[ 17/02/2010 - 04:07 PM ]
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) controlled municipality of Jerusalem is planning to confiscate Arab land in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood to build a parking lot.
Local sources quoted an official in the municipality as saying that the project is part of an expanded scheme to Judaize the entire Arab neighborhood that includes construction of a hotel along with the parking lot for Jews visiting a religious site.
The Israeli army radio quoted a municipality member as saying that the project aims at encouraging tourism, noting that it was endorsed after the planners realized a big shortage in car parking lots in the area. He claimed that the Arab landowner would be compensated according to the law.
The Palestinian landowner, however, insisted that he would not give up his right to his land and that he would engage in a legal battle to defend his right.
Another municipality member Meir Margalit, for Meretz movement, said that the scheme is another step towards "Israelization" of the neighborhood.
He said that the area is crowded one day in the year, which does not justify the confiscation of land and establishing a parking lot. "It is clearly just a pretext," he added.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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