Daily Alert Archives

Residents of Jerusalem Neighborhood Don't Understand the Commotion

(Jerusalem Post) Abe Selig - A resident of the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in northeast Jerusalem, commenting on the announcement of 1,600 new housing units, said: "[Former Jerusalem Mayor] Teddy Kollek...would be turning over in his grave right now if he knew that this was even being debated....If we can't build here, then tell me, please, where can we build?" Eli Diskin, a Ramat Shlomo resident, said that 1,600 new housing units "wouldn't even be enough" to deal with the overflowing population of the neighborhood. "Each family averages between seven and eight members, and frankly, there is nowhere left for people to live. If someone gets married, if they have more kids, where are they supposed to go? They have to leave the neighborhood." "I don't think it even needs to be explained," Diskin added. His sentiments were echoed by every other Ramat Shlomo resident on Wednesday. "If this is not an inseparable part of Jerusalem, than what is?" asked Pini Gamliel. Mendy Hechtman said American diplomats should come and see the neighborhood for themselves. "Once you get here, you can easily see that this is simply another neighborhood in Jerusalem, but the media makes it seem like this is some kind of far-removed settlement."
2010-03-11 09:24:27
Full Article