Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV2654
2005-04-28 14:09:00
SECRET
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

PLANNING FOR MA'ALE ADUMIM/E1 REPORTEDLY CONTINUES

Tags:  PREL PBTS KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T TEL AVIV 002654 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015
TAGS: PREL PBTS KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: PLANNING FOR MA'ALE ADUMIM/E1 REPORTEDLY CONTINUES

REF: A. TEL AVIV 01729

B. JERUSALEM 01634

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Consulate General Jerusalem has cleared this cable.

S E C R E T TEL AVIV 002654

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015
TAGS: PREL PBTS KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: PLANNING FOR MA'ALE ADUMIM/E1 REPORTEDLY CONTINUES

REF: A. TEL AVIV 01729

B. JERUSALEM 01634

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Consulate General Jerusalem has cleared this cable.


1. (S) Summary: The GOI continues its planning for the E1
region of the Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the West Bank.
Brigadier General (res) Baruch Spiegel, Ministry of Defense
Advisor, in an aside told the DCM on April 20 that "there are
very strong interests here in Israel" to move forward with
the approval process (see septel),although Israel "has heard
the message" from the USG on Ma'ale Adumim. Recent Israeli
press reports on April 26 support this: two architectural
firms are currently making technical alterations to the plan
before it is deposited for public review. Ma'ale Adumim
Mayor Benny Kashriel told Consulate poloff that "E1 must be
built, and the GOI supports our plans. Prime Minister Sharon
sees Ma'ale Adumim as an integral part of Israel and greater
Jerusalem." End summary.

--------------
Moving Forward on the
Approval Process
--------------


2. (S) The approval process for planning of the E1 region in
Ma'ale Adumim is progressing despite USG objections.
Brigadier General (res) Baruch Spiegel (strictly protect),
Ministry of Defense (MOD) Advisor, told the DCM in an aside
on April 20 that the GOI "has heard the message" from the
U.S. on Ma'ale Adumim, but said that "there are very strong
interests here in Israel" to continue with planning and
construction. Lawyer and community activist Danny Seidemann
(please protect) told Consulate poloff and Embassy econoff
that, based on information he received from the Ma'ale Adumim
town-planning office, the approval process is clearly moving
along and it could be a matter of a few weeks or months
before it is deposited for public review.


3. (U) Israeli press has recently reported that work is
continuing on the approval process for E1. Ha'aretz on April
26 indicated that the subcommittees of the Higher Planning
Council (ref A) are reportedly seeking technical alterations
to the plan, and the redrafts are being done by two
architectural firms, Yoram Fogel and Amatzia Aharonson. The
mayor of Ma'ale Adumim, Benny Kashriel, said the alterations
refer to items such as access roads and parking lots.
According to press, one of the architectural firms said the
Ministry of Construction and Housing (MOCH) is allegedly
asking for completion of the alterations. The director of
the MOCH Jerusalem District office said that since he had not
received instructions to the contrary, work is progressing on
the plan.

--------------
Is Sharon Behind It?
--------------


4. (C) There have been various allegations since the
announcement in late March of plans for E1 that Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon is actively promoting the E1 plan. On
April 4, press indicated that he reportedly told the Knesset
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees that Israel should
move forward with E1 despite U.S. and Palestinian objections.
Per ref B, Kashriel told Consulate poloff on April 18 that
"E1 must be built, and the GOI supports our plans. Prime
Minister Sharon sees Ma'ale Adumim as an integral part of
Israel and greater Jerusalem." Seidemann told Consulate
poloff and Embassy econoff on April 26 that an unnamed source
in the senior political echelon of the GOI said that there is
"a lot of pressure to get it done quickly" from the Prime
Minister's Office and the MOD.

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