LIFTA scores another victory

Source

  Local Palestinians attend prayers by Lifta Mosque

February 6, 2012 ( one day ago)

Dear Friends and Supporters

We have received the latest news from our friend Yacoub Odeh, the tireless fighter to save his village (our village), that Lifta has won another stage in its struggle to stay alive.

The Israeli Municipal Court ordered yesterday the cancellation of the Tenders issued by Israel Land Administration (ILA) to sell parcels of Lifta land to private developers. The project, known as Master Plan 6036, calls for the demolition of Lifta and the rebuilding, on 450 Dunums of its land, 220 luxury apartments, a large commercial centre, a large hotel, and a museum, amongst other facilities, thus gutting the heart out of Lifta's core.

Contrary to the Municipal Court's decision, the Israel Land Administration had not complied with the Court's order issued during its last sitting on 26 December 2011 to provide a complete survey of Lifta and its land and to report back to the Court. This gave strength to the initiative by Al-Riwaq Foundation in Ramallah to conduct a complete survey of Lifta and its land on behalf of its owners, supporters and all those involved in the 'Save Lifta' Campaign. This will now proceed.

It is likely that the ILA may appeal the Court's decision all the way to the Israeli High Court, at which juncture, a decision by the High Court could easily be influenced by the 'politics' surrounding the case.

It has been reported to us that the local groups behind the campaign to 'Save Lifta', had a meeting with the Palestinian delegation to UNESCO (Palestine was admitted as a full member late last year) during which a verbal request was put to the delegation to adopt a resolution to have Lifta listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We remain steadfast in the struggle to "Save Lifta"

Antoine Raffoul  Coordinator

+44(0)7768 862657

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"Palestine is the heart of Arab countries" - Hiyam Noir

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian  
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