US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV664

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 000664 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KWBG, IS, JE, GOI INTERNAL, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE: MAZUZ DECISION UNLIKELY 
TO BE CHALLENGED 
 
REF: TEL AVIV 652 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for Reasons 1.4 (b, 
d) 
 
1.  (C) In a conversation with Deputy Economic Counselor 
February 3, Deputy Attorney General Blass discounted the 
possibility of a serious challenge to AG Mazuz's January 31 
decision on the Absentee Property Law.  Although he was 
unaware that Finance Minister Netanyahu had told Ha'aretz 
February 3 that he planned to "speak with" Mazuz about the 
decision, Blass said that as far as he knew all was set to 
implement the AG's decision with no changes.  He also doubted 
that the AG would "change his mind, since his decision was 
based on the actions of his predecessors."  Furthermore, 
Blass found concerns that the Knesset would change the 
decision through legislative means unrealistic:  "Knesset 
members know we have a Supreme Court and have to take that 
into account." 
 
2.  (C) When asked about the level of progress being made on 
developing a permit system to allow West Bank Palestinians to 
access their land on the Jerusalem side of the seamline 
barrier, Blass said planning was just at the initial stages. 
He emphasized, however, that the AG aimed to create a fair 
system that would allow those with a bona fide connection to 
property to access it. 
 
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Comment 
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3.  (C) Mission will follow up with the Attorney General to 
urge rapid development of the new permit system. 
 
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KURTZER