Published:
1 Jan 2011
The planning policy in East Jerusalem since its annexation in 1967 is affected by political considerations and infected by systematic discrimination against the Palestinians living there. While extensive building and enormous budget allocations have been the rule in Jewish neighborhoods, the Israeli government has choked development and building for the Palestinian population.
In June 1967, Israel annexed 70,500 dunams [4 dunams = 1 acre] of East Jerusalem and the West Bank and incorporated them within Jerusalem's borders. From this annexed territory, Israel has expropriated about one-third of the annexed territory - 24,000 dunams - most of it privately-owned Arab property. Israel used this expropriated land for residential construction. By the end of 2001, 46,978 housing units had been built for Jews on this land, but not one unit for Palestinians who constitute one-third of the city's population.
At the same time, Israel choked construction in Palestinian neighborhoods and restricted new construction. Immediately upon annexation of East Jerusalem, and contrary to its actions in the rest of the West Bank, the Jordanian outline plans were nullified, thus creating a planning void that took a long time to fill. In the first decade following annexation, construction was only allowed ad hoc in a few areas in East Jerusalem.
in full:
http://www.btselem.org/jerusalem/discriminating_policy
More on East Jerusalem
Background
Legal status
National Parks
Separation Barrier in Jerusalem
Settler enclaves
Family unification and child registration
Revocation of residency
Revocation of social rights
Planning, building and expropriation of land
Neglect of infrastructure and services
Data on revocation of residency
Data on demolition of houses built without permits
Data on land expropriation
Data on building starts
http://www.btselem.org/jerusalem/discriminating_policy
Israeli harassment curtails access to education for Hebron girls
The first part in a series about the lives of Palestinian women affected by the Jewish settlements of Hebron's Old City.
Having grown up in Hebron's Old City, Aisha was used to dealing with Israeli soldiers and their questions on a daily basis.
When she was a little girl the checkpoints began multiplying as the Jewish settlements expanded throughout the city, and by the time she reached middle school she had to pass through a checkpoint to go anywhere more than a few meters up the road.
The staring, the yelling, and the pushing were a daily occurrence, and she says that more than a few times young Jewish settlers who had taken over homes in the area smacked her as she passed while soldiers watched impassively. For a girl growing up in Hebron's Old City, these little humiliations were -- and are -- the stuff of life.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=739872
Settler violence: Lack of accountability
As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfill this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands. The undeclared policy of the Israeli authorities in response to these attacks is lenient and conciliatory.
Perpetrators are rarely tried, and many cases are not investigated at all or are closed with no operative conclusions.
Background on violence by settlers
http://www.btselem.org/topic/settler_violence
= new reply since forum marked as read
