US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV1420

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2013 
TAGS: PREL, KWBG, PHUM, PBTS, IS, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS, U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONS 
SUBJECT: SPIEGEL BRIEFS ON FENCE ACTIONS, PREPS MOFAZ FOR 
WASHINGTON MEETINGS 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Norman H. Olsen for Reasons 1.4 (B) 
and (D). 
 
1.  (C) BG (res) Baruch Spiegel called POL/C to a 
short-notice meeting March 8 to detail the latest steps in 
his assigned effort to address for the MOD measures to 
relieve the problems for Palestinians caused by the 
separation barrier.  He said the advanced timing of the 
meeting was designed to convey to Washington the latest 
developments, on which he had briefed DefMin Mofaz the night 
before, and to offer the USG a chance to raise any questions 
-- now or in the next 48 hours --  on which he should update 
Mofaz prior to the minister's Washington meetings later this 
week.  Spiegel also noted, following receipt of a telephone 
call during the meeting, that he would be appearing on 
several television channels that evening to discuss his work 
and the measures he has recommended. 
 
2.  (C) Without himself detailing specific points, Spiegel 
said that press coverage of recently accounced measures to 
professionalize IDF conduct and operations at what will now 
be called the checkpoints, vice roadblocks, is accurate.  The 
measures cited in press announcements include better 
infrastructure, better training of personnel, an IDF code of 
conduct, uniform rules, a "green line" for fast passage of 
ambulances, VIPs and vital workers, restroom facilities, 
water faucets and garbage cans.  Further, he said, the fence 
map now looks completely different, with the "loops" into the 
West Bank "postponed" for now.  These measures, he said, will 
address most of the questions put to him by DAS Satterfield 
and NSC Director Danin during their last visit.  He noted 
that they are also similar to  measures that MOD officials 
discussed with DAPNSA Hadley, A/S Burns and Senior Director 
Abrams during their recent visit. 
 
3.  (C) In addition, seven checkpoints will be updgraded, 
beginning immediately.  The Jerusalem area checkpoints are 
Kalandia, Wadi El Nahar, and what he termed #300 near 
Bethlehem.  He described the others, which he did not name, 
as four checkpoints around Nablus that will remain in place 
for what he termed the time being, leaving open the 
possibility that they might be removed at some unspecified 
point.  Timing of the full renovations will be in months, not 
weeks, given budget and constuction issues and training 
times.  Mofaz, whom he termed "very informed," will be 
prepared to discuss these improvements, although Spiegel was 
not sure whether Mofaz would raise them himself, or would 
simply be prepared to respond to questions. 
 
4.  (C) Spiegel said that other issues under consideration 
are: relocation of some checkpoints along the fence, 
increases in opening times; facilitating transportation for 
Palestinian school children; and addressing the needs of 
Palestinians whose homes are now separated by the separation 
barrier from their lands.  All these issues are now the 
subject of staff work, he said. 
 
5.  (C) On specific issues that the Embassy has raised 
previously with Spiegel, he offered the following: 
 
-- The fence that had run to the east of Baqa al Sharqiya, 
separating it from the West Bank, is being moved to run 
between the Israeli village of Baqa al Gharbiya and the 
Palestinian village of Nazlet Issa, just west of Baqa al 
Sharqiya.  The barrier will have a special gate, manned by 
three Israeli personnel, for the use of members of seven 
families with identified needs to cross regularly, for 
identified persons with "first class credentials," and for 
other individuals with special needs yet to be identified. 
Other people will need to use other crossing points, such as 
the one at Zayteh, to the south, and Reihan, to the north. 
Asked why, if that gate exists and must be manned in any 
event, the GOI would limit passage, Spiegel explained that 
the 37 barrier crossing points planned so far for between 
Salem and Qalqilya will range from limited-use doors or gates 
up to major personnel and cargo transit crossings with 
significant terminal facilities.  For instance, the crossing 
at Jalameh, farther to the northeast, will be a major 
facility, including for cargo transit.  He added that Salem 
crossing point will be limited to unspecified Israeli 
operational needs and will not serve as a regular passage. 
 
-- At Beit Surik, north of Jerusalem, Spiegel is looking at 
proposals to prevent Palestinians from being separated by a 
close-running fence route from several thousand dunams of 
their land on the southern side of the village.  Spiegel 
showed POL/C a map with the present fence route, close to the 
village, and what he described as one alternative: a broader 
loop of fence that runs closer to the Green Line and to the 
Israeli village of Nevasserat.  He pointed to a high point of 
ground northeast of Nevasserat and slightly south of east 
from Beit Surik, identifying it as a critical security 
overlook and a site that would remain on the Israeli side of 
the fence under any circumstances. 
 
-- On the Rosary Sisters school case, where the separation 
barrier runs close to the school and separates Israeli 
students from their homes, Spiegel said he had met with 
school representatives that afternoon and taken with him a 
portfolio of documents to consider. 
 
-- On the Jerusalem barrier overall, Spiegel said GOI 
officials had come to the decision to cease construction in 
those areas where he has identified problems until legal 
issues have been resolved and until remedial measures are 
both identified and ready for implementation.  For instance, 
he said, construction of wall sections will not continue 
without inclusion of necessary crossing points.  Wall and 
gate construction will proceed concurrently.  Kalandia and A 
Ram crossings will be big complexes, he added, and officials 
there are checking house to house before proceeding. 
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KURTZER