DECEMBER SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002609 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2017 TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS SUBJECT: DECEMBER SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: PolOff undertook a series of trips in December to assess West Bank settlement construction. At Tekoa, Beitar Illit, Modiin Illit, Elkana, and Har Adar, PolOff saw active construction on medium and large scale projects. PolOff saw no construction at Kedumim, Adam, and Shaare Tikva, but was briefed on construction plans. At Ofra and Maale Mikhmas, PolOff saw no construction or development plans. (Photos are posted at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/jerusalem). END SUMMARY Active Construction -------------- ¶2. (C) At Tekoa, south of Jerusalem and east of the separation barrier, on December 3, settler and Gush Etzion councilwoman Shani Simkowitz showed PolOff 75 new housing units under construction with crews actively at work. PolOff saw workers paving two new roads within the settlement. ¶3. (C) After meeting with newly elected Mayor Meir Rubinstein of the ultra orthodox settlement of Beitar Illit (population 35,000, west of the separation barrier) on December 4, PolOff saw construction crews actively working on a shopping center, school, social services center, apartment blocks, and several individual homes. Asked about the ongoing construction, the Mayor said the U.S. is "not going to stop us." ¶4. (C) At the ultra orthodox settlement of Modiin Illit (west of the separation barrier) on December 6, PolOff saw roads being paved and several large buildings under construction. Mayor Yakov Gutterman told PolOff that he plans to build 2600 additional units, noting he does not need "bureaucratic permission," only MOD Barak's "political permission". ¶5. (C) At the seamline settlement of Har Adar (west of the separation barrier) on December 10, PolOff saw construction of a new housing division of 350 units nearing completion. Mayor Aviran Cohen told PolOff that he has plans for 200 units but will then be out of space. Cohen said he wants to purchase another 76 dunams from local Arabs, but the sale is "problematic." ¶6. (C) Elkana (west of the separation barrier) settlers told PolOff December 10 that they plan to convert 100 caravans into permanent housing, and a civil engineer will soon conduct a feasibility survey. Mayor Yehuda Cohen said he plans to reduce the caravans by half and add a second story to the remaining structures, so the enclave is "less of a way station." An Elkana resident said this plan is in addition to a 300 housing unit approved 8 years ago and already underway. Construction planned -------------- ¶7. (C) At the Ariel "University Center" (west of the separation barrier) on December 5, PolOff saw no construction projects, but college President Dan Meyerstein said he plans to convert all dorms (currently in caravans) into permanent structures. ¶8. (C) At Kedumim (west of the planned separation barrier), on December 11, PolOff saw individual houses under construction, but no new enclaves of development. Settler Sarah Elyash showed PolOff Kedumim's new council building, which was recently relocated to north of the settlement's built up area to an empty piece of land which she said was slated for industrial and residential development. Elyash said moving council building was an effort to strengthen ties to outlying settlements of Shavei Shomron and Enav and "increase their confidence." ¶9. (C) At Geva Binyamin (Adam) north of Jerusalem and east of the separation barrier on December 14, PolOff did not see any notable construction projects, although the settlement spokesman, Navon Bar, asked if the USG would object to the construction of a bridge connecting Adam to the Jerusalem neighborhood of Neve Yaakov (west of the separation barrier). Navon showed PolOff land at Adam that he said the settlement is talking to the GOI about using for 1000 new homes for ultra orthodox. ¶10. (C) At the seamline settlement of Shaare Tikva, west of the separation barrier and south of Qalquilya, on December 18, PolOff saw no construction, but Mayor Gidon Eidan showed plans for a new school complex and 750 housing units to begin JERUSALEM 00002609 002 OF 002 construction in late December. The Mayor also outlined future plans for two new housing developments on "private but disputed land" near the settlement's entrance. No construction -------------- ¶11. (C) PolOff saw no new construction at either of the Ramallah area settlements of Ofra and Maale Mikhmas (both east of the separation barrier) on December 6. Maale Mikhmas Resident Shimon Riklin (building contractor and founder of the Migron Outpost) told PolOff building permits from MOD "are not coming." WALLES