Israeli Scheme to Tip Demographical Scale Threatens 60 Houses

(had to shorten the headline)

Israeli Scheme to Tip Demographical Scale Threatens 60 Houses in East Jerusalem of Destruction

http://www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_e/ipc_e-1/e_News/news2003/2003-08/069.html

Palestinians residing in the neighborhood of Jabal Al Mokabber in east Jerusalem are afraid that the Israeli authorities would tear down their homes any moment, under false pretexts of not having building permissions.

Mr. Hatem Abdel Qader, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), during a tour of the neighborhood with several Arab and foreign Ambassadors, said that nearly 60 houses, all owned by Palestinians, are threatened with destruction, and might be handed eviction orders anytime, for the sake of building a new bypass for the illegitimate settlements of "Abu Ghneim" and "Ma'ale Adomim".

"The Ambassadors' visit to the neighborhood was a success, as they were able to bear witness to the Israeli occupation's oppressive measures, which have been always detached from the peace atmosphere. The Israeli authorities are trying to create a new reality in the holy city of Jerusalem before any negotiations could commence, so as to tip the scale of demographic distribution in the city in their favor. Their scheme is to build as many settlement outposts in Jerusalem as they can, tearing down hundreds of Palestinian homes in the process," Mr. Abdel Qader told IPC correspondent in a phone call.