You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Jerusalem 'plans to build synagogue in settlement'
2010-04-14
AFP - Jerusalem authorities plan to give the green light to build a new synagogue and school in east Jerusalem on land seized from Palestinians, Israeli army radio reported on Tuesday. The land was seized from its Palestinian owners shortly before planning for the buildings started in the 1990s, the radio said.
So many questions. To start:
  • What would a title search show? Had the land previously been seized by Jordan from Jewish owners in 1948?
  • Were the Palestinian owners reimbursed for the land at the current market price?
  • Had the Palestinian owners built unsafe or illegal structures on the land, as so often appears to be the case?
  • Were the Palestinian owners legally resident in Jerusalem
The construction project in the Gilo neighbourhood, a Jewish settlement, still needs final approval from the city's planning commission, whose head Kobi Khalon said this would be a formality.

But Khalon, who is also deputy mayor, added: "We must act with prudence and responsibility as Jerusalem is an explosive city."

Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders, Jerusalem's planning commission -- whose approval is needed for any construction project in the city -- has not met since the ill-timed announcement during Biden's visit, said city council member Meir Margalit. Its first meeting for more than a month will be on Thursday, when it is expected to approve the Gilo project, said the leftwinger.
Posted by:Steve White

00:00