Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV5708
2005-09-16 11:54:00
SECRET
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

ECF UPDATES ON BARRIER AND DESCRIBES MAJOR

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 SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 005708 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: ECF UPDATES ON BARRIER AND DESCRIBES MAJOR
CONCERNS ABOUT POLICE STATION IN E-1

REF: A. JERUSALEM 4006

B. JERUSALEM 3869

C. TEL AVIV 4653

D. TEL AVIV 0707

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)

This cable has been cleared by Consulate General Jerusalem

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 005708

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: ECF UPDATES ON BARRIER AND DESCRIBES MAJOR
CONCERNS ABOUT POLICE STATION IN E-1

REF: A. JERUSALEM 4006

B. JERUSALEM 3869

C. TEL AVIV 4653

D. TEL AVIV 0707

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)

This cable has been cleared by Consulate General Jerusalem


1. (S) Summary and Comment: Sounding an alarmist note
regarding GOI settlement plans in a September 1 meeting with
econoff, Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF) officials
(protect) urged the USG to intervene to prevent the building
of the police station in E-1 and said that a planned "new
Jewish urban belt around East Jerusalem" would render
impossible its ever becoming a Palestinian capital. They
view the building of the police station as an excuse to build
infrastructure in E-1, making it easier for the GOI to later
build homes in the area. Also, they maintained that moving
the station from its present location in Ras al-Amud would
allow the settlement of Ma'ale Zeitim there to expand as
well. One ECF official warned that a bitter Likud election
campaign between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Binyamin
Netanyahu could be "a disaster" for Jerusalem as the focus of
political competition becomes who can build up more Jewish
areas in Arab sections of the city. In addition, ECF claimed
to have been informed by sources in the Ministry of Defense
(MOD) that Sharon does not really want a separation barrier
around Ma'ale Adumim, and is counting on U.S. pressure and
the Israeli High Court to stop the construction. The ECF
official could not explain the rationale for such a reported
Sharon position. Given that construction has started in some
locations of the "urban belt" around East Jerusalem, and that
GOI military positions in the past have turned into
residential communities, ECF's comments should not be
discounted. End summary and comment.

--------------
The Problems with E-1
--------------


2. (S) Boaz Karni (protect),Economic Cooperation Foundation
(ECF) treasurer, told econoff on September 1 that the
original E-1 police station plan called for it to be built on
private land. He was skeptical of the GOI claim that it was
the road leading to the station rather than the station

itself that passed through private property, and that the
problem was resolved by moving the road. Karni strongly
suggested that the USG make an official request for zoning
maps of the area and the building plan. He expressed
surprise that the planning for the station took only three
months, and characterized this as "moving very quickly."


3. (S) Karni described two major concerns about the E-1
police station plan, and asked the U.S. "to stop it now." He
maintained that the construction is "an excuse to build
infrastructure," such as electricity and water lines, and
that houses would soon follow. In addition, removing the
station from its current location in Ras al-Amud allows the
expansion of the Ma'ale Zeitim settlement, occupied by
national-religious extremists, across the street (ref A).
Ma'ale Zeitim currently consists of 52 apartments, of which
35 are occupied. According to Col. (ret.) Shaul Arieli
(protect),ECF consultant and member of the Council for Peace
and Security, the settlers there have wanted to construct a
second apartment building "for years." Demolishing the
police station will make room for three or four new apartment
buildings, which could extend the neighborhood all the way to
the Mount of Olives. (Note: The spokesperson from Ateret
Cohanim, a pro-settlements Israeli NGO that purchases
property in the Old City and East Jerusalem to increase the
Jewish presence in those areas, told ConGen poloffs September
6 that construction of the second apartment building in
Ma'ale Zeitim would begin following the settlement of two
pending lawsuits initiated by Palestinian residents in the
area. End note.) Karni concluded, vis-a-vis the upcoming
elections, that Jerusalem will "be a disaster" if it becomes
a pawn in the coming election campaign between Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon and Binyamin Netanyahu.

