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
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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
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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

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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