ISRAELI SETTLEMENT ACTIVITY ON THE GOLAN HEIGHTS UNDER THE NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 23, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
25X1
Central Intel Intelligence Agency
DATE _~1 L
DOC NO G M ~6'aoa L/S
OIR 3
P $ PD I
MEMJRANDUM FOR: See Attached Distribution
Chief, Geographic Issues Division,
Office of Global Issues
SUBJECT: Israeli Settlement Activity on the Golan Heights under
the National Unity Government 25X1
1. The attached report reviews the pace at which settlements are being
2. This report was prepared byl our Near East-Africa 25X1
Branch. Questions or carurents are welocnne and may be ref ed directly to the
author or his branch chief, F- 7 25X1
Attachment:
Golan Heights: Settlement Construct. ion Under the
National Unity Governrent_
GI M 86-20245, October 1986,
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3 25X1
SUBJECT: Israeli Settlerrent Activity on the Golan Heights: Settlement
Construction Under the National Unity Government
OGI/GD/NE/
(230ct86 )
Original William A. Kirby, State
1 April Glaspie, State
1 Philip C. Wilcox, State
1 Charles Patterson, State
1 George S. Harris, State
1 Gary Dietrich, State
1 George Demko, State
1 Aaron Miller, State
1 Alan Kreczko, State
1 Thomas Wukitsch, US Embassy, Tel Aviv
1 Mark Kennan. US (hnsulat_P Jerusalem
1
1
1 - SA/DDCI
1 - DDI
1 - Executive
1 - Ch/NE/ISR
1 - Ch/NE/PAL
1 - NIO/NESA
1 - CPAS/ISS
1 - D/NESA
1 - Ch/NESA/AI
1 - Ch/NESA/AI/I
1 - Ch/NESA/IA
1 - Ch/NEB/TWFD/OIA
1 - D/OGI
1 - DD/OGI
1 - Ch/OGI/GD
3 - Ch/OGI/GD/NEA
,'- OGI/PG
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3 25X1
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington. D. C 20505
DIRECPORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
Golan Heights: Settlement Construction Under
the National Unity Government
As a result of a oimbinatipn of eccnanic, political, and strategic
considerations, sine the National Unity Government came to power in Septauber
1984 the pace of construction in Israel's settlements cn the Golan Heights has
slowed fran that set during the last too years of the Likud government.
71m ugh new construction still continues,
Israel began wo on 2/4 bukld:Lngs in
settlements since September 1984 canpared to 345 during the two previous
years. During the same too-year period, approximately 1200 new settlers nuved
into the settlements compared to 1600 in the earlier period. In addition,
Israel established ane now settlement but dismantled two others. In cur
judgment, the switch of Israeli Prime Ministers that occurred in mid October
will not alter the present status of settlement activities.
25X1
25X1
This memorandum was prepared by
Geographic Issues Division, 25X1
Office of Global Issues. The information contained herein is updated to 1
September 1986. Comnents and questions may be addressed to
25X1
h
i
Ch
ef, Near East Africa Branc
, Geography Divison,
GI M 86-20245 25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3 25X1
Golan Heights: Settlement Construction Under
the National Unity Government
Background
Since the end of the Six-Day War, Israel has undertaken a policy of
encouraging permanent settlements in the occupied territories aimed at
solidifying its claim to and control over the larr3. Of the 32 Israeli
settlements now on the Golan Heights, the Labor government established 27
between 1967 and 1977. Although these--like others in the Jordan Valley--were
generally oriented to agriculture, their establishment helped meet the Labor
Party's objective of installing concentrations of Israeli settlers in strategic
areas of the occupied territories to help form a more secure defensive
perimeter. On caning to per in 1977 the Likud government concluded that the
Golan had effectively become an integral part of Israel and subsequently annexed
it in 1981. Therefore, the Likud government re-directed the bulk of the
settlement drive at the more heavily populated areas of the West Bank in an
attenpt to make that territory indivisible fran Israel. Fran 1977 to 1984,
Israel established only five new settlements in the Golan, althou construction
within settlements went on at a relatively moderate pace. 25X1
New Settlements in the Golan Under the National Unity Government
As part of an overall political compromise worked cut when Labor and Likud
formed the National Unity Government in September 1984, the two parties agreed to
establish only six new settlements within the coming year--all in the West
Bank. The coalition government also decided to defer establishment of other
settlements--some of which were planned for the Golan--that had already been
approved by previous governments. Underlying this decision to curb the overall
rate of settlement were ecancntic contraints and Labor's reluctance to place many
more settlements in areas that could be the subject of future peace
negotiations. In addition, Likud desired to direct what limited settlement
resources were available to the West Bank rather than the Golan Heights. 25X1
According to the April 1985 Israeli Ministry of Agriculture report,
although the previous Israeli Government had approved five new Golan
settlements, the new government decided to delay their establishment for at
least a year. This delay continues. Instead, Israel has constructed only one
new settlerrent in the past two years (Sela' Allon--not one of the five named
in the Ministry of Agriculture report) while dismantling two (Qela and Si'on)
that offered no economic justification for their existence, thereby decreasing
the total number to 32 settlements.1 Moreover, in December 1985, Defense
1 Other sites of civilian land use that we list with the settlements are the
Israeli Aircraft Industries plant, the Mt. Hermon Ski Lift, the Qazrin
Industrial Center, and the transformer substation south of Ranot.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3 25X1
Minister Rabin announced that no new settlements would be constructed on the
Heights because of the Golan's militarily sensitive nature and because of the
army's increased requirements for space to deploy and train its troops
following the last phase of the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) pullout from
Decreased New Construction
The rate of construction within existing settlements also slowed after
September 1984, falling 21 percent below that for the previous two-year
period.
