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 002113 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: OUTPOSTS:  DEMOLITION ORDERS HANDED OUT, TALKS 
WITH SETTLERS 
 
REF: A. TEL AVIV 02077 
     ¶B. TEL AVIV 02001 
     ¶C. JERUSALEM 02164 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b 
) and (d) 
 
This cable has been cleared by Consulate General Jerusalem. 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  Brig. Gen. (ret.) Baruch Spiegel said on 
May 31 that Kadima MK Otniel Schneller's comments about the 
expansion of Hebron settlements were "not relevant."  He 
added that the GOI does not intend to expand Beitar Illit, 
Givat Ze'ev, Oranit, and Maskiyyot settlements, and that 
recent press announcements refer only to zoning changes in 
the settlements because the settlements' master plans have 
technical problems.  He confirmed that the GOI plans to 
demolish Havat Maon outpost near Hebron, along with four 
others, because the settlers there have regularly attacked 
Palestinians and cut down Palestinians' olive trees.  He 
expects that the demolition of Havat Maon will be delayed, 
however, because the settlers will appeal to the High Court 
and the legal proceedings will be lengthy.  Spiegel remarked 
that the inter-ministerial committee considering 
recommendations in the Talia Sasson report must implement 
legislative changes to make it easier for the GOI to 
undertake demolitions, and added that the committee is "much 
more focused than before" now that Justice Minister Haim 
Ramon is the chairman.  Ramon's initial meeting with settler 
leaders on removal of outposts "went well," and he made clear 
that the settlers would have to follow the rule of law or 
"all bets are off," according to Spiegel.  He claimed that 
the removal of outposts is one of the top priorities of the 
GOI.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Expansion of Settlements Not True 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Brig. Gen. (ret.) Baruch Spiegel told EconCouns and 
econoffs on May 31 that Kadima MK Otniel Schneller's recent 
comments about a possible expansion of Hebron-area 
settlements were "out of context" (ref A).  He characterized 
Schneller's statements as "not relevant," and said that the 
GOI continues to deal with illegal settler activity in 
Hebron.  Spiegel also referred back to last week's 
announcement that the GOI has approved plans to expand Beitar 
Illit, Givat Ze'ev, Oranit, and Maskiyyot settlements (ref 
B).  He said that although he signed off on the order, 
Defense Minister Amir Peretz was not involved in the process, 
which had begun under former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz's 
tenure.  Spiegel claimed that the GOI does not intend to 
expand the settlements, and that the MOD is only making 
"zoning changes" because there are technical problems with 
the settlements' master plans.  EconCouns noted that despite 
Spiegel's denials, the zoning changes amount to expansion of 
settlement areas.  Spiegel replied that a committee has been 
evaluating these problems for the past year, and that the 
changes made to the settlements' plans are not meant to 
expand the settlements or to allow additional construction. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Plans to Demolish Problematic Outposts... 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) In response to econoff's question about demolition 
orders delivered to Havat Maon outpost near Hebron, Spiegel 
replied that this is one of five outposts that Prime Minister 
Ehud Olmert and Peretz had asked him to look into within 2-3 
days upon first entering office.  (Note:  He did not provide 
the names of the other four outposts.  End note.)  Spiegel 
explained that Havat Maon and the other outposts will be 
demolished because they are very problematic since settlers 
from these outposts regularly attack Palestinian children, 
clash with innocent Palestinians, and cut down olive trees. 
He said that the demolitions will require IDF involvement 
because they "will not be easy." 
 
------------------------ 
...But It Will Take Time 
------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (C) Spiegel remarked, however, that Havat Maon will 
probably not be demolished within the next few days, contrary 
to press reports, because the settlers always have the chance 
to appeal the demolition orders in the High Court, and legal 
proceedings can take some time.  He commented that until 
Justice Minister Haim Ramon and the inter-ministerial 
committee considering recommendations in the Talia Sasson 
report propose new legislation to make it easier to demolish 
unauthorized outposts, the settlers will always have the 
chance to appeal to the court and impede the work of the IDF, 
even if the prime minister and defense minister have ordered 
the demolitions.  Spiegel related that the committee is "much 
more focused than before" now that Ramon is the chairman, and 
mentioned that he expects decisions and legislative 
suggestions to be implemented "in a relatively short time." 
-------------------------- 
Negotiations with Settlers 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) In response to a question about Ramon's meeting with 
settler leaders on removal of outposts, Spiegel replied that 
the meeting was preliminary to get a basic understanding of 
each sides' positions, and assessed that it "went well" (ref 
C).  He explained that while neither side delved into 
particulars, Ramon clearly laid out the "pre-condition" that 
the settlers would have to follow the rule of law and not 
engage in violent acts, or "all bets are off."  According to 
Spiegel, the settlers came with several proposals, including 
removing outposts in different stages, and possibly moving 
some outposts to "legal" places, whether settlement blocs or 
in Green Line Israel.  Spiegel continued that if the two 
sides come to a deadlock in the negotiations, eventually the 
Israeli "government will decide on its own what to do," 
although it recognizes that it would be beneficial to have 
the settlers on the GOI's side.  He remarked that ultimately, 
however, the 24 post-March 2001 outposts "are going to have 
to go no matter what because they are unauthorized and the 
settlers know this."  (Note:  The USG counts 44 post-March 
2001 outposts.  End note.) 
 
¶6.  (C) Spiegel said that now that the GOI has completed a 
two-year comprehensive study of all settlements and outposts 
in the West Bank, it knows better than Peace Now and "better 
than you," referring to the USG, exactly where and what is on 
the ground.  He acknowledged that there are occasional 
changes based on the addition of one or two caravans, but he 
emphasized that the GOI usually knows what is happening and 
knows the legal status of all construction in the West Bank. 
He made clear that outposts have become a top priority for 
this government, particularly for Peretz, and stated that the 
MOD has a "significant database, which is accessed by the 
highest levels of government." 
 
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