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 SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000668 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SENV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: HOUSING MINISTER BOIM DISCUSSES OUTPOSTS, 
SETTLEMENTS, AND SEPARATION BARRIER WITH THE AMBASSADOR 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  In a February 8 meeting with the 
Ambassador, Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim said 
that the GOI would evacuate outposts because Israel promised 
the USG that it would do so under the road map, and because 
outposts are unauthorized and Israel is a country that 
follows the rule of law.  Boim doubted, however, that the GOI 
would remove any outposts before the elections on March 28 
because it is not the "right time" to take tough steps from a 
political point of view.  He acknowledged that the GOI is 
talking to the YESHA leadership about future evacuations of 
outposts, and said that this line of communication is 
important because the YESHA Council can positively or 
negatively influence how well future evacuations go.  Boim 
told the Ambassador that he would continue to approve tenders 
for construction in the settlement blocs, and that the 
Ministry of Defense is currently undertaking a study to 
determine what the future needs of the settlers living in 
those settlements are.  He said the GOI may expand the 
municipal boundaries of settlements to take into account the 
growth needs of those populations.  Boim claimed that the 
separation barrier would be complete by mid-2007.  End 
summary. 
 
--------------------------- 
Outpost Removals:  Yes, But 
Not Before the Elections 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim , who 
also serves as agriculture minister, told the Ambassador on 
February 8 that he is unsure whether there will be further 
dismantling of outposts before the elections.  He explained 
that it is not the "right time" to take tough steps on 
outposts from a political point of view, and admitted that in 
August 2005 GOI officials had asked the High Court to let 
them wait to demolish the nine permanent houses in Amona 
outpost until after the elections.  Boim said, however, that 
as former deputy defense minister, he has been deeply 
involved in the government's policy on outposts, and assured 
the Ambassador that the GOI is ready to dismantle them in the 
future for two reasons.  The first is that, from a political 
perspective, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised the USG and 
President Bush that the GOI would evacuate outposts, and the 
GOI will fulfill this commitment.  The second reason, 
according to Boim, is that from an internal Israeli 
perspective, the outposts are "constructed against all 
(Israeli) laws," and Israel is a country that follows the 
rule of law.  Boim said Israelis should ask themselves 
whether they want to live in a society where some people 
break the rules, and asked rhetorically, "What kind of 
society and culture is that?"  He emphasized that Acting 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is very determined to act against 
outposts in the future, as demonstrated at Amona, and his 
policy is clear. 
 
¶3.  (C) Boim remarked that, on one hand, dismantling outposts 
in the future should be easier after the implementation of 
Gaza disengagement because the GOI "succeeded without 
bloodshed."  He said that Israelis understand that the 
government is determined and has the capability to evacuate 
outposts.  On the other hand, however, future evacuations 
will be more difficult because the settlers' resistance in 
the West Bank will be tougher.  For these settlers, he 
explained, there is no difference between a "legal" 
settlement and an illegal outpost, and for them it is a 
question of "to be or not to be?" because once they see that 
the GOI has the determination to remove outposts, they will 
assume that the GOI is prepared to bring down "legal" 
settlements as well, and will step up their resistance 
activities. 
 
¶4.  (C) The Ambassador asked whether reports that Foreign 
Minister Tzipi Livni is secretly talking to settlers on 
further removals of outposts are true, and Boim acknowledged 
that there are GOI contacts with the YESHA Council.  He said 
that these talks are important because the YESHA Council 
"still controls in a way" how other settlers behave, and 
therefore can positively or negatively influence how well 
future evacuations go.  Boim commented that while the settler 
youth may not believe in the YESHA leadership, the majority 
of other settlers still obey and follow them, so it is 
important for the GOI to maintain these lines of 
communication.  He said that in his and Olmert's opinion, 
however, the GOI should talk to the settlers in a frank way, 
"not saying one thing but meaning another."  He explained 
that the settlers should know what the Israeli government's 
policy is, underscoring that Olmert's February 7 interview on 
Channel 12 outlined the principles that would guide Israeli 
demands regarding a final agreement: 
 
-- a free, independent Palestinian state with borders fixed 
after negotiations; 
 
-- maintaining the most important settlement blocs for the 
sake of Israel's security:  Ariel, Gush Etzion, Ma'ale 
Adumim, and a united Jerusalem; 
 
-- and restricting Palestinian access to the Jordan Valley as 
strategic protection against the (potential) external "Arab 
threat." 
 
Boim added that there are no details now on the exact points 
that Olmert or others are contemplating for the border, and 
that this would wait until Israel and the Palestinians reach 
that particular phase in negotiations. 
 
------------------------- 
We Plan More Construction 
in the Settlement Blocs 
------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's question on whether 
the GOI's policy of building in the settlement blocs would 
continue despite its road map commitment, Boim acknowledged 
that it would, and informed the Ambassador that the Ministry 
of Defense (MOD) is currently doing a study to determine what 
the "right size" of a settlement's master plan should be, to 
include the possibility of expanding each settlement's 
municipal boundaries if need be.  He explained that the MOD 
is trying to determine what "natural borders" each settlement 
should have for demographic purposes -- new families, 
children becoming adults and wanting to raise their own 
families in that settlement.  Boim said that the GOI should 
plan "the municipal borders not according to the last line of 
houses in a settlement," but taking into account growth and 
the needs of the (Israeli) people.  The Ambassador asked 
whether Boim would revive a previous practice of providing 
the Embassy advance warning -- before publication -- of any 
tenders that the GOI plans to issue, and Boim tentatively 
agreed.  He said that his ministry has a list of future plans 
for houses it plans to build in certain settlements, and that 
he is going to meet with Olmert in approximately ten days to 
show him the Ministry's plan.  He said he would get Olmert's 
approval to pass the list to Post. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Separation Barrier Done in mid-2007 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's question on the 
timing of the completion of the separation barrier, Boim 
replied that the GOI would have a continuous, fully 
operational fence from Bet Shean in the north to Metzudat 
Yehuda in the south in six to seven weeks, with the exception 
of the settlement blocs.  He said that the entire separation 
barrier should be complete by mid-2007.  Boim claimed that 
the fact that the barrier is not complete around Jerusalem is 
a problem because all of the six suicide bombers that got 
into Green Line Israel in 2005 entered through Jerusalem in 
private taxis.  He asserted that the barrier around the Ariel 
bloc is important for security, but also for strategic 
reasons in a final agreement with the Palestinians because 60 
percent of Israelis receive their water from the Mountain 
Aquifer that lies mostly under this bloc.  (Note:  The 
Mountain Aquifer underlies almost the entire West Bank.  End 
note.)  He acknowledged that the GOI is having problems 
getting the settlers to agree to the separation barrier in 
the Gush Etzion bloc, but the government continues to try to 
convince them nevertheless. 
 
¶7.  (C) Comment:  We appreciate Boim's candor, but his 
comments on GOI plans to continue building in existing 
settlements suggest friction in this area will continue in 
the event of a Kadima election victory.  End comment. 
 
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