Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM2264
2008-12-18 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

ISRAELI PLANS FOR SILWAN AND THE HOLY BASIN

Tags:  PGOV PBTS PHUM KWBG IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9808
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2264 3531604
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181604Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3548
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002264 

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PBTS PHUM KWBG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI PLANS FOR SILWAN AND THE HOLY BASIN

REF: A. 07 JERUSALEM 138

B. JERUSALEM 102

C. JERUSALEM 292

D. TEL AVIV 479

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese, per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002264

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV PBTS PHUM KWBG IS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI PLANS FOR SILWAN AND THE HOLY BASIN

REF: A. 07 JERUSALEM 138

B. JERUSALEM 102

C. JERUSALEM 292

D. TEL AVIV 479

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese, per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The Jerusalem Municipality has approved, but
not yet made public, a town plan to facilitate Israeli
development in the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood of Silwan in East
Jerusalem, acording to Jerusalem lawyer Danny Seidemann.
Seidemann also said that the GOI is quietly planning a large
and well-funded development and restoration project in the
Holy Basin around the Old City of Jerusalem. End Summary.

Consolidating Control Over Wadi Hilweh/Ir David
-------------- --


2. (C) According to Jerusalem lawyer Danny Seidemann, the
Jerusalem Municipality has approved, but not yet made public,
a town plan to facilitate Israeli development in the Wadi
Hilweh neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem. Town Plan
no. 11555 calls for pavement of roads, car parks, paths,
promenades, open spaces, public institutions, and dense
residential units in Wadi Hilweh, known to Israelis as Ir
David (City of David). The town plan also calls for the
confiscation of Palestinian land to create parking lots, the
opening of a tunnel that will run from Wadi Hilweh/Ir David
to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and Davidson Center
inside the Old City (REFS A and C),the demolition of 88
Palestinian homes in the adjacent al-Bustan neighborhood, and
a cable car to the Mount of Olives.


3. (C) Since 1991, the Israeli settler group Elad has been
allowed to control and develop Wadi Hilweh/Ir David without
building permits or official GOI approvals (REF D). Some
7,500 Palestinians and roughly 350 Israeli settlers live in
the area. Visitors to the Elad-run Ir David Visitors Center
and National Park can travel from the Old City's Dung Gate to
the Wadi Hilweh/Ir David ridge by way of the Siloam pools
without leaving settler-controlled property or realizing that
they have entered a predominately Palestinian East Jerusalem
neighborhood. According to Ir David representative Aurital
Bitton, by the end of 2008, the Ir David Visitors Center will
have attracted over 400,000 tourists who come for the 3D
movie, Segway tours, 4X4 ranger tours, and access to numerous
key archaeological and historical sites.

A Well-Funded Historic Basin Project
--------------


4. (C) According to Seidemann, the GOI also plans a large
development and restoration project in the Holy Basin around
the Old City. Siedemann showed Poloff a government document
corroborating his claims. The document, dated September 2008
and titled the "Project to Strengthen the Old City Basin and
the Mount of Olives," is an update by the Jerusalem
Development Authority to PM Olmert,s office. The document
includes plans for contiguous parks surrounding the Old City,
including in Mount Scopus, the Tsurim Valley, the Kidron
Portal, the Kings Valley (North, Central and South),the
Mount of Olives, the Ben Hinnom Valley and the Old City Wall
perimeter; a Mount of Olives information center; an
archaeological site and public sifting center in the Tsurim
Valley; and connecting trails throughout the Holy Basin.
Seidemann notes that the project is well-funded by Israeli
cabinet resolution no. 4090 adopted on August 9, 2005, which
allocated 50 million NIS (more than USD 14 million) for the
project annually 2006-2013.

MARCHESE