JERUSALEM CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001499

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2024
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

REF: JERUSALEM 1256

Classified By: Deputy Principal Officer Greg Marchese for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary. Plans for demolitions and new Israeli
construction in several East Jerusalem Palestinian
neighborhoods are progressing, according to local legal and
NGO contacts. Demolitions in Al Bustan and Abasiya could
move ahead at any time, they claimed. Islamic Waqf contacts
expressed concern about Jewish extremists entering the Haram
al-Sharif/Temple Mount on August 22, the third such incursion
in two months. End Summary.

UPDATES ON PENDING PROPERTY ISSUES IN EAST JERUSALEM
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2. (C) Ref A reported on nine property cases that could
affect the demographic balance in East Jerusalem's Arab
neighborhoods. Since that update, developments have occurred
in several cases, according to post contacts:

-- Shepherd Hotel: Developers are gathering necessary
certifications to begin construction of 20 apartment units at
the site in Shaykh Jarrah, and the Municipality has not
responded to USG requests to freeze that project. A
high-profile visit by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
on August 17 led to a demonstration by Peace Now, as well as
a counter-demonstration by inter-campus Zionist organization
Ir Tirtzu.

-- Ras al Amud Police Station: The Municipality is currently
reviewing blueprints for a new neighborhood at the former
police station on the Mount of Olives, according to Haim
Ehrlich of the Jerusalem-based NGO Ir Amim. Developers plan
to submit the blueprints (which include 110 new housing
units, a country club, a kindergarten, and a synagogue) to
the Local Planning Committee in the near future. Despite
Israeli press reports on these plans on August 23, Ir Amin
Director Danny Seidemann told post that opposition inside the
municipal bureaucracy will delay this project for some time,
though he described its eventual approval as a "foregone
conclusion" absent a political decision to stop it.

-- Al Bustan: Jerusalem attorney Ziad Kawar told post on
August 18 that the Municipality floated an unofficial plan to
give permits to all but 15 homes in Silwan's al Bustan
neighborhood. Jerusalem Councilman Meir Margalit told post
on August 24 that residents are planning to refuse the
proposal. Margalit said he fears the Municipality will then
move ahead with demolition of all 88 homes.

-- Abasiya (Abu Tor): Kawar said the Municipality has
refused to engage in negotiations on 34 apartments scheduled
for demolition. The demolitions could move ahead at any
time, he said.


3. (SBU) In addition to these developments in Arab
neighborhoods, Seidemann confirmed press reports that the
Israel Lands Authority has decided to accept "appeals" of 450
failed tenders in East Jerusalem's Israeli neighborhood of
Pisgat Ze'ev.

PROVOCATIONS AT THE HARAM AL-SHARIF/TEMPLE MOUNT
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4. (SBU) Islamic Waqf officials told PolSpec that over a
dozen Jewish extremists entered the Haram al-Sharif/Temple
Mount on August 22 to hold "provocative" religious rituals.
The Waqf officials noted that the incident was the third in
the past two months. Former Jerusalem Mufti Sheikh Ikrima
Sabri condemned the incident in a separate telcon, noting the
timing of the incident fell on the first day of Ramadan.
Former PA Jerusalem Affairs Minister Hatem Abdel Qader
criticized what he described as the complicity of Israeli
National Police in allowing this and previous incidents.
WALLES