MIGRON UPDATE; EVICTION ORDERS ISSUED NEAR ADAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000687 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM ASEC IS PBTS KWBG KPAL SUBJECT: MIGRON UPDATE; EVICTION ORDERS ISSUED NEAR ADAM SETTLEMENT REF: A. JERUSALEM 240 ¶B. 08 JERUSALEM 2121 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The GOI recently issued eviction orders for Palestinians living near Adam settlement, and the PA is helping the Palestinians appeal these orders. The evictions may be related to the GOI's plan to expand Adam to incorporate the settlers from Migron outpost. The Migron settlers remain opposed to moving from their current location. End summary. Eviction Orders Issued Near Adam Settlement -------------- ¶2. (C) Advisor to the Palestinian Prime Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Hatem Abdul Qader told PolFSN on April 22 that the Israeli Civil Administration recently issued eviction orders to "a number" of Palestinians living near Adam settlement (northeast of Jerusalem) in bedouin structures in area C. Abdul Qader speculated that the evictions are planned to allow for expansion of Adam, potentially for the GOI's proposed construction of new homes there for the settlers from Migron outpost (reftels). He said the PA helped the Palestinian residents appeal the eviction orders in the Magistrate Court, with a judgement expected in late May. If the appeal is rejected, the PA will take it to a higher court. Abdul Qader said he believes the Palestinians will ultimately lose the appeal and be forced to move farther away from Adam. Migron Case Still Pending GOI's Response -------------- ¶3. (C) NGO Peace Now's Settlement Watch director Hagit Ofran told Poloff on April 21 that the Migron case is pending the GOI's follow-up response to the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ),due in mid-May. As previously reported (reftel B),the GOI informed the HCJ in November 2008 of its plan to relocate Migron settlers to a new neighborhood in Adam settlement. The HCJ asked the GOI to reconsider this plan, given that it would take years to build new homes for the Migron settlers in Adam. Ofran said she did not know if there is any relationship between the current eviction orders around Adam and Migron. Migron Settlers Still Opposed to Move -------------- ¶4. (C) Building contractor and founder of Migron outpost Shimon Riklin told Poloff on April 21 that Migron settlers have no intention of moving from their current location, and are hoping to "fly under the radar" of the GOI and USG while building facts on the ground. Riklin blamed the GOI decision to dismantle Migron on USG pressure. He claimed that he had chosen Migron's location for "strategic security reasons," and that IDF interlocutors had agreed with his decision to establish the outpost there. He said Migron's settlers are not interested in moving to Adam settlement, but believe that the GOI decison to build new homes in Adam will buy them time to sink deeper roots. Kochav Yaacov settler Mordechai Rabinowitz, whose son is a Migron settler, separately confirmed to Poloff on April 21 that Migron settlers have no intention to relocate to Adam or anywhere else. WALLES