Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM2500
2007-12-05 13:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
NEW HOME DEMOLITION IN EAST JERUSALEM
how-toVZCZCXRO4197 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #2500 3391324 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051324Z DEC 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9887 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002500
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: KWBG PBTS IS PHUM
SUBJECT: NEW HOME DEMOLITION IN EAST JERUSALEM
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002500
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: KWBG PBTS IS PHUM
SUBJECT: NEW HOME DEMOLITION IN EAST JERUSALEM
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) The GOI Interior Ministry demolished Amcit Mahir
Siaj's home in Bayt Hanina, East Jerusalem on December 5.
PolOff visited the site while the demolition was in progress
and was told by Siaj that Israeli police had forced him, his
wife and four children from the house at 0730. He said they
removed all the furniture and belongings from the residence
and demolished two-thirds of the house. His lawyer obtained
an emergency injunction against the demolition, he said, but
not until most of the house was demolished. He added that
police arrested his neighbor and a relative who resisted
evacuation of the residence.
2. (SBU) According to Israeli Committee Against Home
Demolition (ICAHD) coordinator (and former Meretz city
councilman) Meir Margolit, there is no town plan in most of
Bayt Hanina, including Siaj's neighborhood, and the
Municipality will therefore not issue permits to build new
homes there. He said the Municipality and residents have
informally agreed on a compromise: residents will not build
until a town plan is issued, and the Municipality will not
demolish homes (including Siaj's) built prior to this
informal agreement. Margolit noted that the demolition of
Siaj's home was ordered by the Interior Ministry, which has
parallel demolition authority and does not recognize the
Munipicality's informal arrangements.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: KWBG PBTS IS PHUM
SUBJECT: NEW HOME DEMOLITION IN EAST JERUSALEM
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) The GOI Interior Ministry demolished Amcit Mahir
Siaj's home in Bayt Hanina, East Jerusalem on December 5.
PolOff visited the site while the demolition was in progress
and was told by Siaj that Israeli police had forced him, his
wife and four children from the house at 0730. He said they
removed all the furniture and belongings from the residence
and demolished two-thirds of the house. His lawyer obtained
an emergency injunction against the demolition, he said, but
not until most of the house was demolished. He added that
police arrested his neighbor and a relative who resisted
evacuation of the residence.
2. (SBU) According to Israeli Committee Against Home
Demolition (ICAHD) coordinator (and former Meretz city
councilman) Meir Margolit, there is no town plan in most of
Bayt Hanina, including Siaj's neighborhood, and the
Municipality will therefore not issue permits to build new
homes there. He said the Municipality and residents have
informally agreed on a compromise: residents will not build
until a town plan is issued, and the Municipality will not
demolish homes (including Siaj's) built prior to this
informal agreement. Margolit noted that the demolition of
Siaj's home was ordered by the Interior Ministry, which has
parallel demolition authority and does not recognize the
Munipicality's informal arrangements.
WALLES