Mevaseret Adumim (E-1)Mevaseret Adumim (E-1)A Road to NowhereA Road to Nowhere

Shaul Arieli, December 2008Shaul Arieli, December 2008

The Mevaseret Adumim (E-1) The Mevaseret Adumim (E-1) NeighborhoodNeighborhood

Mevaseret Adumim (E-1) is located on a 12.1 sq. km. area (4.7 sq. miles., or Mevaseret Adumim (E-1) is located on a 12.1 sq. km. area (4.7 sq. miles., or just short of 3,000 acres) located north of Road 1 that connects Jerusalem, via just short of 3,000 acres) located north of Road 1 that connects Jerusalem, via Ma’ale Adumim, to Road 90 in the Jordan Valley. In 1994 the area was added Ma’ale Adumim, to Road 90 in the Jordan Valley. In 1994 the area was added to the Ma’ale Adumim’s municipality and was designated by local and national to the Ma’ale Adumim’s municipality and was designated by local and national

authorities for urban construction: a neighborhood of 4,000 residential unitsauthorities for urban construction: a neighborhood of 4,000 residential units..The construction’s goal can be seen in a Ma’ale Adumim municipality The construction’s goal can be seen in a Ma’ale Adumim municipality

publication, where the city claims that its “construction of Mevaseret Adumim / publication, where the city claims that its “construction of Mevaseret Adumim / E-1 would bring about a continuous built-up area between our city and the E-1 would bring about a continuous built-up area between our city and the

Capital Jerusalem, and is the Zionist answer that would prevent the choking off Capital Jerusalem, and is the Zionist answer that would prevent the choking off of Jerusalem and the disconnection of Ma’ale Adumim and the Adumim block of Jerusalem and the disconnection of Ma’ale Adumim and the Adumim block

from the Capital of Israel.” (Israel’s ‘unification’ of Jerusalem – including its from the Capital of Israel.” (Israel’s ‘unification’ of Jerusalem – including its annexation of East Jerusalem on its 250,000 Palestinian residents – is not annexation of East Jerusalem on its 250,000 Palestinian residents – is not

recognized by the international community)recognized by the international community)..The United States, the Palestinians, the international community, and many in The United States, the Palestinians, the international community, and many in

Israel oppose the construction of the neighborhood because of its potential Israel oppose the construction of the neighborhood because of its potential implications on the borders issue in the context of an Israeli-Palestinians final implications on the borders issue in the context of an Israeli-Palestinians final

status agreement, as well as undermining U.S.-Israeli understandings status agreement, as well as undermining U.S.-Israeli understandings regarding Israeli construction in the West Bankregarding Israeli construction in the West Bank..

Recent DevelopmentsRecent Developments

The construction masterplan was approved by Israel’s The construction masterplan was approved by Israel’s High Planning Council on May 26, 1999High Planning Council on May 26, 1999..

To publish the plans for construction bids, two additional To publish the plans for construction bids, two additional stages would need to be approved by the Minister of stages would need to be approved by the Minister of Defense (who will act in coordination with the Prime Defense (who will act in coordination with the Prime

Minister): the deposit of each of the masterplan's Minister): the deposit of each of the masterplan's detailed parts for public review, and the activation of the detailed parts for public review, and the activation of the

detailed plansdetailed plans..The approvals are being withheld (for the reasons The approvals are being withheld (for the reasons

detailed above) but the government is constructing an detailed above) but the government is constructing an exhaustive infrastructure scheme, totaling hundreds of exhaustive infrastructure scheme, totaling hundreds of millions of Shekels, under the umbrella of one detailed millions of Shekels, under the umbrella of one detailed plan: 420/4/9 (the Judea and Samaria Police building, plan: 420/4/9 (the Judea and Samaria Police building,

roads, and scenery)roads, and scenery)..

On the GroundOn the Ground

The exhaustive infrastructure system includes, as The exhaustive infrastructure system includes, as detailed in the following pages: roads, interchanges, detailed in the following pages: roads, interchanges,

circles (crossroads) and overlooks – all leading to circles (crossroads) and overlooks – all leading to nowhere. Despite the hundreds of millions of Shekels nowhere. Despite the hundreds of millions of Shekels worth of construction, not a single residential unit has worth of construction, not a single residential unit has

been built (or approved); the one building standing is the been built (or approved); the one building standing is the Judea and Samaria Police Headquarters, overlooking Judea and Samaria Police Headquarters, overlooking

the surrounding desertthe surrounding desert..Extraordinary sums of money were invested in Extraordinary sums of money were invested in

infrastructure which will be left unused, all while crowded infrastructure which will be left unused, all while crowded places in Israel are deprived of improvements in roads places in Israel are deprived of improvements in roads

infrastructure that could enhance accessibility to infrastructure that could enhance accessibility to services, develop economic centers, and reduce services, develop economic centers, and reduce

casualties of accidentscasualties of accidents..

1. Arriving at the area – from the west (Jerusalem)Driving east from Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea on Road 1, one could see the road sign detailing two parts to Ma’ale Adumim: South and North (while in reality only a southern neighborhood exists)

A sign pointing at the existing southern

neighborhood.

A sign pointing at the northern neighborhood,

which does not exist.Ma’ale Adumim

Road 1 (between Jerusalem and Road 90

in the Jordan Valley)

2. Arriving at the area – from the east (Jericho)Driving west from the Dead Sea area toward Jerusalem on Road 1, one could see the road sign pointing: “Mevaseret Adumim – Here”.