since _ r .
? 158 housing units were started, of which 143 were completed. This
canpares with 247 units started between September 1982 and September
1984, of which 160 were completed.
? Population capacity in the Golan Heights settlements increased by more
than 1200 people, to 13,920, carpared to an increase of about 1600
people between September 1982 and September 1984.
? 116 additional, nonresidential, buildings were started, of which 44
serve agricultural purposes. This compares with 98 nonresidential
buildings begun during the previous two-year period.
All in all, since the United States' September 1982 peace initiative that
prcposed a freeze on Israeli settlement construction, Israel has begun 405 new
residential units in the Golan Heights, and increased population capacity
there by 4885 people.
The chief difference in Golan Heights settlement construction betsween the
two-year periods preceeding and following September 1984 has been the sharp
decline in new construction in Qazrin--the most populous settlement on the
Heights. From September 1982 to September 1984, new residential units begun
in Qazrin accounted for 60 percent of the Golan' s housing construction.
Although most of these 148 units are now complete, many of them, as well as
others begun earlier, are unoccupied. In our judgment, corkers constructed
only two new townhouses in Qazrin since September 1984 because of lack of both
funds and demand to fill existing apartments.
In contrast to construction in Qazrin, construction in Golan agricultural
settlements (particularly those associated with the Labor Party) has fared
relatively better under the Labor headed National Unity Government--and this
despite the financially-strapped situation in which most agricultural
settlements find themselves. If construction in Qazrin is excluded,
construction of new residential units in Golan Heights settlements during the
past two years actually increased by 58 percent over that of the previous two-
year period. Fran September 1984 to September 1986 Golan agricultural
settlements accounted for 96 percent of new unit construction, while
settlements associated with Labor accounted for 82 percent. In addition, the
number of new agricultural buildings increased from 14 built during the former
period to 44--including four poultry sheds and nine cattle sheds--in the
latter period.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3 25X1
Population
Today, we estimate that 9205 Jewish settlers live in Golan Heights
settlements, an increase of about 1220 people since September 1984 and of
about 2880 since Septanber 1982.1 More than 40 percent of the population
increase during the.past two years occurred in two settlenents--Qazrin and the
regional center of Haspin-where more than 500 people roved into dwelling
units begun before September 1984 and recently completed. In addition, some
of the population growth resulted fran the high birth rate among the religious
settler population, which tends toward larger families. About 21 percent of
Golan settlers now live in settlements sponsored by the National Religious
Party and, together with the relicliaas settlers of Qazrin, comprise about 30
percent of the population.
The settler population increasingly complains about its perceived
neglect particularly economic neglect--by the Israeli Government. To protest
their worsening financial condition (collective debt had risen to $70
million), settlers closed the bridges leading into the Golan in November 1985
and demanded that the government reduce the burden of loan repayment on their
debts. In July 1986, the Knesset Finance Canmittee moved to alleviate some of
the pressure by allocating $18 million to Golan Heights and Jordan Valley
Prospects for Growth
In our judqnent, the pace of construction in Golan settlements witnessed
during the past four years will not change appreciably under a Likud headed
National Unity Government. Economic and political constraints probably will
continue to cap establishment of new settlements as well as major construction
within existing settlements. Altihugh Likud will head the National Unity
Government, it most likely will not be able to increase settlement funding to
the degree some of its members want without obtaining Labor support. Such
support will be hard to get, especially considering that Rabin, whose attitude
toward additional Golan settlements is not favorable, will remain as Defense
Minister following the switch of Prime Ministers. Should Likud press too hard
for substantially increased settlement cons tact ion, Labor is apt to use the
issue as a means to scuttle the coalition--an act that Likud and especially
future Prime Minister Shamir do not want.
