US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV3987

S E C R E T TEL AVIV 003987 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KWBG, IS, SETTLEMENTS, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ADVISOR, BRIGADIER GENERAL 
(RES.) SPIEGEL CLARIFIES PRESS REPORTS OF PLANS TO EXPAND 
JORDAN VALLEY SETTLEMENTS 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Gene Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
) 
 
1. (S) IN A 24 JUNE MEETING, MINISTRY OF DEFENSE ADVISOR, 
BRIGADIER GENERAL (RES.) BARUCH SPIEGEL PROVIDED ECONOMIC 
COUNSELOR CLARIFICATION ON A PRESS REPORT INDICATING THAT 
PLANS WERE UNDERWAY TO EXPAND SETTLEMENTS IN THE JORDAN 
VALLEY. AS MUCH OF THE RURAL LANDS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY FALL 
UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY, SPIEGEL 
SUGGESTED THAT THE PLAN WAS PROBABLY LEAKED TO THE PRESS BY 
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AS A "PROVOCATION."  SPIEGEL 
CONTINUED THAT THIS PLAN HAS NEVER BEEN RAISED WITH THE 
DEFENSE MINISTRY FOR APPROVAL.  WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE ARTICLE, 
WHICH STATED THAT THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (MOF) HAD APPROVED 
FUNDS, YOSSI GORDON, MOF SENIOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE 
BUDGET, TOLD ECONOMIC OFFICER THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY 
NEW FINANCING OF SETTLEMENT PROJECTS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY. 
 
 
2. (C)  AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE 24 JUNE EDITION OF 
YEDIOTH AHRONOTH STATED THAT AGRICULTURE MINISTER YISRAEL 
KATZ WAS SUBMITTING A PLAN TO THE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE FOR 
RURAL AFFAIRS (UNDER THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE) TO FURTHER 
DEVELOP AND EXPAND SETTLEMENTS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY AND THE 
BEIT SHE'AN VALLEY.  ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, THE PLAN HAD 
ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED TO PRIME MINISTER SHARON AND HAD BEEN 
APPROVED BY THE FINANCE MINISTRY'S BUDGET DIRECTOR KOBI 
HABER.  THE PLAN WAS EXPECTED TO REACH NIS 145 MILLION AND TO 
INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF 50 NEW HOUSING UNITS IN THE JORDAN 
VALLEY SETTLEMENTS PER YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, SETTLEMENTS THAT 
SUBMITTED AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR USING LARGE AREAS 
WOULD RECEIVE GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF NIS 100 MILLION AND USE 
OF WATER NEARLY FREE OF CHARGE. 
 
 
 
CRETZ 
 
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CRETZ