E-1 UPDATE FROM MID-JANUARY: POLICE STATION READY

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000098

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PHUM IS
SUBJECT: E-1 UPDATE FROM MID-JANUARY: POLICE STATION READY
FOR OCCUPANCY

REF: JERUSALEM 00090

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: PolOffs observed January 17 that the final
touches are being put on the police station at E-1 and the
road leading to it. PolOffs also observed land immediately
northwest of the police station continues to be cleared and
graded, and a bridge now directly connects Maale Adumim with
E-1. Pictures posted at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/jerusalem. END SUMMARY

E-1 Compound Ready for Occupancy
--------------


2. (C) At the E-1 police station compound January 17,
PolOffs observed a small crew of workers finishing
construction of the building and for the first time saw a
police van in the parking lot. PolOffs did not enter the
station itself but observed that construction seems nearly
finished. PolOffs observed further development of the road
leading to the police station, including landscaping in
boulevards and traffic circles, new blacktop paving,
guardrails, and pedestrian railing. Newly installed
electrical wires run from the direction of Maale Adumim to
the police station.


3. (C) PolOffs observed a cleared and graded area larger
than observed in December (now about the size of a football
field) immediately northwest of the police station. Adjacent
to this area and immediately north of the police station,
PolOffs observed a second - and previously unseen - cleared
and graded area that contains a road running behind the
police station and extends approximately 200 yards east
toward Jericho.

E1 and Maale Adumim Connected
--------------


4. (C) PolOffs observed that the bridge connecting E-1 to
Maale Adumim has been refurbished and roads have been paved
connecting the police station to the bridge. PolOffs
traversed the bridge (crossing over Route 1 from the E-1
side) and verified that the road leads into the settlement.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Comment: Our observation is that the police station
is ready for occupancy, and nothing on the ground prevents
the planned move from the Ras Al Amud police station to E-1.
According to the reported agreement between the Israeli
National Police (INP) and the Israeli Bukharan Community
Committee of Ras Al Amud's "Maale Zeitim" neighborhood
(reftel),the latter will occupy the Ras Al Amud police
station once it is vacated. The impending move of the police
headquarters to E-1 and the associated hand over of the Ras
Al Amud facility to Israeli developers is likely to generate
widespread media coverage and a strongly negative reaction
among Palestinians, and more widely across the region. End
Comment.
WALLES