny Begin and Moshe Yaalon, as well as Foreign
Minister and Yisrael Beitenu party head Avigdor Lieberman,
effectively innoculated Netanyahu from a right-wing revolt
within the cabinet.


4. (U) While most of the public appears to be quietly
supportive of the GOI decision (which will not be officially
announced until the full cabinet votes on it November 29),
various right-wing politicians and the leadership of the West
Bank settlers have moved quickly to express their rejection
of any limitations on settlement construction. The YESHA
Council, representing the West Bank settlers, issued a
statement November 26 calling the PM's decision "un-Jewish
and anti-Zionist" as well as "immoral" because they fear it
represents a caving-in to U.S. pressure and an acceptance of
the argument that settlements are obstacles to peace.
Minister of Culture Limor Livnat (Likud) generated headlines
because of remarks she made November 26 at a Likud party
rally in Beer Sheva, where Livnat reportedly expressed
sympathy for Netanyahu's having to deal with an "awful" U.S.
Administration that has made the PM suffer. Netanyahu's
office quickly released a statement distancing him from
Livnat's remarks, noting that "the remarks made by the
minister do not in any way represent the position of the
Prime Minister," and adding that "the Prime Minister has

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repeatedly expressed his appreciation of the brave alliance
between Israel and the United States, which has continued
fully during the Administration of President Obama."


5. (C) Yediot Aharonot's military and national security
affairs columnist Alex Fishman told PolCouns November 27 that
the MOD has set up a task force to monitor all construction
in West Bank settlements, with a special budget for
activities that include aerial surveillance as well as
on-the-ground inspections. Fishman said the settlers are
prepared quickly to challenge the MOD, and predicted that the
crunch will come very soon, as Defense Minister Barak will
have to decide how to respond to illegal, perhaps even
intentionally provocative, construction. He also argued that
the support of inner cabinet right-wingers such as Begin,
Yaalon and Lieberman for the suspension of construction was
based on Barak's argument that a confrontation with Iran is
likely in the first half of next year, and Israel will need
both the good will of the U.S. Administration and to avoid
the outbreak of a Third Intifada during the coming year.


6. (C) Israelis across the political spectrum are watching
the Palestinian Authority's reaction carefully. Media
commentators have noted comments by various PA officials,
including Abu Mazen while traveling in South America,
rejecting the GOI's initiative and stressing that they will
not return to negotiations without a total freeze, including
in East Jerusalem. Some left-wing commentators, such as
Ha'aretz' Akiva Eldar, are stressing the view that
Netanyahu's approach is simply a political ploy to get the
U.S. off his back while knowing that the Palestinians cannot
accept it. Others have taken the position that while
insufficient, Netanyahu is acting against his own political
inclinations and should be encouraged to continue to move in
the right direction. Columnist Fishman noted that Israelis
are well aware of the great sensitivity in the PA toward a
possible agreement with Hamas to exchange hundreds of
Palestinian prisoners for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit,
which some believe could take place in the next few weeks.
Fishman said the security services are looking at the
possibility of releasing additional hundreds of Fatah
prisoners in order to cushion the blow to Abu Mazen of a
Shalit deal, but he noted that such steps could simply
intensify opposition by the right to any the GOI's overall
approach to trying to restart negotiations with the PA.
MORENO