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Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine
UK architects, planners and other construction industry professionals campaigning for a just peace in Israel/Palestine.

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Background Information

Ma’aleh Edumim: Building of the city commenced in 1975, and today the population has reached approx. 27,000. According to municipal plans, the expected population growth is 50% within the next five years, and a large portion of this growth is expected to be in the E1 area. (See below.)

E1 (derived from “East 1”) is a term applied by the Ministry of Housing to what is currently part of the municipal plans of Ma’aleh Edumim – in the area to the north of the Jerusalem-Ma’aleh Edumim road. E1 touches the edge of the municipal boundary of Jerusalem , as well as the neighborhoods/towns of Anata, Abu Dis, Azariya and A-Zayim that lie on the eastern border of the city.

When the Ministry of Housing commenced the planning of E1, the intention was to establish a new settlement city between Ma’aleh Edumim and Jerusalem . It was only later that E1 was included in the municipal plans of the greater Ma’aleh Edumim.

Area: The entire municipal plan for Ma’aleh Edumim covers an area of 53,000 dunam (53 sq. kilometers) -- larger than Tel Aviv or Beersheba . However, the actual built-up area of Ma’aleh Edumim covers only 15% of the planned area --approx. 7,000 dunam (or 7 sq. kilometers).

E1 is planned to spread over 12,000 dunam (12 sq. kilometers). The area is located on the hills between Ma’aleh Edumim and Jerusalem , controls the main arteries of the region, and touches the municipal boundary of Jerusalem .

Traffic Arteries: E1 is situated to the north and west of the Jerusalem-Ma’aleh Edumim-Jericho road, and from the north is bordered by Road 437 (Edumim-Ramallah) that today is the main central traffic route for Palestinians traveling from Bethlehem to Ramallah.

Land Ownership: Most of the lands included in the municipal plans of Ma’aleh Edumim are today National Lands (following a problematic process which enabled this). There are still a few Palestinian-owned enclaves within the area, but these are not included in the development plans.

Population Density: On average, approx. 2,000 sq. meters per person in Ma’aleh Edumim, as opposed to approx. 100 sq. meters per person in the neighboring Palestinian towns.

The Development Plans for E1 include:

* The erection of at least 3,500 housing units (for approximately 15,000 residents) – as per government sources. This plan, including widespread construction (both multi-story apartment buildings and villas), was recently approved by the Ma’aleh Edumim municipality, although approval has not yet been given to submit the plan for public review.

* The transfer of the “Shay” (Judea & Samaria) Police Headquarters from its present location in Ras El Amud to E1 – this has also been approved by the Ma’aleh Edumim municipality, but likewise, has not yet been submitted for public review.

* An economic development zone -- a joint venture of the Ma’aleh Edumim and Jerusalem municipalities – this is the only part of the E1 plan that has already received all final authorizations required for building to commence. The approved area for building encompasses approx. 1 million sq. meters (on an area sufficient for 10,000 housing units). It is situated in the north-east of E1, which borders on the village Anata and is adjacent to the new Border Police headquarters on the Ma’aleh Edumim – Jerusalem road.

The plan also includes the following components:

* Commercial areas

* Hotels and “special housing”

* Universities and “special projects”

* Cemetery

* Waste disposal site

* A massive park – about 75% of the plan’s total area is earmarked for a park

that will surround all the above components.

The E1 development program contains no reference at all to the Palestinian population in the area, as regards hospitals, schools, cemetery etc. As indicated above, most of the area has been declared National Land . It needs to be emphasized that not one of the few Palestinian enclaves located within E1 and not yet confiscated have been included in the development plans (a fact that is against all professional standards in and for itself).

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