MOD MASKING SANSANA SETTLEMENT AS ESHKOLOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000723

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NSC FOR DAN SHAPIRO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: MOD MASKING SANSANA SETTLEMENT AS ESHKOLOT
NEIGHBORHOOD

REF: TEL AVIV 0659

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Luis G. Moreno


1. (SBU) Summary: On 23 March, Ha'aretz reported and the MOD
confirmed that MOD Barak recently approved a plan to declare
the non-GOI recognized settlement of Sansansa as a
neighborhood of the Eshkolot settlement. Based on this
approval, the Civil Administration deposited a detailed
outline for construction in Sansana, which retroactively
legalizes approximately 50 homes, and allows expansion of up
to 440 residential units on the site. The MOD plan disregards
that the two sites are separated by approximately three
kilometers, do not share an access road, have ideologically
different populations, and are split by the Separation
Barrier. The GOI's attempt to mask Sansana as an Eshkolot
neighborhood is unconvincing. The USG has always labled
Sansana as a settlement and Embassy views MOD,s recent
actions as the GOI,s de facto authorization of a new
settlement. EconCouns made this point directly to MOD's
Roadmap point of contact Oded Hermann on March 23, stressing
that we will continue to view current and future construction
in Sansana as a violation of the GOI's Roadmap commitment to
freeze all settlement activity. End summary.

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A New Settlement by any other Name...
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2. (SBU) On 23 March, Ha'aretz reported and the MOD confirmed
that MOD Barak recently authorized the Civil Administration
to approve a master plan that classifies the non-GOI
recognized Sansana settlement as a neighborhood expansion of
the Eshkolot settlement. The plan grants retroactive permits
to approximately 50 illegally built homes, and will allow
expansion of up to 440 residential units on the site.
According to MOD Roadmap POC Oded Hermann, Sansana residents
submitted a settlement master plan for approval late last
year, when they began planning and constructing approximately
60 permanent structures to replace the trailers in which they
currently reside. Alon Cohen Lipschitz of Israeli NGO Bimkom
told Econoff on 24 March that the GOI originally sought to
legalize Sansana as a municipality of Israel proper, based on
the fact that it straddles the Green Line. However, Israeli
Courts rejected this plan. (Note: Sansana is one of 17 "green
line settlements" proposed by then Foreign Minister Ariel
Sharon at the end of 1997 to further "blur" the Green Line.
According to USG data and the official Sansana Settlement
website (www.sansana.org),Sansana was established as a Nahal
settlement in 1997, settled by civilians on Israeli
Independence Day in 1999, and converted to a civilian site in
2000, without a GOI-approved master plan. End note.)

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Facts Reveal Absurdity of "Neighborhood" Claim
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4. (C) On 25 March, Bimkom provided Econoff with aerial-view
photos showing an approximate three kilometer separation
between the built-up areas of Sansana and Eskolot. Aerial
photography also indicates that several Arab villages are
located between the two sites. In addition, the sites are
divided by the Separation Barrier surrounding Sansana, and
likely will be eventually separated by another section of the
Barrier, which the GOI plans to build around Eshkolot. (Note:
The aerial maps provided are available on the Embassy's
classified website at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv/ under the link
titled reporting attachments (ECON). End note.)


5. (C) The sites have separate access road, and lack any
direct connecting roads. According to imagery analysis,
Sansana residents must travel into Green Line Israel along a
circuitous route of approximately 7.5 kilometers to reach the
built up area of Eshkolot. In addition, Oded Herrman
confirmed to EconCouns that there is not now, and never has
been, any infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, etc.)
connecting the two sites. According to Ha'aretz, Sansana
receives most of its municipal services from the regional
council of Bnei Shimon, which is within the Green Line.


6. (SBU) Sansana's religious residents are substantially
different in ideology from the predominantly secular,
economic settlers of Eshkolot. Despite their petition to join
Eshkolot, Sansana's official website (as of 26 March)
continues to classify its community as an independent
settlement, making no mention of Eshkolot.


TEL AVIV 00000723 002 OF 002



7. (C) Comment: The USG has always viewed Sansana as a
settlement, despite the GOI,s refusal to recognize it as
such. Now, with the approval of its master plan, Sansana is
officially recognized as a settlement neighborhood by the
GOI. Embassy views this development, regardless of its
intent, as satisfying the GOI's political definition of a
settlement. It thus constitutes official MOD authorization
for establishment of a new settlement. EconCouns made this
point clear to MOD POC Hermann, stressing that we will
continue to view current and future construction in Sansana
as a violation of the GOI's Roadmap commitment to freeze
settlement expansion.


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