Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM2131
2007-10-12 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PALESTINIANS CONDEMN LAND CONFISCATIONS SOUTH OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8310 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #2131 2851547 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121547Z OCT 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9288 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002131
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS. OPS
CENTER PASS TO THE SECRETARY'S PARTY.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: PALESTINIANS CONDEMN LAND CONFISCATIONS SOUTH OF
E-1
REF: A. JERUSALEM 02130
B. JERUSALEM 02124
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 002131
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS. OPS
CENTER PASS TO THE SECRETARY'S PARTY.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: PALESTINIANS CONDEMN LAND CONFISCATIONS SOUTH OF
E-1
REF: A. JERUSALEM 02130
B. JERUSALEM 02124
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Prominent Palestinians harshly condemned
the recent Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land for a
road near the Ma'ale Adumim settlement bloc, which they
believe will contribute to the eventual development of the
E-1 area. Mayor of the neighboring town of al-'Azariya Issam
Faroun told POLOFF October 12 that Palestinian towns east of
Jerusalem are the link between Jerusalem and the West Bank,
and that Israeli actions in the area undermine the viability
of a Palestinian state. End summary.
PALESTINIAN LEADERS CONDEMN
ISRAELI LAND CONFISCATIONS
--------------
2. (U) Prominent Palestinians publicly denounced the Israeli
confiscation of over 1,100 dunums (roughly 280 acres) of
Palestinian land east of Jerusalem in statements on October
11 and 12 (Ref A). Critics linked the recent confiscations
to Israeli plans to develop E-1. PA President Abbas and PLO
Chief Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat issued strong public statements
that said GoI actions undermine current preparations for a
Fall meeting (see Ref B). Head of the Palestinian National
Initiative Mustafa Barghouti said the confiscation represents
the contradiction between international calls for peace and
realities on the ground. The Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine issued a statement condemning the E-1
plan as "a serious challenge facing any future Palestinian
state."
3. (U) Religious leaders also harshly criticized the
confiscations. Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Hussein said
Israel is working to "isolate Jerusalem and surround it with
settlements to terminate its Palestinian and Arab identity."
He added that this action contributes to the cantonization of
the Palestinian territories and called on the Arab League to
intervene.
TOWNS EAST OF JERUSALEM HIT HARD
BY ISRAELI POLICIES
--------------
4. (C) Mayor of al-'Azariya Issam Faroun told POLOFF October
12 that he believes Israel and the USG are ignoring the
Palestinian villages east of Jerusalem, including
al-'Azariya, Abu Dis and al-Sawahira. These towns, he said,
are the linchpin of connectivity between East Jerusalem and
the West Bank. Israeli confiscations of Palestinian land
undermine the viability of a Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem as its capital and stifle the growth of local
communities, Faroun said.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS. OPS
CENTER PASS TO THE SECRETARY'S PARTY.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: PALESTINIANS CONDEMN LAND CONFISCATIONS SOUTH OF
E-1
REF: A. JERUSALEM 02130
B. JERUSALEM 02124
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Prominent Palestinians harshly condemned
the recent Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land for a
road near the Ma'ale Adumim settlement bloc, which they
believe will contribute to the eventual development of the
E-1 area. Mayor of the neighboring town of al-'Azariya Issam
Faroun told POLOFF October 12 that Palestinian towns east of
Jerusalem are the link between Jerusalem and the West Bank,
and that Israeli actions in the area undermine the viability
of a Palestinian state. End summary.
PALESTINIAN LEADERS CONDEMN
ISRAELI LAND CONFISCATIONS
--------------
2. (U) Prominent Palestinians publicly denounced the Israeli
confiscation of over 1,100 dunums (roughly 280 acres) of
Palestinian land east of Jerusalem in statements on October
11 and 12 (Ref A). Critics linked the recent confiscations
to Israeli plans to develop E-1. PA President Abbas and PLO
Chief Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat issued strong public statements
that said GoI actions undermine current preparations for a
Fall meeting (see Ref B). Head of the Palestinian National
Initiative Mustafa Barghouti said the confiscation represents
the contradiction between international calls for peace and
realities on the ground. The Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine issued a statement condemning the E-1
plan as "a serious challenge facing any future Palestinian
state."
3. (U) Religious leaders also harshly criticized the
confiscations. Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Hussein said
Israel is working to "isolate Jerusalem and surround it with
settlements to terminate its Palestinian and Arab identity."
He added that this action contributes to the cantonization of
the Palestinian territories and called on the Arab League to
intervene.
TOWNS EAST OF JERUSALEM HIT HARD
BY ISRAELI POLICIES
--------------
4. (C) Mayor of al-'Azariya Issam Faroun told POLOFF October
12 that he believes Israel and the USG are ignoring the
Palestinian villages east of Jerusalem, including
al-'Azariya, Abu Dis and al-Sawahira. These towns, he said,
are the linchpin of connectivity between East Jerusalem and
the West Bank. Israeli confiscations of Palestinian land
undermine the viability of a Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem as its capital and stifle the growth of local
communities, Faroun said.
WALLES