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Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3911541,00.html
Jerusalem Construction Sparks Controversy
(Ynet News) Ronen Medzini - Construction at the site of the Shepherd Hotel in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah began Sunday. The Jerusalem Municipality explained: "Just like any other municipality in Israel, the Jerusalem Municipality issues building permits in the entire city based on their compliance with professional criteria only, and without checking religion, race, or sex, which is against the law. If a private entrepreneur files a construction plan that complies with the professional criteria required, the municipality is obligated to approve it regardless of his religion." The municipality said the plan had been approved in 2009, and the permit issued in March. "The municipality approves the plans of dozens of entrepreneurs, Jewish and Arab, each week, to build on the private lands they have purchased. Any attempt at presenting this as a provocation comes from ignorance of construction and legal procedures."