ABOUD VILLAGE: SEPARATION BARRIER, UNEMPLOYMENT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002517

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ABOUD VILLAGE: SEPARATION BARRIER, UNEMPLOYMENT,
HOUSING SHORTAGE

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Father Firas Aridah told ConGenOffs
December 4 that the separation barrier near Aboud village is
not yet complete, but when finished, the 130 foot-wide fence
and ditch barrier will cut off the village from 36 percent of
its agricultural land. Aridah said he has been the primary
voice on behalf of Aboud's Muslims and Christians since the
Israeli High Court rejected residents' 2006 petition to
change the separation barrier route. Aridah noted Aboud's
increased unemployment and said 34 families have moved to
Ramallah seeking work and housing. He also told ConGenOffs
the GoI denied the Latin Patriarchate's request to extend his
religious worker's visa in November. End Summary.

Barrier Cuts Aboud Off from Land and Water
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2. (C) On December 4, Father Firas Aridah of the Roman
Catholic Parish of Our Lady Mother of Sorrows Church told
ConGenOffs that the separation barrier along the northern and
western edges of Aboud village is not yet complete, but when
finished, the 130 foot-wide fence and ditch barrier will cut
off the village from 1,100 acres or 36 percent of its
agricultural land. Aridah said Ofarim and Bet Arye
settlements sit on approximately 500 acres of this land. He
noted that in the last three years the IDF destroyed 10,000
olive trees to clear the way for the separation barrier and
blocked the main road connecting Aboud to the northern West
Bank with large stones and dirt. He also pointed out that
the GoI restricts Aboud's use of a nearby aquifer, preventing
the drilling of wells to access fresh water beneath the
village. Instead, Aboud residents buy water from the Israeli
water company Mekorot. Aridah told ConGenOffs that in May
2006, after the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected Aboud
residents' petition to revise the route of the barrier, the
Aboud municipal council stopped speaking out against the
barrier, and only he has continued to represent the 1,670
Muslim and 900 Christian residents. Although a Jordanian
citizen, Aridah said, "I'm protecting my people and helping
bolster the voice of the Palestinian people."

Unemployment and Housing Shortage
--------------


3. (C) Aridah noted increasing unemployment in Aboud in the
last year, particularly among the younger generation. He
said among Aboud's thirteen newly-married couples, only seven
could find housing in the area; the other six have not found
vacant apartments for rent or been able to obtain GoI
building permits. During his four-year tenure in Aboud,
Aridah said 34 families have moved to Ramallah in search of
housing and employment.

Religious Visa Refused by GoI
--------------


4. (C) Aridah told ConGenOffs that the GoI had denied the
Latin Patriarchate's request to extend his religious worker's
visa. "Since November 7, I have been working illegally and I
plan to continue to do so until the Israelis issue me a new
visa," Aridah said. He added that he believes the GoI
refusal is a reaction to his June 30, 2006 testimony before
the House Committee on International Relations when he
criticized the impact of the separation barrier and
settlements on Aboud Christians.
WALLES