NEW HAR HOMA/JEBEL ABU GHNEIM TENDER RENDERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002524

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: NEW HAR HOMA/JEBEL ABU GHNEIM TENDER RENDERS
STRONG NEGATIVE REACTION BY PALESTINIANS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Following the GOI's December 2 publication
of a new tender for 307 housing units at Har Homa/Jebel Abu
Ghneim, Palestinians publicly and privately condemned the
action and urged the USG to act quickly to reverse it. On
December 5, PolOff visited the site to confirm its location
at the edge of numerous ongoing construction projects and
observed vigorous construction activity. END SUMMARY

Strong Negative Palestinian Reaction
--------------


2. (C) Following the December 2 ISRAEL Land Administration
(ILA) publication of a new tender for 307 housing units in
the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim,
Post has heard serious concerns from all Palestinian
interlocutors. Many have underscored that the decision
prompts them to question GOI seriousness about permanent
status negotiations. In a December 3 meeting with the Consul
General, PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PLO Chief
Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat urged the USG to react strongly and
quickly in order to secure a reversal of this move by the
GOI. Erekat noted that the timing, just days after
Annapolis, embarrasses Abu Mazen and urged the USG to judge
carefully this action, which he said violates GOI Roadmap
commitments. In a December 4 letter to the Secretary and
other senior international leaders, Erekat wrote that the
tenders "serve to undermine the credibility of all parties"
and "effectively render the freeze meaningless." His letter
also urged the United States, as "the agreed judge in this
process", to take action. (Full text of letter emailed to S
staff and NEA).

On the Ground: 20 Contractors, 12 Cranes
--------------


3. (C) According to maps provided by Jerusalem lawyer Danny
Seideman, the new tender, known as "Plan 7905," lies on five
separate plots at the eastern edge of Har Homa/Jebel Abu
Ghneim, across from the Palestinian village of Um Tuba. In a
December 5 visit, PolOff observed that the area, known as
Homat Shmuel, is a barren hillside neighboring a number of
active construction sites on the outer ring road of Har
Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim. PolOff observed some twenty different
contractors working on projects at various stages of
completion and counted twelve cranes at Homat Shmuel.


4. (C) Contractors on site told PolOff that the GOI can
provide plan 7905, which would indicate the specific location
of the tender. According to the tender announcement, the
Israeli Lands Authority (ILA) will establish a hotline
December 9 to provide information to interested contractors
and will also provide contractors a tour of the area January

1.


5. (C) Comment: The original construction at Har Homa/Jebel
Abu Ghneim in the late 90's sparked clashes between Israelis
and Palestinians and disrupted negotiations between the two
sides. These additional 307 housing units do not
significantly impact the face of Har Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim,
which is already densely populate and the site of much
ongoing construction activity. However, the issuance of
these tenders and GOI statements about it - in the week after
Annapolis and the week before negotiations are scheduled to
begin - has upset Palestinian contacts and prompted them to
question Israeli seriousness about addressing Jerusalem and
other permanent status issues. End Comment.



WALLES