--------------
Separation Barrier Updates
--------------


4. (S) Arieli told econoff that, according to MOD sources,
Sharon does not want a separation barrier encircling the
northern part of the Ma'ale Adumim settlement bloc. The
sources claim that he wants to leave the area "open," with
only a simple wire fence, security cameras, and a patrol
road. Arieli could not explain the rationale behind this.
He said his sources said Sharon issued the land confiscation
orders in the southern part of Ma'ale Adumim for internal
political reasons (ref B),but that the PM is counting on
Palestinian objections in the High Court and U.S. pressure to
stop construction of the barrier in the area altogether.
Asked if this did not leave an opening into Jerusalem for
potential terror attacks, Arieli responded that "no one gets
in" through this area in any event. Arieli showed econoff on
computer-based imagery that the northern part of the fence
that Sharon reportedly does not want extends from
approximately the military base north of E-1 to Allon
settlement.

5. (S) Arieli reported that he has been testifying at the
High Court during its current deliberations on the route of
the separation barrier in the area of Qalandiya and al-Ram,
northeast of Jerusalem. He said that he had suggested
alternative barrier routes to the court, and that High Court
President Aharon Barak had promised a ruling for this area by
the end of September or early October -- before the start of
the Jewish High Holy Days. (Note: MOD officials told
emboffs on September 7 that they expected a ruling in late
October. End note.) Arieli explained that although the
Court cannot accept the Council's recommendations on the
route of the barrier, it can reject the GOI's planned route.
The GOI can then officially adopt the Council's suggestions,
as happened with the route in the Beit Surik area in June

2004.

--------------
New Jewish Settlements in Jerusalem
--------------


6. (S) Arieli detailed eight new Jewish settlements,
including E-1, planned for the Jerusalem area, and said they
were all in different stages of planning (ref C). The
projects would add an additional 30,000 units, or about
150,000 people, and create what Arieli called a "new Jewish
urban belt around East Jerusalem," ensuring that there would
be "no Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem." These
projects include:

-- Emek Ayalot, part of the master plan of the Giv'at Ze'ev
settlement northwest of Jerusalem.

-- Gevah, near the Neve Ya'akov settlement northeast of
Jerusalem; Arieli noted that this neighborhood would create
Israeli contiguity from Jerusalem to the settlement of Adam,
while cutting Palestinian contiguity between Hizma and al-Ram.

-- A settlement in the Palestinian village of Wadi al-Jawz,
northeast of the Old City; econoff noted that this
neighborhood would create Israeli contiguity between the
eastern part of the Old City and Hebrew University on Mt.
Scopus.

-- E-1 between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem; Arieli noted that
E-1 is 12 square kilometers, almost twice the current 7
square kilometers built-up area of Ma'ale Adumim.

-- Qidmat Zion, adjacent to the separation barrier next to
the Palestinian village of Abu Dis in East Jerusalem; Arieli
noted that this neighborhood will consist of approximately
200 units, with two structures already built. (Note:
According to the Ateret Cohanim spokesperson, Qidmat Zion is
approved for 300 units. End note.)

-- Nof Zion, near the Palestinian village of Jabal
al-Mukabir, south of the Old City; Arieli noted that this
neighborhood will consist of approximately 350 units. (Note:
ConGen poloff on August 30 observed bulldozers leveling and
clearing land, and preparing a new road to the construction
site. End note.)

-- Har Homa 2, an extension of the Har Homa settlement
southeast of Jerusalem.

-- Nof Yael, near the Palestinian village of al-Wallajah
southwest of Jerusalem.

--------------
Comment
--------------


7. (S) ECF officials are experts on the settlements
enterprise in Israel, and their advice on the settlements
planned for East Jerusalem and the police station in E-1 is
worthy of consideration. Construction has already begun in
Nof Zion and Qidmat Zion, and as the planning process moves
along for the other settlements, it will be harder to stop
these projects from being built. GOI contacts have told us
in the past, for example, that once a plan is completely
approved, the construction companies and municipalities have
a "legal right" to build, so the GOI is loath to prevent the
project's execution. ECF's concern that building the police
station in E-1 is an excuse to lay down infrastructure is
valid given the examples of Nahal (or military) settlements
that turned into residential communities such as Elisha,
Nahal Gevaot, Negohot, Rachelim, and Tal Menashe (ref D).
End comment.

********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
KURTZER