CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES IN WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000661 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2019 TAGS: PHUM ASEC PBTS KWBG IS SUBJECT: CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES IN WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS REF: A. 08 JERUSALEM 2171 ¶B. 07 JERUSALEM 2060 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Site visits by POLOFF in mid-April confirmed large-scale, ongoing construction in Maale Adumim and smaller-scale work in nearby Qedar, extending about 70 meters outside Qedar's current built-up area. There has been no new activity in E-1. The YESHA Council Chairman expressed confidence that the new Israeli government will represent settlers and approve new construction in West Bank settlements. End summary. Extensive Construction Projects Underway in Maale Adumim -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) POLOFF toured the sprawling new "07" neighborhood of Maale Adumim on April 13 and observed dramatic progress since November 2008 on six separate ongoing construction projects: "Lev Adumim" (Red Heart),"Nofei Bereshit" (Views of Genesis),"Duna Panorama," "View," "Highland," and "Villa Style." The projects are in various stages of completion. Local advertisements announce that all units in the "View" project will be ready in August 2009. A billboard at the site depicted the "Villa Style" project's future "52 villas and cottages." Four buildings totaling 50 units in the "07" neighborhood are now completed and inhabited. According to Maale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel, the "07" neighborhood was approved by then-PM Barak in 1999-2000 (reftel). NGOs Concerned About New Construction in Qedar -------------- - ¶3. (C) NGO Yesh Din's Land Advocacy Project Coordinator Dror Etkes and NGO Peace Now's Settlement Watch director Hagit Ofran separately told POLOFF on April 10 and 13 that they had received calls from Palestinian contacts concerned about new activity at Qedar settlement, south of Maale Adumim. POLOFF observed new construction activity at Qedar on April 13. Two heavy construction vehicles were leveling a plot about 70 meters east of Qedar's built-up area, outside the settlement's security fence. Six residential buildings were partially completed on the southern side of the settlement, within the security fence. Ofran said these six buildings are part of Qedar's previously approved expansion plan, which includes "dozens more" residential buildings. Etkes opined that new West Bank construction has increased in the past three months, calling it "a massive attack by the settlers on new areas around the settlements to create facts on the ground." No New Activity at E-1 -------------- ¶4. (C) POLOFF observed no new activity at E-1 on April 13. Contrary to prior statements (reftel),Maale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel has not moved his office to E-1's scenic overlook, a move he believes will advance his political agenda of building thousands of residential units in E-1. Settlers Optimistic About Approvals Under New Government -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) YESHA Council Chairman Dani Dayan told POLOFF on April 2 that the settler movement feels better represented in the Israeli government with Nokdim settler Avigdor Lieberman as Foreign Minister, and more optimistic about approvals for new construction. He said that Lieberman does not speak for the YESHA Council, but noted that two Members of Knesset in Lieberman's party Yisrael Beitenu, David Rotem from Efrat settlement and Faina Kirshbaum from Nili settlement, are deeply involved in YESHA politics. Dayan said the YESHA Council is confident that settler lobbying will have a strong impact on the new government. On the other hand, he has cautioned his settler constituents against over-confidence, pointing out that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had strong settler support before he began dismantling settlements in the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. WALLES