News items that would not make it past the local editor’s desk in a neighborhood weekly become international news headlines when they concern Jerusalem – and this week it happened twice again.
Army Radio reported that the Jerusalem Municipality is planning to approve the construction of a synagogue and other public buildings in the Gilo neighborhood, and the item was quickly picked up by AFP, Yahoo.com, and other world media sites.
In addition, it is also being widely reported that after braving budgetary obstacles, the municipality plans to resume its policy of razing selected illegal structures.
Both of these normative city government activities are an affront to U.S. President Barack Obama, who has been publicly pressuring Israel – specifically, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu – to cease both of these activities. In fact, officials in the U.S. Administration have even suggested that Obama publicly announce American support for a new Palestinian state in, inter alia, all or most of eastern Jerusalem. Obama is reportedly “waiting for the right time” to do so.
Over the past several months, none of the hundreds of illegal Arab homes in Jerusalem have been demolished, but municipal sources say this was due to budgetary constraints. Others said it had to do with the American pressure. In any event, now that the necessary budget has apparently been allocated, the city plans to resume the policy.
'Peace Now' upset
Peace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer, who is often contacted for his response on these matters by various news media in Israel, attacked Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat as being a “strategic threat to Middle East stability.” He warned Ynet that the “Jerusalem Municipality has decided to adopt an extreme right-wing policy that may bring on another intifada and isolate Israel from the world. Barkat must retract his orders publicly, before it's too late.”
At this point, Haaretz reports, no demolitions are scheduled for Silwan (City of David), because the negotiations with the residents for a new development plan in the area are still underway. Another building set for demolition there is the Jewish-owned Beit Yehonatan.
At the same time, the city’s Planning Council is set to convene this Thursday to approve several Arab-sector housing plans – and the construction of a synagogue and other public buildings in the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo. The news was first reported on Army Radio.
Located in south-eastern Jerusalem, Gilo has been dubbed of late a “settlement” by international elements, even though it is a full-fledged part of Israel's sovereign capital city, with a population of some 40,000 people.
The plan involves two lots on land that was transferred to the Israel Lands Authority in 1993, and will now be given to the Housing Ministry. Another five plans on the Thursday agenda involve housing expansion in Arab neighborhoods, but these have not received the same press attention as the Gilo initiative.
