PALESTINIAN REACTION TO EL-AD ACQUISITION OF EAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000102 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN REACTION TO EL-AD ACQUISITION OF EAST JERUSALEM HOMES AND LAND REF: JERUSALEM 02259 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. According to local press and Jerusalem contacts, the Israeli organization El-Ad purchased 11 apartments in 4 buildings in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan in mid-January. President Abbas's Advisor on Jerusalem Affairs said El-Ad's purchases are part of an effort to reduce Jerusalem's Palestinian population and undermine Palestinian confidence in permanent status negotiations, especially on Jerusalem. End Summary. EL-AD ACQUIRES FOUR BUILDINGS AND VACANT LAND IN EAST JERUSALEM -------------- ¶2. (C) Former Director of Ir Amim Danny Seidemann confirmed to POLOFF January 17 local press reports that the Israeli organization El-Ad purchased 11 apartments in four buildings and 5 dunums of nearby land in Silwan from Palestinians during the week of January 13. Two of the buildings are located in the Wadi Hilwa area immediately south of the Old City's Dung Gate, and two of the buildings are adjacent to Siloam Pool south of the city of David archeological park. The transactions appear to be legal, private sales, Seidemann said. PALESTINIAN CONCERN ABOUT THE SALES -------------- ¶3. (C) Advisor to PA President Abbas on Jerusalem Affairs 'Adnan Husseini told POLOFF that these property acquisitions are the latest in a trend of Israeli expansion in Silwan. He said he believes groups like El-Ad are involved in a process designed to reduce the Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem, which, he said, undermines Palestinian confidence in negotiations. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) This acquisition of Palestinian property by Israeli organizations is not unique. The sale of property from Palestinians to Israelis can be complicated, sometimes involving unidentified middle men, but El-Ad has publicly claimed the purchases were legal and the sellers witting. Regardless of the details or the sellers' intent, the timing and size of these acquisitions will feed into popular Palestinian concerns about Israeli intentions regarding Jerusalem. End Comment. WALLES