This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000456 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: HEBRON SETTLERS LEAVE VOLUNTARILY, REACH 
COMPROMISE WITH IDF 
 
REF: A. TEL AVIV 000296 
     ¶B. TEL AVIV 000389 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b 
) and (d) 
 
This is a joint Embassy Tel Aviv/Consulate General Jerusalem 
cable. 
 
¶1.  (U) According to press reports, settlers left the Hebron 
market "voluntarily" on the night of January 30 in exchange 
for a deal made with the GOI that they would be permitted to 
return legally at a later date.  They have until Thursday, 
February 2, to clear out their belongings.  Brigadier General 
Yair Golan, IDF commander in the West Bank, reportedly agreed 
with the settlers that if they left voluntarily, the IDF 
would speed up a legal examination of the possibility of 
expropriating the land from the municipality and leasing it 
to the settlers at a future date.  Per refs A and B, this 
would entail removing the Palestinian shop-keepers' protected 
status, thus resulting in their legal rights to the 
buildings.  (Note:  The Palestinian shop-keepers' were 
evicted by the IDF in 1994.  End note.)  Some settlers were 
quoted in the press saying, "We have an agreement in our 
hands.  We intend to honor it and we expect and are certain 
that the other side (GOI) will also honor it." 
 
¶2.  (U) Attorney General Menachem Mazuz immediately denied 
that a promise was given to the settlers that they would be 
able to live in the Hebron market again.  He admitted, 
however, that in the State's response to the High Court, the 
GOI will examine the possibility "of leasing the stores to 
Jewish settlers subject to the approval of the attorney 
general, on condition that the stores are not leased to the 
squatters," i.e., the current settlers in the market. 
 
¶3.  (C) Comment:  The only distinction between the settlers' 
and Mazuz's statements appears to be that the State does not 
intend to let the original settlers return to the Hebron 
market.  It seems clear, however, that the GOI plans to at 
least study the issue of expropriating the land, and possibly 
begin legal proceedings in the near future.  Econoff asked 
Boaz Karni, treasurer of the Economic Cooperation Foundation, 
whether this meant that settlers -- the squatters or others 
-- may eventually return to the market, even if the legal 
battle is protracted.  He responded, "I'm afraid you are 
right." 
 
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JONES