Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sunday slammed the city's legal advisor, Yossi Habilio, for complaining to the Knesset Constitutional Committee that the city had acted improperly in refusing to enforce demolition orders against Beit Yonatan, built in the City of David neighborhood in 2004, according to Habilio, without permits. Last month, the Jerusalem city council decided to retroactively give permits to a large number of illegally built structures in the neighborhood – including structures built by Arabs – but Habilio has been insistent that Beit Yonatan be demolished.
At a committee discussion Sunday morning, Barkat attacked Habilio for his selective enforcement of the law against Jewish buildings, while allowing Arab buildings to remain in place. Habilio "is either a liar, or he does not know what he is talking about," Barkat said. "Habilio represents only himself. The municipality observes, and is committed to, the law," he added.