Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM138
2007-01-24 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

EXCAVATION BEGUN TO CONNECT SILWAN TO THE OLD CITY

Tags:  PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS 
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VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJMA #0138 0241325
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWMCF2395 0241335
P 241325Z JAN 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000138 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2027
TAGS: PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: EXCAVATION BEGUN TO CONNECT SILWAN TO THE OLD CITY

CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL JAKE WALLES, PER REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000138

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2027
TAGS: PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: EXCAVATION BEGUN TO CONNECT SILWAN TO THE OLD CITY

CLASSIFIED BY: CONSUL GENERAL JAKE WALLES, PER REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: THE ISRAELI ORGANIZATION ELAD HAS BEGUN
EXCAVATION OF A TUNNEL FROM THE POOL OF SILWAN TOWARDS THE
WESTERN WALL, ACCORDING TO ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS NGO IR AMIN.
IR AMIN REPORTS THAT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 METERS OF TUNNEL
HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE
PALESTINIAN HOMEOWNERS ABOVE THE TUNNEL OR THE ISRAELI
ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) DANNY SEIDEMANN, FOUNDER OF THE ISRAELI HUMAN RIGHTS
NGO IR AMIM, TOLD POLOFF JANUARY 23 THAT THE ELAD
ORGANIZATION HAS BEGUN EXCAVATION OF A TUNNEL AND HAVE
COMPLETED 30-40 METERS. SEIDEMANN SAID THE TUNNEL LEADS FROM
THE POOL OF SILWAN ALONG THE HERODIAN ROAD TOWARDS THE AL
AQSA MOSQUE AND IS INTENDED TO CONNECT TO THE HERODIAN TUNNEL
EXCAVATIONS AT THE WESTERN WALL. ACCORDING TO SEIDEMANN,
NEITHER THE PALESTINIAN OWNERS OF THE HOMES ABOVE THE TUNNELS
NOR THE ISRAELI ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY HAVE PROVIDED
PERMISSION FOR THE EXCAVATION. SEIDEMANN SAID THAT HE
BELIEVES THE EXCAVATIONS WILL EXACERBATE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN
TENSIONS IN THE AREA.


3. (C) (BACKGROUND NOTE: THE ELAD COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS
FOUNDED BY DAVID "DAVIDELEH" BEERI, OPERATES THE "CITY OF
DAVID" ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK IN THE EAST JERUSALEM NEIGHBORHOOD
OF SILWAN. THE ISRAEL NATURE AND NATIONAL PARKS PROTECTION
AUTHORITY GAVE ELAD CONTROL OF THE 24 DUNAM (6 ACRE)
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK , WHICH IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE THE
SITE OF THE BIBLICAL CITY OF DAVID. CONTROVERSY HAS BEEN
ASSOCIATED WITH ELAD, WHICH HAS USED THE ABSENTEE PROPERTY
LAW TO TAKE OVER A NUMBER OF PALESTINIAN HOMES. END NOTE).
WALLES