Zionist group planning to build homes on top of demolished Palestinian homes in Jerusalem

Saturday May 16, 2009

 by Saed Bannoura – IMEMC & Agencies

Hatim Abdul-Qader, Jerusalem Affairs advisor to the Palestinian Prime Minister, stated that the Ateret Cohanim Zionist group is planning, in collaboration with the Jerusalem Municipality, to build homes for Jewish settlers on top of Palestinians homes demolished by the municipality.

The planned construction would talk place on top of Palestinian homes in Batn Al Hawa (Al Yaman Neighborhood) in Silwan town, south of the Old City of Jerusalem.

After visiting the neighborhood and meeting the locals on Friday at night, Abdul-Qader said that the plan, put forth by Ateret Cohanim, was submitted to the Local Committee for Planning and Construction at the Jerusalem Municipality.

The group is asking the municipality to grant it five Dunams and 800 meters in Batn Al Hawa so they can construct the homes for extremist settlers replacing the demolished homes of the Palestinians.

The settlers are also planning to take over dozens of Palestinian buildings that were constructed before 1948.

He added that the settlers did not present any documents “proving” they own the land, and considered this as a conspiracy between the settlers and the municipality.

Abdul-Qader also said that this plan is very serious and is considered yet another Israeli escalation and another attempt to take over more Palestinian lands and constructions in the holy city.

He stated that an appeal would be filed soon to Israeli courts, especially since the Ateret Cohanim group is illegally taking over Palestinian constructions, and added that the Palestinians have all needed documents proving ownership of the constructions and lands.

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