Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM291
2007-02-12 16:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

JERUSALEM MAYOR DELAYS CONSTRUCTION; EXCAVATIONS

Tags:  PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5067
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0291 0431614
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121614Z FEB 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6650
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000291 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MAYOR DELAYS CONSTRUCTION; EXCAVATIONS
AT HARAM A-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT CONTINUE

REF: A. JERUSALEM 266

B. JERUSALEM 252

C. TEL AVIV 441

D. JERUSALEM 275

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000291

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MAYOR DELAYS CONSTRUCTION; EXCAVATIONS
AT HARAM A-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT CONTINUE

REF: A. JERUSALEM 266

B. JERUSALEM 252

C. TEL AVIV 441

D. JERUSALEM 275

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


1. (SBU) Summary: Following several days of clashes in the
Old City, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski announced February
11 that construction of a new ramp to the Mughrabi Gate would
be postponed to allow for discussion of the plans by the
Municipalities Planning and Construction committees.
However, excavations at the site continue, and Waqf
Administrator Adnan Husseini says these excavations continue
to be his primary concern and a potential cause for
continuing clashes. End Summary.


2. (C) Construction of the new ramp to the Mughrabi Gate on
the Haram a-Sharif/Temple Mount was postponed by Jerusalem
Mayor Uri Lupolianski's February 11 decision to submit the
construction plans before city planning and construction
committees. According to Michal Sharvit, Foreign Relations
Coordinator for the Mayor's office, the decision means that
the public will review and comment on the plans before
construction begins. Elad Halevy, Lupolianski's Acting
Political Advisor, told poloff February 12 that the plans
must be approved by the Building Permit Committee and the
Jerusalem District Planning Committee before a construction
permit is issued. In communications with the Deputy Principal
Officer, Halevy said the municipality is still determining
whether the approval would need to go through the local or
district planning committee. He said the most important thing
is that the approval process will enable "the entire world"
to review the plans and procedures for construction. He also
said that the new process would allow any resident of
Jerusalem to raise objections in the planning committee.
(Note: Post is seeking more details on the approval and
objection process. End Note.)

Excavations Continue
--------------


3. (C) Adnan Husseini, administrator for the Waqf, confirmed
February 12 that excavations have resumed at the site. He
said the bulldozers previously at the site were removed, and
excavation work is being done by hand-held equipment. Halevy
noted that postponing the construction is unrelated to the
excavations, which he confirmed will continue. Yuval Baruch,
Israeli Antiquities Authority archaeologist in charge of the
excavations, told poloff February 9 that construction is not
scheduled to begin before excavations are completed, a
process he estimated would take at least eight months.
Husseini has repeatedly said that the excavations are his
primary cause for concern. He said February 12 that he
continues to be worried that continuing them will prompt
protests and may spark further clashes.


4. C) Comment The Mayor's decision to delay construction is a
positive step. The tense atmosphere is likely to continue,
however, as the excavation continues. We are concerned that
Friday prayers will continue to be a flash point, and the
danger exists that clashes could continue and possibly
escalate. ConGen will follow up with the Waqf and the
Municipality to lower tensions and improve communications
between the two sides. We will also explore with the
Municipality whether the planning process can be extended to
the excavation work as well. We understand Embassy Tel Aviv
will follow up with the GOI along these lines.

WALLES