REQUEST FOR WAIVER AND EXCEPTIONS, AMAWI BUILDING,

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001896 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/PSD, NEA/SCA/EX USAID FOR SEC/PSP - D. BLACKSHAW AND M/OMS - G. NAGLE TEL AVIV FOR SEO AND USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ABLD KPAL EAID SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR WAIVER AND EXCEPTIONS, AMAWI BUILDING, JERUSALEM ¶1. (SBU) Post requests that a waiver of setback and collocation be granted, as mandated by P.L 106-113, and exceptions to certain Overseas Security Policy Board (OSPB) physical security standards be made to permit the establishment of office space for the Post,s Public Diplomacy (PD),United States Agency for International Development (USAID),United States Security Coordinator (USSC),Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL),and Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in a newly acquired office building (OBX),in Jerusalem. ¶2. (SBU) Background Information: With the anticipated late 2009 relocation of ConGen Jerusalem's consular operations to West Jerusalem, it is a political imperative for the USG to maintain a presence in Palestinian East Jerusalem. Post has identified one potential property that would allow this, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. An OBO and DS team assessed this building in October 2008 and again in April 2009. Post would use this building as a Public Diplomacy and FCS Outreach Center, as well as for USAID, USSC, and INL office space. The proposed PD Outreach Center would be a new facility as proposed in post,s mission strategic plan for FY 2010. The USAID space would house staff to be relocated from Tel Aviv. Additional space in the new building for USSC and INL would allow for the expansion of their staff and programs, and would free up space at post,s current Lazarist building for other priority needs, such as space for the staff of Special Envoy Mitchell. ¶3. (SBU) Description of building and lot: The proposed facility is a 1,734.19 square meter building. The building is a stand-alone, five-level cement structure currently occupied by three UN agencies and a private residence. Four floors are identical, with 353 square meters per floor. The top floor is 322.19 square meters. The building is approximately 10 years old. It is in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, near the British, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, and Turkish Consulates General, as well as other well-known landmarks such as the Ambassador Hotel and the St. John,s Eye Hospital. It is also less than five minutes driving time from both the Israeli National Police Headquarters for Jerusalem and the Israeli Border Police Headquarters. ¶4. (SBU) Waivers of Setback and Collocation: Setback - The proposed OBX does not have the required 100 feet of setback on all sides. A waiver of setback is requested. The available setback is as follows: ¶A. West Side: There is a new three-story apartment building with below-ground parking being constructed on the northwest side of the building. The distance from the OBX to the property of the apartment building is 17.38 feet. The entry by vehicles from the street to the back of these properties is controlled by an access gate, and therefore not easily accessible. From the access gates to the OBX an additional 100 feet is gained. On the north-west side of the OBX is municipality land that has 100 feet setback from the main road and a fence separating the land from the road. ¶B. North Side: Empty land that post has leased for parking and a CAC. OBX to perimeter fence is 27.23 feet. From the fence to the property line is an additional 164 feet. ¶C. East Side: Empty Land that Post has been trying to lease in order to control access to the OBX. The land cannot be brought under lease because of title issues. For the same reason, the (alleged) owner cannot build on this land, and has clearly expressed to post GSO her unwillingness to sell, lease or consider any business transaction whatsoever that involves ceding control of this piece of property. The property is directly in front of the OBX, and is flanked by a narrow access road, and had boulders (placed by proposed OBX,s former tenants, the UN, as vehicle barriers) across the street frontage and along the access road. This access road will not be the main entrance to the OBX (the main entrance CAC and parking will be on the east side, see above). RSO and GSO will continue efforts to place this empty lot under effective control of post, including working with the Municipality to obtain permission to erect barriers in the public right)of-way just off the property, along the sidewalk and access road. From OBX to the existing fence is 17.38 feet. If the land is brought under effective control and the anti-vehicle wall is improved, as well as control of the road is gained another 101 feet of setback is gained. ¶D. South Side: Two apartment-style buildings run along the west side of the building. The distance from the OBX to property controlled by the nearest of these buildings is 13.12 feet. The entry by vehicles from the street to the back of these properties is controlled by the residents with an access gate. From the access gates to the OBX and additional 100 feet is gained. Collocation ¶E. A waiver of collocation is requested as USAID and FCS will occupy the same premises. ¶5. (SBU) Exceptions to OSPB Physical Security Standards ¶A. Employee parking, for approximately 25 vehicles, will be at least 50 feet from the office building to, to the maximum extent feasible. ¶B. For newly acquired buildings, a blast vulnerability study will be conducted: OBO has previously conducted a blast vulnerability study on the OBX in the 1990s that meets this requirement. ¶C. Exterior walls will provide 15-minute forced entry (FE) protection to a minimum of 16 feet above grade or accessible platform: OBO performed an assessment in October 2008 and will meet this requirement by making any renovations necessary. ¶D. Exterior windows will provide 15-minute forced entry (FE) protection to a minimum of 16 feet above grade or accessible platform: OBO performed an assessment in October 2008 and will meet this requirement by making any renovations necessary. ¶E. A safe area will provide 15 - minute FE protection: OBO performed an assessment in October 2008 and will meet this requirement by making any renovations necessary. ¶6. (SBU) Critical Issues ¶A. The Security Environmental Threat List (SETL),dated December 22nd, 2008; reports Jerusalem as HIGH for TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISM, CRITICAL for INDIGENOUS TERRORISM, and HIGH for POLIICAL VIOLENCE. ¶B. Classified information will not be handled, stored, processed or discussed in the proposed facility. All classified operations required by PD or USAID will occur in the controlled access area (CAA) of the CG. ¶C. The PD staff in the proposed OBX will consist of approximately one direct-hire U.S. citizens and three LES employees. The staff of the USAID section in the OBX consists of 22 employees, with at least two being direct-hire Americans. The staff of the USSC will be a mix of American and Canadian/Britons of approximately 32 employees, with at least 20 being American. The staff of the FCS is two LES. The staff of the INL is four Americans and eleven LES. In addition approximately three LES employees of the Local Guard Force will occupy space in the OBX. ¶D. Post and USAID have surveyed more than three different proposed sites for the CG office annex. The proposed location is considered the best location available because of its proximity to the CG, for access to CAA, and the necessity for frequent coordination with the Consul General and the RSO. Location in East Jerusalem is optimum for needed representation space and outreach space to the Palestinian community. ¶E. Concurrence with the proposal has been received from the Chief of Mission and the Regional Security Officer. Concurrence with the collocation waiver has been requested from both USAID and the U.S. Commerce Department at their respective headquarters. RUBINSTEIN