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UN to Israel: Stop Demolition of E. Jerusalem Homes
City planning crisis means thousands of illegally built Palestinian houses
By Gabriel Winant
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Posted May 1, 09 11:30 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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In East Jerusalem, overcrowding and strict rules about where Palestinians can build houses have led to the illegal construction of thousands of homes. Nearly a third of all Palestinian homes in the sector, occupied by some 60,000 people, were built without permits. In response, the city government has issued orders to tear down about 1,500 homes, a move the United Nations is asking Israel to stop, reports the BBC.
Jerusalem’s mayor insists that the law is enforced equally and says the city’s planning crisis “affects Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.” The city will roll out a master plan soon, but in the meantime, already-ordered demolitions threaten to leave 9,000 people homeless, half of them children, according to the UN.