Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV4709
2005-07-28 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

HOPE FLOWERS SCHOOL NOT THREATENED BY SEPARATION

Tags:  PREL PGOV 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.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004709 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: HOPE FLOWERS SCHOOL NOT THREATENED BY SEPARATION
ROUTE

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004709

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS
SUBJECT: HOPE FLOWERS SCHOOL NOT THREATENED BY SEPARATION
ROUTE

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


1. (C) Summary: On 20 July, Hope Flowers School Co-director
Ibrahim Issa met with Ministry of Defense Advisor Brigadier
General (res.) Baruch Spiegel and officers from the West Bank
District Coordination Offices (DCO) to discuss demolition
orders issued against the school's cafeteria. Spiegel told
Issa that the projected route of the separation barrier will
not affect the school or its cafeteria. The demolition
orders issued in 1999 and 2003 against the cafeteria,
however, were issued based on what Israeli authorities
consider illegal construction. Spiegel noted that the
school's construction of the large cafeteria structure was
inconsistent with plans originally submitted by the school to
build a house. Spiegel stated that the demolition orders
against the cafeteria would be temporarily frozen and urged
Issa to comply with construction regulations and resubmit a
revised plan to obtain the proper building permits for the
cafeteria. Spiegel welcomed Issa to work with the DCO
officers in charge of the Bethlehem area, and told Issa to
call him personally if the barrier negatively affects the
routine of the school, teachers, or students. End summary.

--------------
Cafeteria Safe From Barrier Route
--------------


2. (C) Brigadier General (res.) Baruch Spiegel, Ministry of
Defense advisor, told Hope Flowers School Co-Director Ibrahim
Issa in a July 20 meeting at U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv that the
projected route of the separation barrier does not portend
demolition of the school's cafeteria. The cafeteria is
approximately 255 meters from the fence, exceeding Israeli
Defense Force (IDF) requirements that structures not be
within 150 meters of the barrier. Spiegel stated that he has
taken the school under his "direct responsibility" and
welcomed Issa to call him personally if the route of the
barrier negatively affects the daily routine of the school,
students, or teachers. School administrators, thinking that
the cafeteria was 120 meters from the barrier's route, had
previously voiced their concern to ConGen Jerusalem poloffs
and visiting Codels that demolition orders against the

cafeteria structure were related to its proximity to the
barrier's route.

-------------- --------------
Demolition Orders Issued for Illegal Construction
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Spiegel stated, however, that the demolition orders
issued in 1999 and 2003 against the school's cafeteria were
issued based on illegal construction. Spiegel, accompanied
by officers from the West Bank District Coordination Offices
(DCO),showed Issa original plans submitted by the school and
pictures of various stages of construction on the cafeteria.
According to Spiegel, the construction of the cafeteria is
inconsistent with plans submitted by the school for a permit
to build a house.


4. (C) Spiegel said that the cafeteria structure was
originally built without obtaining the proper license,
leading to the first issuance of demolition orders in 1999.
While the school was trying to get a permit for the building,
Israel did not demolish the structure but asked the school to
stop additional construction. The school, however, according
to Spiegel, did not maintain this agreement and added a
second floor and a kitchen to the structure in 2003. The
subsequent construction and the inconsistency with the
submitted plans led to the second issuance of demolition
orders in November 2003.


5. (C) Spiegel stated that the demolition orders pending
against the cafeteria would be temporarily frozen and urged
Issa to comply with construction regulations and work with
the DCO officers--who worked locally on the ground--to revise
and resubmit plans to obtain the proper building permits for
the cafeteria. According to Spiegel, the area where the
school is located is Area C--full Israeli civil and security
control--and is zoned as agricultural land. Permits for
construction are needed to comply with this zoning. Spiegel
guaranteed Issa that the officers would be ready to work with
him and proceed accordingly.


6. (C) Issa, in response to Spiegel's statements, said that
construction on the structure was halted in 1999 for
financial reasons and could not be completed until 2003.
Issa acknowledged that construction was undertaken without
the proper permits. On July 25, Issa told ConGen poloff that
the school submitted a request for a building permit in early
June, but that the request was returned to them because it
was allegedly not filed according to appropriate GOI
standards. Issa said that the school collected all the
necessary documentation and will file the papers again
through their attorney, Tossiya Cohen. Issa told poloff that
he viewed the meeting with Spiegel as a mostly positive
development as it opened up communication channels between
the two parties. He expressed concern that the Israeli side
could not provide guarantees that the permit for the
cafeteria will be granted, still leaving the door open for
possible demolition.


7. (C) Comment: Embassy and ConGen officers will remain in
close contact with the school and Spiegel's office, and will
continue to monitor the situation. End comment.

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