DOCSLIB.ORG

Affordable Housing for Palestinians in Beit Hanina, East Jerusalem

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Affordable Housing for Palestinians in Beit Hanina, East Jerusalem AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PALESTINIANS IN BEIT HANINA, EAST JERUSALEM MAIN ISSUE ALLOCATED IRREGULAR BUDGET (2009) East Jerusalem, 7% primarly Palestinians Average unit size is 100 m2 125,000 71,300 38,500 Area (du) of Je- Area (du) of East Area of Palestinian rusalem Jerusalem Neighbourhoods 80.0 70.0 60.0 372,000 50.0 Total Arab 40.0 30.0 Population (2013) 20.0 10.0 0.0 1967 1970 1972 1980 1990 2000 2003 2007 2011 2013 Palestinains (%) Israelis (%) West Jerusalem, 93% primarly Jewish Ref: Bimkom, 2014 Population distribution between Palestininans and Israeli in Jerusalem (1967-2013) Source: JIIS, 2013: 9, ACRI. 2013; ARIJ, 2010:100 MASSIVE NEED FOR HOUSING “In Jerusalem ,there are 360,000 Palestinians living in 54,000 Housing Units, while 520,000 Israelis are living in 215,000 Housing Units. Khader Qirresh UJHA – Union of Jerusalem Housing Assembly 1 : 6.4 vs 1 : 2.4 Housing Palestinians Housing Israelis unit per unit per “The average price in 2011 was US$290,000, while the median gross household income was just $1,722. By international standards this price is unaffordable in comparison to average salaries.” (IPCC East Jerusalem Housing Review, 2013) PROJECT CONCEPT To develop a model of low-cost housing, on land owned by a non-profit association, mandated to Taxes Taxes improve housing and services for Palestinians in 15% 15% East Jerusalem. Developer Developer Profit Profit Core Concept: 15% We aim to reduce the cost of housing by reducing developer profit and upfront land costs. The project An example for non-profit housing of assocation. is built on land owned by a non-profit, and zoned Ariel photo for Engineers Housing in Beit Hanina for housing. The model reduces the cost of housing through non-profit development and long-term land Licensing & Licensing & rental. Construction Construction Land cost The model is replicable, with variations, on Family NPHA Waqf, Religious Waqf and non-profit land. Elements may be adaptable on larger tracts of privately-owned Developer CLT land, with purchase groups. cost 55% 55% Developing a hybrid approach of housing tenure Proposed hybrid model Land Land based on: 15% Existing local practice + International model Non-profit Housing of Associations in EJ + REGULAR PROJECT PROPOSED PROJECT Community Land Trust COST ELEMNETS COST ELEMENTS SITE ANALYSIS Atarot Airport Al-Ram Atarot Industrial Zone Site location FUTURE LIGHT TRAIN Bir Nabala - Al-Jeeb LINE (BROWN LINE) Begin Road Ramallah- Old City Jerusalem Road Separation Wall dunum37 Area C Nave Yacoub - According to today’s TABA 3458A, the area is determined for Original residential land use and allowed Neighborhood Beit Hanina SITE building rights are 75% and up to three floor and 6 apartments. - Today, changing landuse allows up to 320% building rights. - Av Plan, allows up to 720% build- Road 20 ing rights for lands adjacent to light Pisgat Zae’v Road 60 train line. - The model assumes 500% build- ing right as an average. Ramout Ramat Shlomo Shoufat Anata - Anatot PROPOSED PROJECT PROGRAM 37DU 14.8 DU 22.2 DU 111,000M2 740 360,000 LAND ALLOCATION RESIDENTIAL BUILDING RIGHTS APARTMENTS MARKET PRICE OF AREA OF 40% FOR AREA OF 14.8 OF 500% OF 100 M2 APARTMENT IN BEIT PUBLIC USE DONUM AVERAGE SIZE HANINA PROPOSED BUSINESS PLAN ALTERNATIVES FOR REDUCING COST BASIC SUBSIDIZED COMMERCIAL A ALTERNATIVE B ALTERNATIVE C ALTERNATIVE 50 YEARS LAND RENT 50 YEARS LAND RENT 25 YEARS LAND RENT MONTHLY MONTHLY MONTHLY PAYMENT PAYMENT PAYMENT 25 YEARS $930 25 YEARS $720 25 YEARS $875 - LAND SHARE - LAND SHARE - NO LAND SHARE $83 PER MONTH X 50 YEARS $83 PER MONTH X 50 YEARS MARKET SUBSIDIZED - ADDITION OF COMMERCIAL - APARTMENT COST PRICE PRICE SPACES (3,500 SQ.M.) $260,000 33% 67% - APARTMENT COST - DOWNPAYMENT - APARTMENT COST $260,000 + $60,000 $360,000 | $210,000 $6,500 (COMMERCIAL) - LOAN - DOWNPAYMENT - DOWNPAYMENT FOR $190,000 $60,000 $60,000 2% INTEREST PALESTINIAN BANKS - LOAN - LOAN 25 YEARS PERIOD FOR $143,000 FOR $207,000 2% INTEREST 2% INTEREST - PAYMENT PALESTINIAN BANKS PALESTINIAN BANKS LAND SHARE $83 25 YEARS PERIOD 25 YEARS PERIOD LOAN $817 SERVICES $30 - PAYMENT - PAYMENT LAND SHARE $83 LOAN $845 LOAN $607 SERVICES $30 SERVICES $30 NEXT STEPS - TAX REDUCTION AND RAISE FUINDS KEY INSIGHTS Investigating major financial elements that hugely affecting the business 1- This project could be implemented on Waqf or association lands. model in order to reduce the apartment cost: 1- Purchaser tax which forms up to 25% of the apartment price. 2- The proposed model needs large plot of lands to sustain large number of Postponing the purchase tax for the next selling or attempting to apartments to reduce land rent cost. reduce its percentage. 2- Betterment tax which adds up to 15% of the apartment price. Attempting to reduce its percentage. 3- There are serval aspects in the project that can be funded from interna- tional funds in order to reduce project cost..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Palestinian Economy in East Jerusalem, Some Pertinent Aspects of Social Conditions Are Reviewed Below
