Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10TELAVIV444
2010-02-25 13:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

MORATORIUM: MOD SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN DETERRENCE

Tags:  PREL KWBG IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3098
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHTV #0444 0561313
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251313Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5647
INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000444 

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT STAFF
FOR LTGEN SELVA, JERUSALEM PASS AMB. HALE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: MORATORIUM: MOD SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN DETERRENCE

REF: `

Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000444

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT STAFF
FOR LTGEN SELVA, JERUSALEM PASS AMB. HALE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: MORATORIUM: MOD SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN DETERRENCE

REF: `

Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (U) On 25 February, Israel's Army Radio reported that the
MOD plans to seek criminal proceedings against settlers who
continue to build in spite of the moratorium. To do so, the
MOD would hire lawyers for a period of several months to
assist in the preparation of criminal files against such
violators. Army Radio noted that the MOD has confirmed these
details and added that to date Civil Administration (CivAd)
inspectors had issued approximately 300 stop-work orders.
(Note: Embassy contacts in the MOD were not immediately
available for comment. End note)


2. (C) This latest development appears to be part of a
growing effort in the MOD to increase deterrent pressure on
settlers. In late January, Deputy Defense Minister, Matan
Vilna'i, confirmed to the Knesset that at least 29 West Bank
settlements had violated the moratorium (with multiple
infractions in many of the communities),and added that CivAd
teams had begun issuing demolition orders and that, at that
time, the MOD was weighing further action. (Note: Vilna'i's
Knesset memo was made public on 15 February. End note.) Then
on 17 February, CivAd personnel demolished four cement
foundations as well as construction on plots where ground
preparation had begun in the settlement of Revava
(approximately 4 km east of Ariel). Settler media, Arutz
Sheva, reported that these were the first moratorium related
demolitions, and LtCol Avi Shalev, head of CivAd's Foreign
Relations Branch, suggested to Econoff on the same day that
the frequency of such operations would likely increase in the
near future.


3. (C) Comment: If fulfilled and maintained, such plans and
operations would add much needed teeth to the GOI's
moratorium order. CivAd confiscation of heavy construction
vehicles and equipment in the initial days of moratorium
enforcement deterred many contractors, but building by
individual land owners has persisted absent more serious
consequences. Ambassador has requested regular updates on
moratorium enforcement from the Head of COGAT, Gen. Eitan
Dangut, and we expect the first of such updates shortly.
Meanwhile, we continue to engage our MOD and IDF
interlocutors on their insistence that they cannot evacuate
or conduct demolitions in illegal West Bank outposts due to
manpower constraints created by their enforcement of the
moratorium, underscoring that this weakens GOI credibility
and contradicts Israel's Road Map obligations.

Cunningham