Rights group demands end to east J'lem home demolitions
In plea to Mayor Barkat, Association for Civil Rights in Israel says municipality 'apparently trying to make life difficult for the residents of east Jerusalem in the hope that they'll eventually leave for the West Bank'
WASHINGTON - The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) on Monday turned once again to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and demanded that the demolition of homes in the eastern part of the capital cease immediately.
The group tied the demolitions to Thursday's terror attack in Jerusalem, during which a tractor driven by a resident of the Beit Hanina neighborhood plowed into a police squad car on Menachem Begin Boulevard. The driver was apparently also trying to hit a nearby bus, but missed.
Two police officers were in the car when it was hit and both sustained mild injuries. Other police officers patrolling nearby shot the terrorist, who later died of his wounds.
In its appeal, ACRI claimed that several years ago the army determined that the home demolitions were ineffective in deterring would-be terrorists and may even encourage terror activity.
In a similar petition filed Thursday, ACRI Attorney Nasrat Dakwar contended that since Barkat's election there has been significant rise in home demolitions in east Jerusalem, adding that residents are given only 72 hours notice before their houses are demolished.
ACRI spokeswoman Nirit Moskovitz told Ynet that "as it is the residents of east Jerusalem live under terrible conditions, and the demolitions only add to their despair. About 60% of this population lives below the poverty line.
"We have seen a clear trend for the past 40 years, whereby (the State) is apparently trying to make life difficult for the residents of east Jerusalem in the hope that they'll eventually leave for the West Bank," she said. "The current situation does not allow for any legal construction in east Jerusalem."
'Policy being determined by civil servants'
According to Moskovitz, "For many years Jerusalem was characterized by a lack of law enforcement, sometimes to the point of institutionalized criminality. The phenomenon of construction violations exists in all parts of the city, east and west."
The Jerusalem Municipality responded by stating, "Since the elections, the municipality and its leader have been acting with the aim of actualizing the rights of residents from the eastern and western parts of the city, with maximum energy and transparency. Barkat's attitude towards respect for the law and its enforcement is a matter of principle and has no bearing on the issue of nationality."
The planning and construction laws have become a mockery in many areas and this harms the rights of other residents in public zones, ethical principles, and nature. Since January 11 demolition orders have been carried out throughout the western city, and 17 in its eastern parts," it said.
Eighty-eight demolition orders were issued for homes in east Jerusalem on the eve of Hillary Clinton's recent visit to Israel. During her meeting with Barkat, the US secretary of state raised the issue and heard from the mayor that the orders would not be implemented. However, while in Ramallah, Clinton received word that the demolition plans would in fact be carried out. A surprised Clinto called the move unproductive.
The Foreign Ministry attributed the incident to Barkat's lack of experience as mayor.
The Wall Street Journal dubbed the affair the first crisis between Israel and the Obama administration, and claimed it was proof that Israel's policy was being determined by civil servants.
