US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV5452

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 005452 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KWBG, IS, SETTLEMENTS 
SUBJECT: SPIEGEL:  TALK OF EXPANDING ARIEL AND MA'ALE 
ADUMIM ALL POLITICS 
 
Classified By: Economic Counselor William Weinstein for reasons 1.4 (b) 
 and (d) 
 
This cable has been cleared by Consulate General Jerusalem 
 
1.  (C) Israeli and Palestinian media reported today, 
September 6, that Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz approved the 
construction of 3,000 housing units in Ariel.  Israeli 
officials were quoted as saying that the 3,000 units would be 
built over the next ten years, and that the population of 
Ariel would grow from 18,000 to 30,000.  Sources from the 
Prime Minister's Office, however, denied the reports and said 
that the Defense Minister only approved 117 units.  The units 
were allegedly planned more than ten years ago when Prime 
Minister Ariel Sharon was the Minister of Construction and 
Housing, but construction was frozen when Yitzhak Rabin was 
elected Prime Minister.  Yediot Aharanoth also reported that 
tenders for an additional 132 units will be issued later this 
year.  Meanwhile, Education Minister Limor Livnat (Likud) 
told the press that Israel should ignore U.S. pressure and 
build houses in the E-1 neighborhood of Ma'ale Adumim. 
 
2.  (C) Brigadier General (res.) Baruch Spiegel told econoff 
that these press reports are simply statements by politicians 
running for office in the upcoming Likud elections.  He said 
that the U.S. should expect many more of these statements in 
the future, but that for planning and technical purposes, 
"there are no changes."  PLO Chief of Negotiations Affairs 
Department Sa'eb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio station 
that the proposed construction in Ariel is the "Israeli price 
for the Gaza disengagement." 
 
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