Ma’aleh Edumim is not E1
E1 is not an inseparable part of today’s city of Ma’aleh Edumim . It stands to reason that the inclusion of E1 in the municipal plans of Ma’aleh Edumim is intended to cloud the true significance of this construction.
Formally, the construction in this area is explained as a security requirement to defend Jerusalem , as part of the concept of the Separation Fence that Israel has been building for the last two years.
In January 2005, a Government decision determined that north of Abu Dis, the fence will depart from the Jerusalem municipal boundary, will extend eastwards, and will completely surround greater Ma’aleh Edumim – far beyond the already massive area included in the city’s master plan. The route of the fence will exceed the municipal boundary of Jerusalem considerably, with the obvious purpose of physically connecting Jerusalem with Ma’aleh Edumim, and enabling implementation of the E1 plans.
An important detail that is often misrepresented is the nature of the objections of the American government and other international players against Israel ’s policies regarding the area in question. These objections are not directed towards the city of Ma’aleh Edumim as it is built today, but only against the proposed demarcated area of E1. This distinction is paramount, as the Americans, and even the Palestinians, are willing to accept an Israeli presence in Ma’aleh Edumim; but not in E1.
It seems that this insistence to build up E1 is intended to pre-determine the future borders in the Jerusalem region, in a unilateral manner that will impact any future permanent settlement – by creating an irreversible reality (as opposed to a fence, which can be dismantled or moved from place to place). Thus it is not by chance that promotion of the E1 plans are coming to fruition at this particular time – a time when a tiny window of opportunity is opening towards the renewal of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Alternatives and Differing Approaches to E1 and Ma’aleh Edumim
From the beginning of the official negotiations regarding a permanent settlement, the Israelis and Palestinians reached an understanding that Israel would retain three settlement blocs – Ma’aleh Edumim, Gush Etzion and Ariel.
The E1 area was included within the municipal boundary of Ma’aleh Edumim at the time of the Rabin government in 1994. However, Rabin avoided execution of the plans in the area, and it is believed that there was an understanding between Rabin and the Clinton Administration that the future of this area would be determined in the course of negotiations between the sides.
A few years later, Prime Minister Netanyahu commenced official procedures to authorize in principle allocation of the lands in question under the Ma’aleh Edumim master plan. Netanyahu even initiated an “umbrella municipality” for Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Edumim – a move that met with American objections and resulted in a stalemate for the plans of the area.
Prime Minister Barak also expressed his support in principle for the development of E1, but at the same time agreed to include this topic in the framework of negotiations with the Palestinians. And indeed, during the Taba talks in January 2001, Israel presented a map of Ma’aleh Edumim that included the E1 area. Israel argued the need to retain all of this area for security requirements (also from the direction of the Jordan Valley ). But as soon as the map was presented, it became evident to the Palestinians that the area in question was much broader than the currently built-up area of Ma’aleh Edumim. From that moment the Palestinian rescinded their agreement to recognize Israeli’s continued hold of the city, and declared their desire to dismantle the entire bloc.
Double messages of this nature continued to accompany discussions on this topic even during PM Sharon’s first government. In 2002, Binyamin Ben Eliezer, then Minister of Defense, signed the master plan for the area, thereby awarding it official status. But at the same time, Ben Eliezer gave a commitment to the American government that the plan would not be executed.
Actual construction in the E1 area finally commenced only last year (2004). The work was executed by the Ministry of Housing under Minister Efi Eitam. As at that time, the statutory Urban Plan for the area in question had not yet been approved, the work was formally illegal, and was stopped (due to international pressure) just a short time after it was begun. The work included preparation of the main access roads to the area, as well as preparing the ground for the transfer of the “Shay” Police headquarters from its present location in Ras El Amud.
At the beginning of 2005, the Ma’aleh Edumim municipality approved two detailed urban plans for the development of the area, as mentioned above: one for approximately 3,500 housing units (apartment buildings and villas), and the second for the transfer of the Police headquarters. This initial approval is the first stage towards securing final authorization of the plans, which can only happen after they have been submitted for public review, and objections registered – a process that could take but a few months.