AL-NUEMAN VILLAGE: CAUGHT BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002555 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: AL-NUEMAN VILLAGE: CAUGHT BETWEEN JERUSALEM AND WEST BANK Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Mayor of al-Nueman and village residents told Poloffs November 30 that they "feel trapped" in their own homes, noting that al-Nueman is within the 1967 Jerusalem municipal boundaries, but two-thirds of residents have West Bank IDs. Residents said they are surrounded by the separation barrier, a new Israeli road, and Har Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim. They said West Bank family members, doctors, and repair persons cannot enter al-Nueman without a permit. Due to unemployment within the village and a Jerusalem Municipality freeze on building permits, many residents have left in search of jobs and housing elsewhere in the West Bank. Attorney Habib Labib said he will appeal to the Israeli High Court of Justice to request the GoI move the separation barrier and grant villagers Jerusalem IDs. End Summary. Trapped Between Jerusalem and West Bank -------------- ¶2. (C) Mayor of al-Nueman and al-Khas villages Khader Hamdan and al-Nueman residents Yusif and Daoud Dar A'awi told Poloffs November 30 that daily life is unbearable in al-Nueman village, which is encircled by a new Israeli road to the north, a checkpoint to the east, the separation barrier to the south, and Har Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim to the west. They said al-Nueman is within the 1967 Jerusalem municipal boundaries, but two-thirds of villagers have West Bank IDs. Referring to 2004 and 2007 Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) decisions refusing al-Nueman residents Jerusalem IDs, lawyer Daoud Dar A'awi told Poloffs, "we have been declared illegal in our own homes and feel trapped." According to attorney Labib Habib, the GoI plans to expand al-Nueman checkpoint into a vehicle and goods terminal on 30 dunums (7 acres) of land, erect an army base to the south, and build the Jerusalem Ring Road through the village center. ¶3. (C) Daoud Dar A'awi said villagers must cross al-Nueman checkpoint to access the West Bank and upon return, they and their goods are searched. Dar A'awi said West Bank family, friends, doctors, and repair persons cannot enter al-Nueman without a permit, noting that it took months to secure the garbage collector's permit. Mayor Hamdan, who resides in al-Khas village across the checkpoint, added that al-Nueman residents live within Jerusalem Municipal boundaries, but receive water and electricity from the PA through al-Khas village, not from the Municipality. They joked that "the only services provided by the Jerusalem Municipality are home demolitions." No Building Permits, Jerusalem Residents Restricted -------------- ¶4. (C) Contractor Yusif Dar A'awi told Poloffs that the Jerusalem Municipality does not issue al-Nueman residents building permits. With a population of 179, including several newly-married couples, building restrictions have caused young couples to leave the village in search of homes and employment elsewhere in the West Bank. According to Dar A'awi, two al-Nueman homes were recently demolished by the Jerusalem Municipality, and a third was slated for demolition. ¶5. (C) Dar A'awi said 59 al-Nueman villagers hold Jerusalem identity cards. During the week, they can access Jerusalem through al-Nueman checkpoint, but on Shabbat (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown),IDF soldiers close the road connecting al-Nueman village to Jerusalem. Departing the village on Friday afternoon, Poloffs saw barbed wire placed across the road, prohibiting villages from entering Jerusalem. High Court Case Pending -------------- ¶6. (C) Labib Habib said on October 8, the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) rejected a petition submitted March 2007 on behalf of al-Nueman residents requesting the GoI move the separation barrier and grant villagers Jerusalem IDs. Habib said they will appeal to the HCJ in late December, arguing that al-Nueman residents deserve equal treatment as their Jerusalem neighbors. WALLES