United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon called Jerusalem City Hall’s King’s Garden plan illegal. He is referring to the plan that entails razing 22 illegal Arab sector homes in the eastern capital towards clearing away the area for a major park project. As was reported earlier, the homes were constructed illegally on state-owned land.

The UN’s highest-ranking official called the plan “unhelpful and illegal”, expressing “deep concern” over such a move, which he stressed would be a violation of international law.

Immediately after the Jerusalem Planning Committee announced its approval for the plan, the US Department of State issued its message of disapproval, which was met shortly thereafter with a message from the Prime Minister’s Office, indicating that the plan is a long way from being implemented so there is no cause for concern.

In a related matter, the Prime Minister’s Office continues to instruct Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich to prevent the demolition of illegal Arab homes in the capital as well as preventing the eviction of Arab squatters from the old Yemenite shul located near Beit Yehonatan in the Shiloach area of the capital.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)