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 002430 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IPA, NEA/RA, OES/PCI AND OES/SENV 
USEPA FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 
TAGS: SENV EAID PREL KPAL KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT'S TOP PRIORITY IS 
COOPERATION WITH PALESTINIANS 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein, reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Environment Minister Gideon Ezra told NEA 
Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson June 15 that his top 
priority is cooperation with the Palestinians on sewage and 
other pollution concerns. He said that Defense Minister 
Peretz had determined that such cooperation was humanitarian 
and in Israel's interest, as had been the case with avian 
influenza. Ezra asked that the U.S. move forward with the 
suspended Hebron wastewater treatment project.  He hoped the 
U.S. could undertake small-scale sewage projects in rural 
areas, working with local governments or others not 
controlled by Hamas.  He endorsed the idea of continuing 
peace process activities in the areas of the environment and 
water, working with NGOs and academics rather than the 
Palestinian Authority (PA).  Ezra is interested in 
cooperation with Jordan as well, particularly in 
rehabilitation of the Jordan River and environmental 
enforcement.  Israel's internal priorities include water 
quality, sewage and industrial wastes, preservation of open 
spaces, energy efficiency, asbestos and public awareness. 
The minister and his staff expressed appreciation for the 
advice of a USEPA team on resolving pollution problems at the 
Ramat Hovav industrial and hazardous waste facility in the 
Negev.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Top Priority:  Cooperation with Palestinians 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson, accompanied by 
ESTH Officer, met with Environment Minister Gideon Ezra in 
Tel Aviv June 15.  Ezra was accompanied by his Director 
General (DG), deputy DG for policy, acting international 
director and ministry spokesperson.  Ezra led off by saying 
his top priority was humanitarian cooperation with 
Palestinians on sewage and other pollution issues of mutual 
concern.  Defense Minister Peretz had made a decision that 
such issues would be treated as humanitarian, as had been the 
case with avian influenza, Ezra said.  The MFA had also 
stated that sewage treatment projects could and should 
continue.  Ezra said that major unaddressed sewage problems 
in Beit Lehiya, Ramallah and Hebron were of particular 
concern to Israel.  Untreated sewage from West Bank areas 
sometimes flows into Israel and can cause concentrations of 
mosquitoes, in addition to affecting the quality of life of 
many Palestinians. 
 
¶3. (C) Ezra noted that there were cooperative projects 
between Israeli settlements and Palestinian cities in the 
West Bank and said the GOI was willing to address such mutual 
concerns with Palestinians who were not part of the Hamas 
government.  Pointing out that Germany and other European 
countries were moving ahead with sewage treatment projects, 
Ezra asked that the U.S. proceed with building the Hebron 
waste water treatment plant.  Lawson explained that the USG 
had put the Hebron project on hold after Hamas came to power 
in the PA.  Ezra said he would be asking FM Livne and 
Israel's embassy in Washington to make the same request.  He 
also suggested that the U.S. undertake small-scale sewage 
projects in rural areas, working with local governments and 
NGOs not associated with Hamas.  Ezra stated that the GOI had 
paid UNDP the first USD five million of a 50 million dollar 
contract to clean up rubble left behind at previous Israeli 
settlements in Gaza and had give its agreement to the process 
proposed by UNDP.  Lawson reported that the United Nations 
Environment Programme was trying to raise funds to clean up 
the Erez Industrial Zone. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Regional Projects and Cooperation with Jordan 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Lawson briefed Ezra on U.S. efforts to restart 
Multilateral Peace Process activities in water and 
environment working with Palestinians not associated with the 
PA or Hamas.  He invited the MOE's suggestions of possible 
Palestinian partners, noting that the U.S. was tried to 
reschedule a workshop on pollution from gas stations and 
other petroleum storage facilities that had to be postponed 
after the Hamas electoral victory. Lawson and Ezra touched on 
efforts by Jordan and Israel to advance their own 
environmental enforcement.  Both agreed that was a good area 
for the two countries to compare efforts.  Israel also wants 
to work with Jordan on rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan 
River, including looking for ways to increase water flow. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Environmental Priorities in Green Line Israel 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) DG Miki Haran listed Israel's internal environmental 
priorities and concerns as water availability and quality, 
sewage treatment and disposal, industrial and solid waste, 
the lack of open spaces in populated areas, energy efficiency 
and educating the next generation on environmental issues. 
She noted that the ministry had sent the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) a request for training assistance on 
asbestos removal.  Minister Ezra and his staff expressed 
their appreciation for the December visit by an expert EPA 
team.  The visit had helped MOE move towards a resolution 
with industry of serious pollution problems at the Ramat 
Hovav industrial and hazardous waste disposal site in the 
Negev.  Plans now called for industry to invest USD 800 
million for treatment of wastes at ponds connected to each 
plant at the site.  MOE will be issuing international tenders 
totaling USD 220 million for rehabilitation of pre-existing 
hazardous landfills located at Ramat Hovav within the year, 
Haran said. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
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