RESIDENTS OF ISSAWIYA AND 'ANATA CRITICIZE LAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000300

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2018
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: RESIDENTS OF ISSAWIYA AND 'ANATA CRITICIZE LAND
EXPROPRIATIONS


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


1. (C) Summary. Members of the Issawiya and 'Anata
Committees for the Defense of Land and Property and 'Anata's
mayor told PolOff on February 14 that the Israeli Civil
Administration expropriated 1500 dunums (roughly 375 acres)
for roads through the E-1 area connecting Ma'ale Adumim to
Almon and Pisgat Ze'ev. They shared concerns that such a
road would strengthen Israeli control over Palestinian areas
and further isolate East Jerusalem from the West Bank.
(Note: A map of the area can be found on the Consulate's
classified website at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/jerusalem/ind ex.cfm by
clicking on the link for Political Reporting Attachments.
End note.) End Summary.

CIVIL ADMINISTRATION EXPROPRIATES
LAND FOR NEW ROAD BETWEEN SETTLEMENTS
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2. (C) Chairman of the Issawiya Committee for the Defense of
Land and Property Hani Asawi told PolOff on February 14 that
the Israeli Civil Administration expropriated 1500 dunums of
land which they said belongs to the Issawiya and 'Anata
municipalities. Asawi said the land was already under
Israeli jurisdiction and the expropriation serves to
formalize control before Israel begins construction of new
roads there. (Note: Issawiya falls within Jerusalem's
expanded municipal boundaries, but the expropriated land is
in the West Bank. End note.)


3. (C) Asawi said the land is located along the eastern
border of the E-1 area and will be used to create a road
between Ma'ale Adumim and the West Bank settlement of Almon
that will ease access to Pisgat Ze'ev in Jerusalem. Asawi
said the new road will eventually link to the planned Eastern
Ring Road (septel),which he fears will sever East Jerusalem
from the West Bank.

PALESTINIAN PLANS TO FIGHT CONFISCATION IN COURT
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4. (C) 'Anata Mayor Muhammad Allan and Chairman of the
'Anata Committee for the Defense of Land and Property Khadir
Dibs told PolOff on February 14 that a notice of pending
expropriation appeared in al-Quds newspaper on January 22,
but the notice stated that objections to the expropriation
would not be considered. The final notice of expropriation
appeared in the newspaper on February 14. Allan and Dibs
said they planned to work with the residents of Issawiya and
Jerusalem attorney Danny Seidemann to fight the expropriation.

RESIDENTS OF 'ANATA LOSE NEEDED LAND TO CONFISCATION
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5. (C) Member of the 'Anata Committee for the Defense of
Land and Property Muhammad Salama told PolOff on February 14
that half of 'Anata's land is privately owned, so
expropriations hurt individuals as well as the community.
Salama produced copies of Jordanian land records to
demonstrate how many people were losing land in this
expropriation. He said local residents believe
expropriations are part of an Israeli strategy to take
control of Palestinian land for settlers' benefit. The
residents of 'Anata are confined to the built-up area of
their land by Israeli checkpoints and the separation barrier,
Salama said, and do not have access to vacant land to build
new homes, schools, and cemeteries.

COMMENT
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6. (C) This step appears to contradict public and private
assurances by the GoI at the time of Annapolis that there
would be no new land expropriation in the West Bank.
According to Israeli press accounts, Prime Minister Olmert
told the Israeli cabinet on November 19, 2007: "The Roadmap
explicitly obligates Israel not to build new settlements or
communities in Judea and Samaria or to expropriate land. We
must fulfill these obligations."

WALLES