Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM316
2009-02-24 09:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
ISRAEL RESTRICTS ACCESS TO "SEAM ZONE" ALONG
how-toVZCZCXRO0651 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #0316 0550919 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 240919Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4168 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000316
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL;
JOINT STAFF FOR LTG SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PBTS KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL RESTRICTS ACCESS TO "SEAM ZONE" ALONG
SEPARATION BARRIER IN JERUSALEM, WEST BANK
REF: 07 JERUSALEM 2555
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000316
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL;
JOINT STAFF FOR LTG SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PBTS KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL RESTRICTS ACCESS TO "SEAM ZONE" ALONG
SEPARATION BARRIER IN JERUSALEM, WEST BANK
REF: 07 JERUSALEM 2555
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Summary. A series of IDF closure orders will
restrict access for West Bank Palestinians to the "seam zone"
between the separation barrier and the green line. The
January 5 orders primarily impact lands adjacent to completed
sections of the barrier in the central and southern West Bank
and near Jerusalem. Palestinians who live inside these areas
of the "seam zone" or whose agricultural lands are there will
be required to obtain a permit from the Israeli Coordinator
of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). End
Summary.
Closure Orders Issued
--------------
2. (C) A series of closure orders issued by the IDF on
January 5 and scheduled to take effect February 20 will
restrict access for West Bank Palestinians to the "seam zone"
between the separation barrier and the green line (or, in the
case of Jerusalem, the Israeli-defined municipal boundaries).
UN OCHA provided POLOFF with five orders (09/01/S through
09/07/S, excluding 09/04/S and 09/05/S) signed by West Bank
IDF Commander MG Gadi Shamni. OCHA did not have orders
09/04/S and 09/05/S, and said some of the local COGAT offices
had refused to provide copies of the orders. (Post will
email copies to NEA/IPA and Embassy Tel Aviv.) Similar
closure orders have been in effect and periodically renewed
since October 2, 2003, in the northern West Bank.
3. (SBU) The orders primarily impact lands adjacent to
completed sections of the barrier in the central and southern
West Bank and near Jerusalem. The orders limit entry to
designated seam zone to Israeli citizens and permanent
residents (i.e., East Jerusalem residents with Israeli IDs)
and to permit holders. West Bank Palestinians aged 16 and
older must obtain a permit and prove "constant residence" in
the seam zone. (The orders do not define the term "constant
residence.") OCHA and B'tselem contacts told POLOFF they do
not know the total land area to which access is restricted,
nor the number of Palestinians affected.
WALLES
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL;
JOINT STAFF FOR LTG SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PBTS KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ISRAEL RESTRICTS ACCESS TO "SEAM ZONE" ALONG
SEPARATION BARRIER IN JERUSALEM, WEST BANK
REF: 07 JERUSALEM 2555
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Summary. A series of IDF closure orders will
restrict access for West Bank Palestinians to the "seam zone"
between the separation barrier and the green line. The
January 5 orders primarily impact lands adjacent to completed
sections of the barrier in the central and southern West Bank
and near Jerusalem. Palestinians who live inside these areas
of the "seam zone" or whose agricultural lands are there will
be required to obtain a permit from the Israeli Coordinator
of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). End
Summary.
Closure Orders Issued
--------------
2. (C) A series of closure orders issued by the IDF on
January 5 and scheduled to take effect February 20 will
restrict access for West Bank Palestinians to the "seam zone"
between the separation barrier and the green line (or, in the
case of Jerusalem, the Israeli-defined municipal boundaries).
UN OCHA provided POLOFF with five orders (09/01/S through
09/07/S, excluding 09/04/S and 09/05/S) signed by West Bank
IDF Commander MG Gadi Shamni. OCHA did not have orders
09/04/S and 09/05/S, and said some of the local COGAT offices
had refused to provide copies of the orders. (Post will
email copies to NEA/IPA and Embassy Tel Aviv.) Similar
closure orders have been in effect and periodically renewed
since October 2, 2003, in the northern West Bank.
3. (SBU) The orders primarily impact lands adjacent to
completed sections of the barrier in the central and southern
West Bank and near Jerusalem. The orders limit entry to
designated seam zone to Israeli citizens and permanent
residents (i.e., East Jerusalem residents with Israeli IDs)
and to permit holders. West Bank Palestinians aged 16 and
older must obtain a permit and prove "constant residence" in
the seam zone. (The orders do not define the term "constant
residence.") OCHA and B'tselem contacts told POLOFF they do
not know the total land area to which access is restricted,
nor the number of Palestinians affected.
WALLES