E-1 MOVE NEARLY COMPLETE, PLANS FOR RAS AL-AMUD

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000756 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2017 TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL IS SUBJECT: E-1 MOVE NEARLY COMPLETE, PLANS FOR RAS AL-AMUD DEVELOPING REF: A. JERUSALEM 00741 ¶B. JERUSALEM 00736 ¶C. JERUSALEM 00090 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. PolOff observed a nearly empty police station at Ras al-Amud May 6 and learned from an Israeli guard at the site that the one remaining office will move to E-1 in late May, allowing the police to turn the site over to settlement sponsor Irving Moscowitz. Construction continues at the Israeli neighborhood across the street, Ma'ale Zeitim. PolOff observed an active police station at E-1, and visited the mayor of Ma'ale Adumim, who is protesting the GoI decision to freeze residential construction in E-1. End Summary. RAS AL-AMUD POLICE STATION MOVE NEARLY COMPLETE -------------- -- ¶2. (C) PolOff visited the Ras al-Amud police station May 6 and observed a nearly empty parking lot and a crane removing concrete barriers from the station's perimeter. An Israeli security guard told PolOff the station offices are empty except the traffic cameras division. This section will move in roughly three weeks, he said, at which point the police will turn the buildings over to American millionaire and settlement sponsor Irving Moscowitz. The guard said he expects new residents to move into the existing buildings soon, but did not know about plans to demolish the buildings and build a new neighborhood. NEW NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE CONNECTED TO EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD -------------- ¶3. (C) PolOff obtained a copy of plans filed with the Municipality for the new neighborhood -- called Ma'ale David -- that indicate it is a continuation of the adjacent neighborhood, Ma'ale Zeitim. PolOff visited the Ma'ale Zeitim compound across the street from the police station at Ras al-Amud, and observed a bulldozer working on the foundation of a new apartment building (ref C). A Palestinian resident of Ras al-Amud told PolOff he understands that the two neighborhoods will be connected by closing the road between Ma'ale Zeitim and the police compound and creating a bypass road for Palestinians to reach their homes further down the street. E-1 POLICE STATION ACTIVE -------------- ¶4. (C) PolOff also visited E-1 May 6. He observed a crowded parking lot and regular traffic at the site. MA'ALE ADUMIM MAYOR PROTESTS FREEZE OF E-1 CONSTRUCTION -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) PolOff visited Ma'ale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel in a trailer Kashriel erected at an overlook in E-1 on the road to the police station. Kashriel told PolOff he is planning a reception at the trailer for Israeli Independence Day (May 8). He accused PolOff of spying on him for the USG and criticized PM Olmert for refusing to allow residential construction in E-1. He told PolOff the trailer was erected May 5 and would be removed May 11. (Note: Press reported last week Kashriel would be holding office hours in E-1 on May 8 to protest the GoI decision to freeze residential construction in E-1, which is located between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem and is considered part of Ma'ale Adumim's municipal area. End note.) WALLES