Cablegate: Snapshot: Nablus Area Economy Limited By

VZCZCXRO3277
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1458 1970654
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160654Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8362
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001458

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV PREL KPAL KWBG IS JO
SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT: NABLUS AREA ECONOMY LIMITED BY
POORLY-RUN CHECKPOINTS

1. (SBU) ConGenOffs traveled on July 12 and 13 throughout
the areas surrounding the West Bank cities of Tubas, Nablus,
Salfit, and Qalqiliya for a snap-shot view of the movement
and access issues facing Palestinians. Several truck loads
of freshly-picked Jordan Valley vegetables waited in a
four-to-six hour long line to pass through al-Badhan
checkpoint, which is located between the agriculturally-rich
governorate of Tubas and the city of Nablus. Nearby
residents said that this wait occurs every day. An area
store owner said that traffic was normal July 12, as was the
wait at the nearby checkpoint. Due to the checkpoints, a
trip by truck from Tubas to Ramallah takes around six to
seven hours, while the trip to Amman takes roughly 12 hours -
four times more than the same trips eight years ago,
according to several residents.

2. (SBU) ConGenOffs observed July 13 that a number of
Palestinian villages north of Ramallah and south of Nablus
remained closed off from major access roads. Berms, boulders
and gates placed by the IDF prevented Palestinians in these
areas from reaching main roads or moving between nearby
villages.

Lack Of Consistent
Handling At Checkpoints
-----------------------

3. (SBU) Many Israeli soldiers at the checkpoints did not
use hand-signals or give clear instruction to vehicles
waiting for passage. ConGenOffs observed that the soldiers'
practices were often inconsistent and confusing. ConGenOffs
observed IDF soldiers requesting Palestinian men to exit
their cars and taxis for questioning. These men were left
standing in lines on the side of the road. During passage
through the Nablus-area Huwwara checkpoint, as the Israeli
soldiers questioned the U.S. staff regarding their travels in
the area, one of the soldiers shouldered his rifle and
pointed it at the vehicle's rear door window, asking the U.S.
staff whether it was really bulletproof.

Barrier Construction Moves
Forward Near Ariel Settlement
-----------------------------

4. (SBU) Israeli separation barrier construction surrounding
the Ariel and Emmanual settlements continues. In what
resembles the construction of a four-lane highway, land has
been cleared and finely graded in preparation for the actual
separation barrier's construction.
WALLES

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