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 000695 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: OLMERT'S SEPARATION PLAN 
 
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.  (C) Summary:  On February 7, Acting Prime Minister Ehud 
Olmert gave an interview in which he said that Israel is 
moving toward separation from the Palestinians, and toward 
defining Israel's final borders.  He explained that he plans 
to uphold all GOI commitments on unauthorized outposts -- 
presumably to the USG to remove post-March 2001 outposts.  He 
also remarked that Israel will keep the main settlement blocs 
west of the separation barrier and the Jordan Valley, and 
maintain a united Jerusalem.  Palestinian and NGO contacts 
opined that his plan is a continuation of Prime Minister 
Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and that they 
now expect to see accelerated construction of the barrier and 
in the settlement blocs.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------- 
Olmert Outlines His Vision 
On Outposts and Settlements 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on February 7 gave 
his first interview of the campaign season on Channel 2, in 
which he discussed, among other topics, unauthorized outposts 
and the settlement blocs.  On outposts, Olmert said that he 
would uphold all commitments the GOI has made -- presumably 
to the USG to remove post-March 2001 outposts -- that he 
would uphold the law, and that he would implement court 
orders (to dismantle outposts).  He remarked, however, that 
he would maintain a dialogue with the settlers, probably to 
avoid violent confrontations with them in future evacuations. 
 He defended the use of force against settlers at Amona on 
February 1 by saying that the Israeli public agreed with the 
GOI's behavior, and by mentioning that he had asked the 
settlers to implement the demolition orders themselves, but 
the settlers "replied with a categorical no." 
 
¶3.  (U) While not pointing out specific locations where he 
expects Israel's border with the West Bank to be in the 
future, Olmert asserted that Israel is moving toward a 
separation from the Palestinians, and toward determining the 
final borders.  According to Olmert, Israel "will converge on 
the main settlement blocs."  He explained that he would 
maintain a united Jerusalem, that the Ma'ale Adumim, Gush 
Etzion, and Ariel blocs are all or will be a "part of the 
State of Israel," and that giving up the Jordan Valley would 
be irresponsible.  Olmert fell short of calling his vision 
another unilateral disengagement, however, because he has not 
"given up on the road map."  He insisted that the 
Palestinians must fulfill their road map obligations to stop 
terrorism, "foster a democratic processes, and maintain full 
transparency in their dealings." 
 
---------------------------------- 
Olmert Continuing Sharon's Legacy? 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Khaled Elgindy, policy advisor for the PLO's 
Negotiations Support Unit, told ConGen poloff February 13 
that Olmert's plan is not new; it is a continuation of Prime 
Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan that 
will not be acceptable to the Palestinians.  He complimented 
Secretary Rice's recent statements that any future 
 
SIPDIS 
determination of final borders between Israel and the West 
Bank will need to be reached by bilateral negotiations. 
Elgindy also commented hopefully that since Olmert does not 
have a military background, and was once mayor of Jerusalem, 
he could be expected to be more flexible than either Ehud 
Barak or Sharon, and that he would have a better 
understanding of the centrality of Jerusalem for the 
Palestinian people.  (Note:  As an aside, Elgindy questioned 
why the GOI did not evacuate all the settlers from Amona or 
Hebron.  He indicated that any future evacuations of outposts 
or settlements would face stiff resistance from settlers, who 
have promised to at least double the amount of protestors. 
He also opined that evacuations would be better timed after 
the March 28 elections, since the evacuations may be viewed 
as electioneering on Olmert's part, and may provide 
ammunition to right-wing parties like Likud.  End note.) 
 
¶5.  (C) Jessica Montell, executive director of B'tselem, told 
ConGen poloff on February 13 that she expects the GOI to 
accelerate construction of the separation barrier and 
construction in settlements west of the barrier -- Ma'ale 
Adumim, Modi'in Illit, Ariel, and Gush Etzion blocs.  She 
said that a unilateral decision regarding Ariel will be hard 
for Palestinians to digest because of its geopolitical 
significance:  Ariel is another location which can 
effectively divide the West Bank.  She also pointed out that 
one area of concern is the Jordan Valley, which has a small 
population and represents nearly one-third of the West Bank 
total land, but is de facto cut off from the rest of the West 
Bank.  She claimed that the IDF imposes severe restrictions 
on the movement of Palestinians to the Jordan Valley by 
forbidding their entry and only allowing entry to those 
Palestinians listed as residents of the area.  Montell added 
that many Palestinians who reside outside of the Jordan 
Valley but have farmland there sometimes have trouble 
accessing it because of checkpoints and other obstacles to 
movement. 
 
¶6.  (C) Dror Etkes, settlement watch coordinator for Peace 
Now, told ConGen poloff that Olmert announced his plan on 
February 7 to turn the Israeli elections into a de facto 
referendum on disengagement, which Sharon never held during 
Gaza disengagement.  He opined that Olmert does not want to 
say too much now in order to avoid scaring away potential 
voters who may swing between him and the Likud party.  Etkes 
said he is uncertain about the future, adding that the GOI 
may get rid of outposts altogether, and may be forced to deal 
with the issue sooner than it wants. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website. 
********************************************* ******************** 
JONES