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Stop Demolishing Illegal Arab Houses in Jerusalem, Says U.S.

(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - Diplomats from the U.S. consulate met recently with Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski to express their concern over demolitions of illegal Arab houses in Jerusalem. A senior municipality official responded, "What we are doing is enforcing the law. In many cases, we have received complaints from Arab neighbors against the illegal construction." "Moreover, there is a phenomenon of land robbery in the Arab neighborhoods, where local gangs are taking control over empty lands and building on them illegally." Another top municipality official expressed outrage at the intervention of U.S. diplomats in an "internal" Israeli affair. "What would the Americans say if we told them not to enforce the law against offenders in Washington?" asked one official. "The illegal building in the Arab neighborhoods has become a major problem for the Arabs themselves, who are putting pressure on us to take action."
2003-08-19 00:00:00
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