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The soccer field in Sur Baher

Palestinian tender for soccer field in east Jerusalem causes ire

Palestinian Authority issues tender for renovation of soccer field in Sur Baher, a neighborhood in east Jerusalem, despite not having jurisdiction there; Jerusalem municipality threatens to stop any construction work without permit.

The Palestinian Authority has issued a tender for the renovation of a soccer field in Sur Baher, a neighborhood in east Jerusalem, causing outrage in the capital.

 

 

The tender was published in the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Quds last week, calling on anyone interested in winning the contract to submit bids to the Ramallah PA offices.

 

In response to the tender, the Jerusalem municipality, which has jurisdiction over Sur Baher, warned that "if renovation works begin at the soccer field, they will be stopped by city inspectors."

 

The soccer field
The soccer field
 

 

The Palestinian Authority has no authority to issue tenders in the Jerusalem area.

 

"The PA wants to invest in renovations and in this way win over the residents," one Sur Baher resident explained. "A small part of the residents in the village who identify with the PA want their control and therefore also want the renovation, but the great majority opposes it. This tender is part of the battle for the future of the neighborhood, on who will control the residents."

 

The Jerusalem municipality has built two new schools in Sur Baher in recent years. It also invested money in renovating the community administration and in upgrading infrastructures in the village. Soon, the Israel Police will open a station there to serve the residents.

 

The tender issued by the Palestinian Authority
The tender issued by the Palestinian Authority

 

"The Palestinian Authority, which is not authorized to build in Jerusalem's territory, is trying through the tender to get a foothold inside the municipal area. We won't allow such a move," said a city official.

 

Maor Tzemach, head of the association Lach Yerushalayim, said that "the Palestinian Authority's interference in civil issues in Jerusalem must stop immediately. The fight for Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem is a daily struggle, and we will continue exposing the PA's interference in city territory."

 

The Jerusalem municipality said in response that "the Palestinian Authority has no authority to issue construction and development tenders in the city's municipal territory. If works that require permits take place at the aforementioned field without permits, it will be stopped by the municipal enforcement unit."

 

The municipality also said it has been building sports fields all over east Jerusalem and is promoting additional fields across the capital, and particularly in its eastern part, including in Sur Baher. "This motivated the Palestinian Authority to show its presence," the municipality said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.21.18, 21:36
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