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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Jerusalem Home page  back Print  Send To friend Jerusalem municipality publishes plans to demolish hundreds of Palestinian homes By Moaz Zat`ari (Executive Manager) Al-Maqdese Society Development (MSD) January 3, 2010 http://www.al-maqdese.org/english/news/plugins/spaw/uploads/files/MSD%20%20Report%20about%20Silwan.PDF While the world was celebrating the new year eve, Palestinians in East Jerusalem received shocking news for more demolition orders issued by Jerusalem Municipality. MSD held a press conference on 31/12/2009 and revealed a map issued on 28/12/2009 by the Jerusalem Municipality. By this, the Municipality plans to demolish hundreds of Palestinian residency buildings in Silwan and other neighborhoods as Al-Bustan and Al-Thouri. And so, it seems that it won�t be a happy year for Palestinians in East Jerusalem according to the latest Israeli�s demolition plans. Accordingly, MSD published a report in order to highlight the residency buildings (contained in the map) which Jerusalem Municipality plans to demolish in Silwan in East Jerusalem. ======================================================== Al-Maqdese reveals a map issued by the Jerusalem Municipality to demolish hundreds of buildings in East Jerusalem through a press conference in its office on 31/12/2009 Al-Maqdese held an urgent press conference at its Al-Ram office, in order to disclose the serious information regarding Jerusalem Municipality plans for the future of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. MSD revealed in the conference a map issued on 28/12/2009 by the Jerusalem Municipality. By this, the Municipality plans to demolish hundreds of Palestinian residency buildings in Silwan and other neighborhoods as Al-Bustan, and Al-Thouri. Al-Maqdese had a chance and got the map through its own resources. This map highlighted 312 residency buildings in East Jerusalem that are threatened with demolition by Jerusalem Municipality. The map shows a yellow circle highlights Al-Bustan Area near Silwan southern Al- Aqsa Mosque which will be demolished. As a result, 88 residency buildings will be demolished, and so, 1000 Palestinians will consequently be displaced. Also, its shows other residency buildings threatened with demolition in Wadi Hilwa and Al-Thouri neighborhoods. The map shows a red circle highlights Silwan neighborhood, in this area there is an Israeli building called �Beit Yehonatan�. This is an illegal building; it hasn�t a building permit and consists of 7 floors which deviated from the regional outline plan, which permits only building up to 2 floors. Accordingly, many demolition orders have been issued to demolish the building but they have not carried out yet1. Instead, it received constant police protection. Recently, Jerusalem municipality issued a new outline plan in order to �Legalize� the building where this plan will give building permits up to 4 floors instead of 2 in the building area. Moreover, the map used Jewish names instead of the famous and well-known Arabic ones for areas in East Jerusalem. For instance, Silwan was named �Air David�, Wadi- Hilwa was named �Kfar Hshelwah� and Al-Bustan was named �Gad Hmealakh�. This clearly insures the Israeli Government�s racism actions and the continuation of its ethnic cleansing and collective punishment policy toward Palestinians in Jerusalem. Moreover, the demolitions will be implemented at any time as they approved the plan. 1 In January 2007, the Jerusalem Civil Court for local Affairs ordered the house to be sealed. Since then, the case moved through all the instances of the court system and they all upheld the ruling. Since July, 2008 there has been an �active order�, i.e., a court order that the municipality executes immediately. Judge G. Canfy- Steinitz of the Jerusalem District Court rejected the appeal, and the defendants were not allowed to appeal to the Supreme Court. But the demolition orders haven�t carried out yet. ==================================================== Al-Maqdese for Society Development (MSD) www.al-maqdese.org Tel : +972-2-6285918 / 6278997 (Ext 101 ) Fax: +972-2-6289284 . Email: Moaz@al-maqdese.org or moaz.zatari@gmail.com Call-phone: +972-54 7520 249 Al-Ram Branch, Tel: +972-2-2347077 Fax : +972-2-2349149 A.K. Links to the latest articles in this section United Nations Conference: `The impact of Israeli settlement policies on the Palestinian population in Jerusalem No pasarán! Confront the racist "March of the Flags" in Jerusalem! Israeli club calls off match with Barcelona over Jerusalem