Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat remains firm in his plan to move ahead towards the construction of a Gan Leumi (National Park) in the area of the eastern capital known as Gan HaMelech, tracing back to Malchus Dovid. This will of course involve the demolition of dozens of illegal Arab sector buildings constructed on the site during recent years. Officials in Jerusalem City Hall report there are at least 88 illegal homes on the area that were constructed in the past two decades. It appears the mayor remains undeterred by objections from the left-wing and others, including those who warn destroying the illegal homes will spark widespread violence. The mayor has recently released a number of statements indicating he plans to enforce the law equally in both the Jewish and Arab sectors, which would represent a change since in the past decades, City Hall has more or less ignored the widespread ongoing illegal construction in the eastern capital.
The site in question is documented by historians as being one of historic significance, one referring to events included in Sefer Melachim. Even before the state was created, during the Ottoman and British Mandate rule, the area was designated as a public area, prohibiting private construction.
The mayor is now indicating that he plans to begin moving ahead with his plans for the national park, which in the first stage will compel the demolition of 40 illegal buildings.
Attorney Ziad Kawar represents the residents, and he told reporters that he has sent a letter to the mayor indicating not a single resident of any of the homes slated for destruction plans to leave in compliance with eviction orders.
Arab MKs are already shouting as the PA (Palestinian Authority) is already threatening, keeping in line with its policy of turning to violence as a means to accomplish its goals as has been the case since the signing of the Oslo Agreement in 1993. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) last week announced that he will not tolerate Israel’s bold move, including the Machpelah and Kever Rachel on the list of national heritage locations, an announcement that has sparked violence in the Old City of Yerushalayim, on Har HaBayis and in Chevron. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah is calling on the international Muslim community to oppose the move and come to the assistance of the PA (Palestinian Authority).
Jordan’s King Abdullah has released a statement in a weekend meeting with Abu Mazen decrying Israel’s aggression and he will not permit Israel to compromise Islamic holy sites.
The mayor has signaled that he might be willing to find alternative land plots of the owners of the illegal buildings but right-wing factions in City Hall oppose such a move, explaining they view it as nothing less than a prize for illegal action. Officials in City Hall reject the implementation of a compensatory program for those persons who knowingly ignored the law.
The national government is remaining quiet for the time being but it is likely that prior to Barkat actually demolishing Arab sector homes the national voice will be heard since the actions in the eastern area of the capital will have an impact on the international political community.
America views the eastern capital, which was liberated in the June 1967 Six Day War as “occupied” by Israel, as it does other neighborhoods in Jerusalem, including Pisgat Ze’ev, N’vei Yaakov, Ramat Eshkol, Gilo and more. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the weekend released a statement criticizing Israeli plans to construct hundreds of new housing units in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood, stating such a move at his time “undermines efforts” to bring Israel and the PA back to the negotiating table. In reality, America views the eastern capital as designated to become the capital of a future Palestinian state, seeking to diminish Israeli sovereignty over those areas wherever and whenever possible.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
“The mayor has signaled that he might be willing to find alternative land plots of the owners of the illegal buildings”
WHAT!!!??? WHY WAS THIS NOT OFFERED TO THE YEHUDA & SHOMRON RESIDENTS WHEN THEIR HOMES (lacking permits) WERE SMASHED TO THE GROUND? Like good yidens, they went right back to the site and re-built the ruins without a fuss.
So basically, Barkat is telling the whole world that violence pays off – IN A VERY BIG WAY!!!!! Yes, that’s right folks – all you have to do is have a track record of being extremely violent and you’ll eventually get your way. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE!!!!!!
O – and why is hussein not interfering in this one? Is it a DOUBLE STANDARD or not? Why is it ok for the Jewish homes lacking permits to be torn down, but it’s not ok to tear down the illegal a-r-ab homes? But, this is also L’tova – just wait and see what happens.