JERUSALEM MUNICIPALITY ISSUES TWO MORE DEMOLITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000971

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM ASEC IS KWBG KPAL
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM MUNICIPALITY ISSUES TWO MORE DEMOLITION
ORDERS AND TEN WARNING NOTICES IN SILWAN

REF: A. JERUSALEM 783

B. JERUSALEM 736

C. JERUSALEM 464

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Jerusalem municipal officials, accompanied
by police, served two demolition orders and ten warning
notices in the al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan to
Palestinian homeowners on June 10. Local residents and
Palestinian officials expressed concern that as many as 88
homes in al-Bustan will be demolished imminently and urged
USG intervention. The Palestinian Authority (PA) called the
warning notices "the last step before the homes are
demolished," and vowed to fight the demolitions through
protests and legal action. The Jerusalem municipality called
such actions routine. End summary.

Two Demolition Orders and Ten Warning Notices Served
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Palestinian lawyer Ziad Kawar, who represents many
Silwan residents, told Poloff on June 10 that municipal
officials escorted by Israeli police served two Palestinian
homeowners with demolition orders and ten with warning
notices. Kawar said Silwan residents were extremely upset
about the municipality's actions, and he urged USG political
intervention to prevent the municipality from making Silwan
"a tourist park." Palestinian lawyer Hussein Ghanayem, who
is pursuing legal action in Silwan on behalf of the
residents, expressed concern that the warning notices present
an "imminent danger" that the residences will be demolished.
Ghanayem said he and the rest of the legal team are exploring
all remaining options for legal intervention.


3. (C) PA Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Hatem Abdul Qader
told PolSpec on June 10 that the PA will fight the demolition
orders in Silwan "in all possible ways, including protests
and any remaining legal means." Abdul Qader called the
warning notices "the last step before the homes are
demolished," saying that the same residents had previously
received administrative demolition orders. Abdul Qader said
that Israeli police and municipality officials pulled out of
Silwan when approached by angry Silwan residents, which may
have prevented municipality officials from completing their
distribution of demolition orders and warning notices to more
homes in the al-Bustan neighborhood.

Municipality Downplays Actions
--------------


4. (C) Elad Halevy, Jerusalem Mayor Barkat's Deputy
Political Advisor for International Affairs, told Poloff, who
called to express concern, that "issuing court orders to
Jerusalem residents who violated the law is done on a daily
basis." Halevy said the municipality "tries to let the USG
know the day of or the day after actual construction
demolitions," but not in other cases. He said that the
municipality is "trying to do good" for East Jerusalem
residents, and said warning notices "encourage residents to
apply for permits."


5. (C) Jerusalem City Council member and Coordinator for
ICAHD Meir Margalit called the June 10 demolition orders and
warning notices in Silwan an example of "the municipality's
recent provocations" in East Jerusalem. He opined that the
GOI "wants to fight the USG on the status of Jerusalem,"
which has created a "very dangerous situation" that could
result in violence.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Silwan, close to the Old City, is perhaps the most
sensitive area in East Jerusalem to be threatened by home
demolitions. Mayor Barkat, in his conversation with
Secretary Clinton during her March visit, sought to downplay
the prospect of demolitions in Silwan as media hype. The
latest actions by the municipality suggest that demolitions
in the area are drawing closer. Post has expressed concern
to the municipality and recommends that the issue be raised
with the GOI as well.

WALLES