GOI ISSUES TENDERS TO BUILD IN BEITAR ILLIT,

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000125 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS SETTLEMENTS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS SUBJECT: GOI ISSUES TENDERS TO BUILD IN BEITAR ILLIT, EFRAT, HAR ADAR, AND MA'ALE ADUMIM This cable has been cleared by Consulate General Jerusalem. ¶1. (U) Press reported December 26 that the Ministry of Construction and Housing (MOCH) issued a tender for 150 housing units in Beitar Illit settlement, southwest of Jerusalem in the Gush Etzion bloc. According to the tender, which was published in Ha'aretz, the units are divided into one apartment bloc of 62 units, and another apartment bloc of 88 units. The plots of land are 8,680 and 12,320 square meters, respectively, and can be leased for 98 years, with an option to extend for an additional 98 years. The minimum cost for the 62-unit bloc is NIS 339,000, approximately $75,000, and the expenditure for development is NIS 3,544,000, approximately $790,000. The minimum cost for the apartment bloc of 88 units is NIS 1,273,000, or $290,000, and the expenditure for development is NIS 5,189,000, or $1.2 million. Construction companies are to submit their bids by February 16, and have been invited to make recommendations for allocating the land to sell "directly to the religious population." ¶2. (U) Press also on December 26 reported that the MOCH and the Israel Lands Authority issued a tender for 78 units in the Givat Hazait neighborhood of Efrat settlement in the Gush Etzion bloc. According to the tender, which was published in Ha'aretz, the units are divided into one apartment bloc of 30 units, and another apartment bloc of 48 units. The plots of land are 3,300 and 5,280 square meters, respectively, and can be leased for 98 years, with an option to extend for an additional 98 years. The minimum cost for the 30-unit bloc is NIS 240,000, approximately $53,000, and the expenditure for development is NIS 3,948,000, approximately $877,000. The minimum cost for the 48-unit bloc is NIS 430,000, approximately $96,000, and the expenditure for development is NIS 5,810,000, approximately $1.3 million. Construction companies must take a tour on January 26, and must submit their bids by February 16. ¶3. (U) The following day, December 27, Yediot Aharanot published a tender by the Israel Lands Authority for 53 plots for privately financed single-family homes in Har Adar settlement, northwest of Jerusalem. The tender provided no other details other than the bid due date, February 12. ¶4. (U) On January 5, Ha'aretz published a tender issued by the Israel Lands Authority for a 49-year lease, with an option to extend for 49 years, on a commercial plot of land in Ma'ale Adumim settlement. The expenditure for development was NIS 3.6 million, or $800,000. ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** JONES