US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV4194

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004194 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLS BRING TO ATTENTION OF S, PA AND NEA AT OOB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2010 
TAGS: IS, KPAL, PREL, XF, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS 
SUBJECT: GOI OFFICIAL REAFFIRMS POLICY ON GAZA HOUSES, 
DENIES NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)   Shalom Turgeman, Prime Minister Sharon's foreign 
policy advisor, told the Ambassador early July 6 that the 
GOI's policy with respect to Gaza houses remains as conveyed 
to the Secretary, namely, the GOI will destroy the Gaza 
houses during the evacuation of the settlements, the 
Palestinians will remove the rubble, and the Palestinians 
will not be responsible for paying for the operation. 
Turgeman said Sharon had made this policy clear during his 
July 5 appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and 
Defense Committee.  Turgeman specifically denied the New York 
Times article which quoted an unnamed Israeli official as 
saying no such deal has been finalized and that the Secretary 
had been misinformed of Israel's position.  Turgeman's 
assertion was seconded by Sharon's senior advisor Dov 
Weissglas in a July 4 conversation with the Ambassador, in 
which Weissglas said the arrangement stands and that Israel 
knows it is responsible for arranging to pay for the removal 
of the rubble. 
 
2. (C) Turgeman said it is clear that the source of the New 
York Times article is Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who has been 
waging a rear guard action against the government's decision 
on Gaza housing.  Turgeman said Sharon does not feel the need 
to say anything more publicly on the matter, having made his 
statement yesterday in the Knesset committee. 
 
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KURTZER