Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat held a press conference Tuesday to explain recent decisions concerning plans for the al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, in east Jerusalem. Earlier, he had intended to present the full plan,
and agreed to postpone its implementation at the direct request
of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Barkat started by referring to Netanyahu's request. "The prime minister asked me to make every effort to reach an agreement with the residents. Of course, I responded positively to his request."
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He also said that the plan would benefit all residents.
"The area's infrastructure will be upgraded. A neglected area will become a successful area. It will be a win-win situation for all," he said.
Barkat said that implementation of the plan will take residents and their sensitivities into account, but also noted that there was no alternative – it would have to be done.
When asked where the evacuated residents would find money to build new houses, Barkat answered that many philanthropic organizations and foreign governments have offered to assist them.
Earlier Tuesday, Netanyahu told Barkat that he does not intend to intervene in the management of the city's affairs, nor in the jurisdiction placed in the hands of law enforcement, building and planning officials.
The PM also noted that some people would like to provoke conflict in the city in order to "present a distorted picture of reality in Jerusalem to Israel and the world."
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