2 To estimate settler population, we use
US Embassy Tel Aviv reports, Israeli press reports, tieict work, to
determine the mzTber of each settlement's occupied dwelling units. We then
multiply each such unit by the settlement's average family size: 4.0 for
secular settlements; 5.0 for religious settlements. Wie do not include
seasonal agricultural laborers in our population count, although dwellings
reserved for transients are included in our population capacity figures. F-
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3 25X1
Appendix A--Settlenent Highlights September 1984 to September 1986
? Sanetime in 1985, the moshav (cocperative settlement) of Qela was
dismantled. Many of Qela's prefa] struCturea later appeared in the new,
nearby settlement of Sela' Allan.
? In March 1985, the World Zionist Organization (WZO) loaned Newe Ativ
$550,000 to reopen the closed and bankrupt Mt. Heamn Ski Lift.
? In July 1985, the first Israeli wind turbine began operating in Allone
Habas1 an. Energy specialists estimate that the turbine will generate
about 200,000 kilowatt hours per year--enough electricity for 70
hares.
In October 1985, settlers held a founding cerenony for Qidnat Zevi--the
Golan's first moshava (agricultural settlement with private ownership of
land), begun in late 1983.
? In December 1985, the resort village/moshav of ant signed a contract
with a leading West German travel firm, and agreed to provide lodging
for 30,000 German tourists a year. RamDt, near the popular Golan Beach
on the Sea of Galilee, operates 29 A-frane tourist houses and recently
opened an 80-unit hotel.
? In June 1986, the IDF dismantled the northern Golan Nahal settlement of
Sion. The WZO and the IDF claimed that the settlement offered no
eoonanic justification for its existence.
? In July 1986, the Golan Wineries, headquartered in Qazrin, received
three medals at an international canpetition in England. Wine
ccnnoisseurs believe that the cooler climate and volcanic soils of the
Golan's 230 acres of vineyards produce a better grape than does the
Israeli coastal plain. During the past two years, Golan wine production
has proved to be of increasing benefit to the consortium of eight Golan
and two Galilee grape-graving settlements, and eventually may help to
pull some agricultural settlements out of debt.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
Appendix B: Israeli Settlements in the Golan Heights, August 1986.
Settlements and other
New Units Since Sept. 1984
Civilian Land Use Type a)
Pcpulation
Capacity
Completed
Still under
cans truct ion
9,205
13,920
143
15
1.
Afiq (K)
200
520
15
0
2.
Allcrie Habashan (M)
100
215
10
0
3.
Ani'am (MS)
110
160
0
0
4.
Avne Etan (M)
180
250
0
0
5.
Bene Yehuda (RC)
545
570
2
0
6.
Eli Al (M)
165
310
0
0
7.
El Ran (K)
175
425
28
0
8.
En Ziwan (K)
320
400
0
0
9.
Gesh.ir (K)
190
335
0
0
10.
Giv'at Yo'av (M)
260
315
0
0
11.
Haspin (RC/Y)
465
505
2
0
12.
IAI Plant (I)
0
0
0
0
13.
Kefar Haruv (K)
155
430
12
0
14.
Ma'ale Gamla (M)
190
230
8
0
15.
Meran Golan (K)
400
635
16
0
16.
Mevo Hama (K)
455
650
0
0
17.
Mezar (K)
50
95
0
0
18.
Mt. Hermon Ski Lift (RS)
0
0
0
0
19.
Natur (K)
80
130
0
12
20.
Ne'ot Golan (M)
165
230
0
0
21.
Neese Ativ (M)
120
210
0
0
22.
Nimrod (N)
25
25
0
0
23.
Nov (M)
315
350
0
0
24.
Odsn (MS)
100
210
0
0
25.
Oretal (K)
210
355
0
0
26.
Qazrin (U)
2,630
3,980
2
0
27.
Qazrin Industrial Center (I)
0
0
0
0
28.
Qeshet (MS)
290
380
0
0
29.
Qidmat Zevi (Ma)
75
125
0
0
30.
Ramat Magshimim (MS/Y)
440
515
0
0
31.
Ramot (M)
340
530
0
0
32.
Sela' Allon (K)
0
55
13
0
33.
Senir (K)
185
335
35
3
34.
Sha'al (MS)
105
165
0
0
35.
Transformer Station (I)
0
0
0
0
36.
Yonatan (MS)
165
280
0
0
a C-Cannunity settlement, I-Industrial site, K-Kibbutz, i4-Moshav, Ma-MosI-ava,
MS-Moshav shitufi, N-Nahal settlement, RC-Regional Center, RS-Recreational
site, U-Urban settlement, Y-Yeshiva.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/11/21: CIA-RDP86T01017R000201590001-3