A sign pointing to Mevaseret Adumim, which does not exist.Ma’ale Adumim

Road 1 (between Jerusalem and Road 90

in the Jordan Valley)

3. Entrance to the SiteThe designed crossroad – a circle, usually used to handle continuous through traffic – awaits cars. Nonetheless, the connection to Ma’ale Adumim from the south is blocked.

Blocked-off entrance from the south.

Ma’ale Adumim

4. Massive Infrastructure to NowhereA massive interchange overlooks Road 1. The bridge is unused.

A massive, unused, bridge between Ma’ale Adumim and Mevaseret

Adumim

A sign pointing at the northern neighborhood,

which does not exist.

Ma’ale Adumim

Road 1 (between Jerusalem and Road 90

in the Jordan Valley)

5. Massive Infrastructure to NowhereThe bridge and the two-lane road leading to it from Ma’ale Adumim

A massive, unused, bridge between Ma’ale Adumim and Mevaseret

Adumim

Two-lane road from Ma’ale Adumim

Ma’ale Adumim

Road 1 (between Jerusalem and Road 90

in the Jordan Valley)

Welcome to Mevaseret Adumim

6. Road to Nowhere

Urban Area (50 Km/Hr. max) sign…

7. Road to NowhereThree-lane highway

Three lanes, each side…

Road to Nowhere (opposite view)

Three lanes, each side…

Ma’ale Adumim

8. Higher Up the RoadThe number of lanes shrinks here, but note the additional infrastructure.

Terraces

Decorative fence

Light poles

9. Second Traffic CircleTraffic circles such as this one are usually built to manage continuous thru traffic. Note the massive digging into the mountain.

10. ViewpointConstructed viewpoint overlooking Ma’ale Adumim

Ma’ale Adumim

Viewpoint

Marked parking spots

11. Third Traffic Circle

12. Fourth Traffic Circle

Terraces

Sign pointing to the police station

13. Police StationThe Judea and Samaria police station, relocated to E-1 from the Ras al-Amud neighborhood in East Jerusalem, is overlooking the Judean desert and, when the Israeli barrier is completed, will be disconnected from the constituency it is supposed to serve.

The Strategic Road PlanThe Strategic Road Plan

Israel envisions a road plan for the area that includesIsrael envisions a road plan for the area that includes::Constructing a road connecting Ramallah and Bethlehem that Constructing a road connecting Ramallah and Bethlehem that

bypasses East Jerusalem (NIS 120 million-worth of which has bypasses East Jerusalem (NIS 120 million-worth of which has been constructed before works were halted, while the other half, been constructed before works were halted, while the other half,

known as trans-Ezzariyeh, is pending an Israeli High Court of known as trans-Ezzariyeh, is pending an Israeli High Court of Justice ruling)Justice ruling)..

Constructing the southern “Ma’ale Adumim Bypass” for Constructing the southern “Ma’ale Adumim Bypass” for Palestinians, who would subsequently be prevented from using Palestinians, who would subsequently be prevented from using

Road 1. (The IDF’s Central Command chief approved the Road 1. (The IDF’s Central Command chief approved the expropriations orders for the road about a year ago.)expropriations orders for the road about a year ago.)

Construction of Mevaseret Adumim (E-1)Construction of Mevaseret Adumim (E-1)..The completion of Israel’s barrier in a political, rather than The completion of Israel’s barrier in a political, rather than

security, trajectory. (The southern part of route is pending an security, trajectory. (The southern part of route is pending an Israeli High Court of Justice ruling.)Israeli High Court of Justice ruling.)

Mevaseret Adumim / E-1

Divided Road (construction halted after NIS 120 million)

Trans-Ezzariya road (planned, pending court decision)

Ma’ale Adumim Bypass(planned, expropriations

ordered handed)

Road 1 – to be designated for Israeli-only use once Palestinian roads are

completed.

Israeli barrier (planned)

Strategic ImplicationsStrategic Implications

The strategic consequences are alarmingThe strategic consequences are alarming::Israel continues to invest in the plan as if no final status negotiations Israel continues to invest in the plan as if no final status negotiations

are taking place or as if it does not treat the negotiations with the are taking place or as if it does not treat the negotiations with the seriousness needed to conclude an agreement. It continues to align seriousness needed to conclude an agreement. It continues to align position itself in the West Bank, including entrenching the settlement position itself in the West Bank, including entrenching the settlement

enterprise, under an apparent work assumption that the conflict would enterprise, under an apparent work assumption that the conflict would continuecontinue..

This alignment is being carried out in patterns that would undermine This alignment is being carried out in patterns that would undermine the ability to reach a final status agreement rather than in a way that the ability to reach a final status agreement rather than in a way that maintains the livelihood of Israelis until political decisions are mademaintains the livelihood of Israelis until political decisions are made..

On the one hand – Israel is negotiating over final status, learning the On the one hand – Israel is negotiating over final status, learning the limited window for agreement on the core issues. On the other hand – limited window for agreement on the core issues. On the other hand –

it is investing heavily in creating reality that eliminates the ability to it is investing heavily in creating reality that eliminates the ability to reach such an agreement. Either the government is knowingly wasting reach such an agreement. Either the government is knowingly wasting

the taxpayer’s money, or is purposefully undermining the ability to the taxpayer’s money, or is purposefully undermining the ability to conclude a final status agreementconclude a final status agreement..