US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6548

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006548 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2014 
TAGS: IS, KPAL, KWBG, PGOV, PREL, SENV, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT VIEWS ON GAZA 
DISENGAGEMENT 
 
REF: TEL AVIV 6442 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein, reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d). 
 
This message has been cleared with Consulate General 
Jerusalem. 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The Israeli Ministry of Environment has 
begun to focus on critical environmental issues related to 
disengagement from Gaza.  Ministry officials believe that 
unless there is close coordination among Israeli ministries 
and between Israeli and Palestinian officials, there will be 
negative environmental and health consequences for both 
Israelis and Gaza residents after disengagement.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) MK Ilan Shalgi, until recently the Minister of 
Environment, told ESTH Officer on margins of an environmental 
film festival December 9 that he had convened a meeting on 
December 3, his last day in office, to consider the 
environmental consequences of Gaza disengagement.  He 
referred ESTH Officer to MoE DG Miki Haran for more details 
on MoE thinking.  MoE International Affairs Director Ori 
Livne, acting on instructions from DG Haran, subsequently 
sent ESTHoff a summary of the Ministry's internal 
deliberations.  Livne noted that a report in the December 10 
Hebrew language newspaper "Yediot Musaf" provided additional 
detail on the MoE's discussions. 
 
3. (C) According to the summary provided to Embassy, the 
Ministry is concerned that if disengagement happens without 
coordination, the potential exists for the following 
environmental "problems and nuisances": 
 
-- Untreated wastewater flowing to the Mediterranean and 
polluting the desalination plant in Ashkelon; 
-- Untreated wastewater polluting aquifers that provide 
drinking water to the population and for agricultural needs; 
-- Open dumps for municipal solid waste causing air pollution 
and nesting grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and flies; 
-- Untreated industrial waste and wastewater; and 
-- Untreated hazardous waste from industry and hospitals, 
"etc." 
 
4. (C) The Ministry's discussions focused on the need for 
coordination among GOI officials in the following areas: 
 
-- Construction and Demolition Waste:  If settlement 
buildings and infrastructure are destroyed, there will be 
large quantities of waste.  MoE believes this waste must be 
treated properly, i.e. shredded and re-used or landfilled. 
(Note: The Palestinian Authority may push for the rubble from 
GOI-demolished structures to be removed before the handover. 
End note.) 
-- The Relocation of "New" Army Bases:  Bases currently 
located in Gaza that will have to be moved to Israel should 
not add unneeded infrastructure and roads, but should be 
located near existing towns and villages to preserve open 
spaces and nature reserves. 
-- Relocation of Civilians:  Relocations should take place 
according to the National Master Plan.  New settlements 
should not be built; existing settlements (within Israel) 
should be strengthened and enlarged according to existing 
development plans. 
 
5. (U) The article in "Yediot Musaf" said Ministry officials 
estimated the cost of handling the debris from settlements 
following the departure of about 8,000 settlers from Gaza and 
600 from "Northern Samaria" would be about 85 million NIS 
(approximately USD 20 million).  Some in the MoE discussion 
questioned whether homes should be destroyed at all, given 
the complexities of disposing of the debris.  The discussions 
identified various alternatives for disposal.  Ministry 
officials assumed that industrial installations will be 
transferred to the Palestinians "with the brokering and 
financing of international bodies." 
 
6. (U) According to the article, Shalgi stressed the 
importance of minimizing damage to water, sewage, electricity 
and road infrastructure.  The discussion also identified the 
importance of future handling of sewage within Gaza. 
Hazardous and radioactive substances could become ticking 
time bombs unless identified and handled properly.  Ministry 
officials opposed the creation of new settlements in the 
Negev, which already has problems of handling sewage and dry 
garbage. 
 
7. (C) Comment:  The environmental issues related to Gaza 
disengagement are daunting, and will require close 
coordination among Israeli ministries and between Israeli and 
Palestinian officials.  The MoE discussion represent a 
starting point in addressing a wide range of serious 
environmental concerns.  End comment. 
 
 
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