Cablegate: Yesha Agrees to Move Migron's Outpost; Residents

VZCZCXRO9661
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1496 2261445
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131445Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2499
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

"C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001496

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: YESHA AGREES TO MOVE MIGRON'S OUTPOST; RESIDENTS
OBJECT

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) SUMMARY: The Yesha Council voted unanimously August
11 to approve an ""understanding"" with the Israeli MOD to move
Migron outpost in exchange for permanent, legal housing in
one of four possible nearby West Bank locations. The
understanding provides for the construction of new homes
before Migron settlers will move, which could take years.
Council members acknowledge that Migron settlers and key
settler rabbis oppose the agreement. END SUMMARY

Council votes to move Migron per agreement with MOD
--------------------------------------------- ------

2. (C) Yesha Council chairman Dani Dayan confirmed to
Poloff August 12 the Council's August 11 decision to approve
an ""understanding"" with the MOD to move Migron outpost to an
undecided location. Fourteen members voted in favor, and
four abstained, although Dayan said some voted yes ""with a
heavy heart."" Yesha Director General Pinchas Wallerstein
told Poloff August 12 that the State Attorney will formally
inform the HCJ of the agreement in writing August 14. (NOTE:
The GOI previously committed to the HCJ to implement the
court order to move Migron by August 1. END NOTE) According
to Dayan, once the HCJ accepts the plan for Migron's move,
MOD will make it an official agreement with the Yesha Council.

Settlers to move once new houses built
--------------------------------------

3. (C) According to Wallerstein, the agreement states: ""In
exchange for moving from Migron's current location, the
Migron settlers will receive permanent, new houses in a new,
legal location."" Dayan and Wallerstein both confirmed that
Migron settlers will not move until new, permanent houses are
constructed, which Wallerstein told Poloff would mean ""at
least a year and half"" before settlers move.

4. (C) Wallerstein told Poloff that the Yesha Council will
have thirty days to determine the new location for Migron
residents. It will be one of four possibilities, all of
which are east of the separation barrier: a hilltop 300
meters north of Migron; the Binyamin Industrial Zone, three
km north of Migron; or the east or west side of Adam
settlement, five km north of Migron. Wallerstein said the
locations are based on settlers' desire to stay near Migron's
current location. Of the potential relocation sites, two
would represent new settlements (the hilltop nearby and the
Binyamin Industrial Zone) and two would expand Adam
settlement. Wallerstein said the GOI offered land at Kfar
Adumim near Maale Adumim some eight km southeast of Migron,
but it was rejected as too far away. Wallerstein predicted
that once the agreement is in place, the GOI would establish
Migron as a new settlement. This ""has not happened in a long
time.""

Migron settlers and key rabbis remain opposed
---------------------------------------------

5. (C) Dayan and Wallerstein confirmed that Migron settlers
are opposed to the pending agreement. ""This is not an ideal
compromise,"" Dayan said, and ""we're being attacked by the
loyalists, extremists, and even some of our mainstream"" over
the deal. Wallerstein told Poloff that several key settler
rabbis, including Rabbi Dov Lior of Hebron and Rabbi Zalman
Melamed of Beit El, oppose the agreement. Wallerstein said
the entire Binyamin Regional Council that oversees Migron and
the surrounding area opposes the agreement based on Migron
residents' views. Settler Yisrael Medad told Poloff that
Rabbi Zvi Yisrael Tau of Jerusalem, who taught many of the
young Migron residents and is ""generally more moderate,"" may
able to convince Migron settlers to agree to the deal.

6. (C) ""This is a very good deal,"" Wallerstein told Poloff,
but ""after Gush Katif they don't believe the government will
make good on its promises."" Ofra settler Aliza Herbst told
Poloff that the Migron deal represents a ""crisis of
confidence in Yesha leadership."" ""Three or four years ago,""
she said, the settlers ""would have taken our word that this
is a good thing, but now they don't trust even Yesha.""
WALLES
"

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