Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM2154
2007-10-18 12:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
CONCERNS ABOUT EXPECTED INCREASE IN EAST JERUSALEM
how-toVZCZCXRO2968 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #2154 2911225 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181225Z OCT 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9318 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002154
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CONCERNS ABOUT EXPECTED INCREASE IN EAST JERUSALEM
HOME DEMOLITIONS
REF: JERUSALEM 01717
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 002154
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CONCERNS ABOUT EXPECTED INCREASE IN EAST JERUSALEM
HOME DEMOLITIONS
REF: JERUSALEM 01717
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
(ICAHD) Coordinator Meir Margalit told POLOFF October 5 that
according to Jerusalem Municipality sources the Municipality
intends to use its remaining home demolition budget in the
coming months. He said his organization received a number of
calls recently from East Jerusalem residents reporting new
demolition orders. Mordechay Levy of the Jerusalem
Municipality told POLOFF October 11 that the Municipality
does not have a set number of homes to demolish by the end of
the year. End Summary.
POSSIBLE INCREASE IN HOME DEMOLITIONS
--------------
2. (C) Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House
Demolitions (ICAHD) Meir Margalit told POLOFF October 5 that
Jerusalem Municipality sources told him to expect roughly 40
home demolitions in the next two months or so. He said the
Municipality's annual budget allows for around 100 home
demolitions, and there were approximately 60 demolitions
January-September 2007. Margalit said ICAHD has received
several recent phone calls from East Jerusalem residents who
received home demolition notices.
3. (C) Mordechay Levy, Advisor to Jerusalem Mayor Uri
Lupolianski, told POLOFF October 11 that the Municipality
does not have a set number of demolitions to complete this
year. He said that the Municipality so far has demolished 59
homes in East Jerusalem in 2007, and 20 homes in West
Jerusalem. Levy added that demolitions in West Jerusalem
never receive the same attention as East Jerusalem
demolitions and complained that local NGOs turn a
socio-economic issue; i.e., a home-owner's inability to
afford a permit, into a political issue. (Note: West
Jerusalem demolitions are usually of unpermitted additions or
renovations to homes. End Note.)
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ICAHD
--------------
4. (C) Separately, Margalit added that the Legal Advisor to
the Mayor of Jerusalem (please protect) warned him that the
Municipality intends to take Margalit and ICAHD Coordinator
Jeff Halper to court on charges that they helped reconstruct
previously demolished homes (Reftel, para 6). Margalit told
PolOff that a Municipality inspector secretly recorded a
conversation in which Margalit admitted to aiding the
reconstruction. Margalit said he welcomes the publicity for
home demolitions the case will provide.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CONCERNS ABOUT EXPECTED INCREASE IN EAST JERUSALEM
HOME DEMOLITIONS
REF: JERUSALEM 01717
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
(ICAHD) Coordinator Meir Margalit told POLOFF October 5 that
according to Jerusalem Municipality sources the Municipality
intends to use its remaining home demolition budget in the
coming months. He said his organization received a number of
calls recently from East Jerusalem residents reporting new
demolition orders. Mordechay Levy of the Jerusalem
Municipality told POLOFF October 11 that the Municipality
does not have a set number of homes to demolish by the end of
the year. End Summary.
POSSIBLE INCREASE IN HOME DEMOLITIONS
--------------
2. (C) Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House
Demolitions (ICAHD) Meir Margalit told POLOFF October 5 that
Jerusalem Municipality sources told him to expect roughly 40
home demolitions in the next two months or so. He said the
Municipality's annual budget allows for around 100 home
demolitions, and there were approximately 60 demolitions
January-September 2007. Margalit said ICAHD has received
several recent phone calls from East Jerusalem residents who
received home demolition notices.
3. (C) Mordechay Levy, Advisor to Jerusalem Mayor Uri
Lupolianski, told POLOFF October 11 that the Municipality
does not have a set number of demolitions to complete this
year. He said that the Municipality so far has demolished 59
homes in East Jerusalem in 2007, and 20 homes in West
Jerusalem. Levy added that demolitions in West Jerusalem
never receive the same attention as East Jerusalem
demolitions and complained that local NGOs turn a
socio-economic issue; i.e., a home-owner's inability to
afford a permit, into a political issue. (Note: West
Jerusalem demolitions are usually of unpermitted additions or
renovations to homes. End Note.)
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ICAHD
--------------
4. (C) Separately, Margalit added that the Legal Advisor to
the Mayor of Jerusalem (please protect) warned him that the
Municipality intends to take Margalit and ICAHD Coordinator
Jeff Halper to court on charges that they helped reconstruct
previously demolished homes (Reftel, para 6). Margalit told
PolOff that a Municipality inspector secretly recorded a
conversation in which Margalit admitted to aiding the
reconstruction. Margalit said he welcomes the publicity for
home demolitions the case will provide.
WALLES