CEMENT BARRIERS BLOCK ACCESS TO JAMMA'IN VILLAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002265 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: CEMENT BARRIERS BLOCK ACCESS TO JAMMA'IN VILLAGE Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to Ahmad Hussein, a resident of Jamma'in village in the central West Bank between Salfit and Nablus, Israeli bulldozers placed large cement blocks in front of the entrance to the village (population 8,000) on October 29, preventing vehicle or pedestrian access from Route 505. Hussein told ConGen political specialist October 30 that Palestinians driving on Route 505 must now take Route 60 north to Huwwara village and then take a small road southwest to reach Jamma'in. He said Palestinians must drive an additional thirty kilometers and use the small Huwwara-Jamma'in road, which is in "bad shape." ¶2. (C) Hussein said Jamma'in villagers believe the roadblock was erected because of the October 24 shooting near Ariel Junction. According to press, Palestinian gunmen shot in the direction of a bus stop, wounded an IDF soldier with three bullets, continued towards Tapuach Junction, and shot at passing cars along the way. Five cars, including one IDF vehicle, were hit near the village of Marda, and a driver was slightly injured by shrapnel. Israeli police located the vehicle used in the attack, burned and abandoned in an olive grove near Jamma'in. According to press, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade claimed responsibility for the shooting. Hussein said that the villagers view the new roadblock as "collective punishment" for this incident. ¶3. (C) Comment: Jamma'in is north of Ariel and south of Qedumim, two settlement areas dubbed the "fingers," because they extend some 25 kilometers inside the West Bank. Due to construction of the separation barrier around these settlements and the resulting difficulty of north-south travel for Palestinians, tension is high in Jamma'in and neighboring villages. Villagers contrast the new barrier on their doorstep with public declarations that MinDef Barak will remove obstacles and that the start of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations will deliver improvements in their daily lives. End Comment. WALLES