UN REPORTS DETAIL DEMOLITIONS IN AREA C AND AN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000926

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: UN REPORTS DETAIL DEMOLITIONS IN AREA C AND AN
INCREASE IN OBSTACLES TO ACCESS/MOVEMENT

REF: A. JERUSALEM 765

B. JERUSALEM 900

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a study released May 27, the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA)
reported that the GOI demolished more Palestinian structures
for lack of permits in West Bank C Areas in the first quarter
of 2008 than in all of 2007. The study cites a 94 percent
rejection rate for Palestinian building permits in Area C
since 2000, and assesses that most Palestinians living in
Area C are forced to build illegally. OCHA released a
separate update on access and movement noting a "slight
deterioration" in the overall access situation and raising
the total count of road obstacles from 566 in September 2007
to 607 in April 2008. End summary.


More Demolitions in the First Quarter
of 2008 Than in All 2007
--------------


2. (C) In a study titled "'Lack of Permit' Demolitions and
Resultant Displacement in Area C," released May 27, UN OCHA
notes that in the first quarter of 2008, Israeli authorities
demolished 124 structures in Area C of the West Bank for lack
of permits - more than the total number of demolitions in all
of 2007 (107). Most demolitions occurred in the Jordan
Valley and near Hebron. OCHA notes displacement of 435
Palestinians as a result of Area C demolitions since 2007,
including 135 children. The increasing trend in demolitions
has slowed in the second quarter of 2008, with OCHA recording
only one demolition thus far.


3,000 Palestinian Structures in Area C
Have Standing Demolition Orders
--------------


3. (C) OCHA's report highlights the difficult situation faced
by growing Palestinian communities in West Bank Area C,
noting that there are standing demolition orders on 3,000
Palestinian structures that can be carried out at any time.
According to OCHA, "at least ten" villages run the risk of
being "entirely displaced," including Khirbat al-Aqabah and
Duma (reftels). OCHA assess that over 400 Palestinian towns
in the West Bank have built-up segments that extend into Area
C, where they are subject to Israeli administrative
requirements. Another 130 villages (with 44,000 people) lie
entirely in Area C.



94 Percent of Building Permits for
Palestinians Rejected Since 2000
--------------


4. (C) According to OCHA, Israeli authorities denied 94
percent of building permit applications from Area C
Palestinians between January 2000 and September 2007. During
this period, OCHA reports that 5,000 demolition orders were
issued and 1,600 of those were carried out. OCHA assesses
that many Palestinians are forced to build illegally, risking
future demolition.


Obstacles to Movement Increase from 566 to 607
-------------- -



5. (C) In a separate May update on access and movement,
OCHA highlighted the increasing number of road obstacles in
the West Bank and a "slight deterioration in the overall
access situation in the West Bank." The report states that
the number of obstacles increased by 41, from 566 to 607,
from September 4, 2007 to April 29, 2008. The OCHA report
asserts that only five of the 61 obstacles claimed removed by
the GOI were significant. OCHA noted some improvement in
Palestinians' access to the Dead Sea, slight deterioration in
access in the northern and southern West Bank, and
significant deterioration in Qalqiliya, where two partial
checkpoints controlling access to the city were converted to
full checkpoints.



6. (U) The full text of both OCHA reports can be found at
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents.


JERUSALEM 00000926 002 OF 002


WALLES