MORE HOMES DEMOLISHED IN THE WEST BANK AND EAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002133 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2018 TAGS: IS KWBG PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: MORE HOMES DEMOLISHED IN THE WEST BANK AND EAST JERUSALEM Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During November 18-25, Israeli security forces demolished a total of four homes in East Jerusalem, and one in the West Bank. The home in the West Bank was located in Area C. End summary. Demolition in East Jerusalem -------------- ¶2. (C) On November 18, the Jerusalem Municipality demolished the home of Jamal Abu Sneenah, his wife, and four of his children, in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Isawiya after the Israeli High Court rejected an appeal to prevent the demolition. Jerusalem Municipality Advisor for International Affairs Elad Halevy told Poloff that the home, which was built one year ago, lacked a building permit and that the family had ignored 2007 orders to cease construction on the home. Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions (ICAHD) Meir Margalit told Poloff that the home was built on private land purchased by the family in 2001. ¶3. (C) On November 25, the Jerusalem Municipality demolished three homes. According to Elad Halevy, the home of Ali Jum'a in the East Jerusalem village of as-Sawahira al-Gharbiyeh was demolished for lacking a building permit. The structure housed 11 people and was located inside the municipality but east of the security barrier. It had been demolished once before and rebuilt by ICAHD. The Jerusalem municipality also demolished one home in the Shu'fat refugee camp and a one-room addition to the home of Rifat Meshahreh in Jabel al-Mukabir for lacking building permits. UNOCHA notes that the demolished Shu'fat home was located directly in the path of the security barrier, which is under construction in the area. Demolition in Area C -------------- ¶4. (C) On November 24, Israeli security forces demolished the home of Muhammad Miziaro in the West Bank village of al-Ayzariyah. According to al-Ayzariyah Mayor Issam Faroun, the home was located in Area C in the eastern portion of the village. (Note: Most of al-Ayzariyah is located in Area B. End note.) According to UNOCHA, the home was fully furnished but not yet occupied. Mr. and Mrs. Miziaro are East Jerusalem ID holders who are both currently undergoing dialysis treatment in Jerusalem. Faroun told Poloff that he fears additional demolitions of Area C al-Ayzariyah homes, noting that two homes in the village's northwest were recently served orders. More Demolitions Anticipated -------------- ¶5. (C) Margalit said that 15 additional home demolitions in Isawiya have been approved by Jerusalem regional courts and may occur anytime after December 16. According to UNOCHA, six other homes and a mosque have pending demolition orders in as-Sawahira al-Gharbiyeh. ConGen Jerusalem contacts say they fear a wave of home demolitions in coming months, given the simultaneous U.S. presidential transition, upcoming Israeli elections, completion of Jerusalem municipal elections, and the Jerusalem municipality's desire to exhaust 2008 demolitions funds before year end. WALLES