    UNITED N A TIONS CONFERENC E ON T RADE A ND D EVELOPMENT Enduring annexation, isolation and disintegration UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT Enduring annexation, isolation and disintegration New York and Geneva, 2013 Notes The designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. ______________________________________________________________________________ Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. ______________________________________________________________________________ Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, together with a copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint to be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat: Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. ______________________________________________________________________________ The preparation of this report by the UNCTAD secretariat was led by Mr. Raja Khalidi (Division on Globalization and Development Strategies), with research contributions by the Assistance to the Palestinian People Unit and consultant Mr. Ibrahim Shikaki (Al-Quds University, Jerusalem), and statistical advice by Mr. Mustafa Khawaja (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Ramallah). ______________________________________________________________________________ Cover photo: Copyright 2007, Gugganij. Creative Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org (accessed 11 March 2013). (Photo taken from the roof terrace of the Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family on Al-Wad Street in the Old City of Jerusalem, looking towards the south. In the foreground is the silver dome of the Armenian Catholic church “Our Lady of the Spasm”.
    [Show full text]
  • Jerusalem: City of Dreams, City of Sorrows
    1 JERUSALEM: CITY OF DREAMS, CITY OF SORROWS More than ever before, urban historians tell us that global cities tend to look very much alike. For U.S. students. the“ look alike” perspective makes it more difficult to empathize with and to understand cultures and societies other than their own. The admittedly superficial similarities of global cities with U.S. ones leads to misunderstandings and confusion. The multiplicity of cybercafés, high-rise buildings, bars and discothèques, international hotels, restaurants, and boutique retailers in shopping malls and multiplex cinemas gives these global cities the appearances of familiarity. The ubiquity of schools, university campuses, signs, streetlights, and urban transportation systems can only add to an outsider’s “cultural and social blindness.” Prevailing U.S. learning goals that underscore American values of individualism, self-confidence, and material comfort are, more often than not, obstacles for any quick study or understanding of world cultures and societies by visiting U.S. student and faculty.1 Therefore, international educators need to look for and find ways in which their students are able to look beyond the veneer of the modern global city through careful program planning and learning strategies that seek to affect the students in their “reading and learning” about these fertile centers of liberal learning. As the students become acquainted with the streets, neighborhoods, and urban centers of their global city, their understanding of its ways and habits is embellished and enriched by the walls, neighborhoods, institutions, and archaeological sites that might otherwise cause them their “cultural and social blindness.” Jerusalem is more than an intriguing global historical city.
    [Show full text]
  • 4.Employment Education Hebrew Arnona Culture and Leisure
    Did you know? Jerusalem has... STARTUPS OVER OPERATING IN THE CITY OVER SITES AND 500 SYNAGOGUES 1200 39 MUSEUMS ALTITUDE OF 630M CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY 51 AND ARTS CENTERS 27 MANAGERS ( ) Aliyah2Jerusalem ( ) Aliyah2Jerusalem JERUSALEM IS ISRAEL’S STUDENTS LARGEST CITY 126,000 DUNAM Graphic design by OVER 40,000 STUDYING IN THE CITY 50,000 VOLUNTEERS Illustration by www.rinatgilboa.com • Learning centers are available throughout the city at the local Provide assistance for olim to help facilitate a smooth absorption facilities. The centers offer enrichment and study and successful integration into Jerusalem. programs for school age children. • Jerusalem offers a large selection of public and private schools Pre - Aliyah Services 2 within a broad religious spectrum. Also available are a broad range of learning methods offered by specialized schools. Assistance in registration for municipal educational frameworks. Special in Jerusalem! Assistance in finding residence, and organizing community needs. • Tuition subsidies for Olim who come to study in higher education and 16 Community Absorption Coordinators fit certain criteria. Work as a part of the community administrations throughout the • Jerusalem is home to more than 30 institutions of higher education city; these coordinators offer services in educational, cultural, sports, that are recognized by the Student Authority of the Ministry of administrative and social needs for Olim at the various community Immigration & Absorption. Among these schools is Hebrew University – centers.
    [Show full text]
  • Nickolay Mladenov Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Mi
    (As Delivered) NICKOLAY MLADENOV SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFING ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 2334 (2016) 29 September 2020 Mister President, Members of the Security Council, On behalf of the Secretary-General, I will devote this briefing to presenting his fourteenth report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334, covering the period from 5 June to 20 September of this year. Before presenting the report, I would like to note the recent agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The Secretary-General welcomes these agreements, which suspended Israeli annexation plans over parts of the occupied West Bank. The Secretary-General hopes that these developments will encourage Palestinian and Israeli leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations toward a two-State solution and will create opportunities for regional cooperation. He reiterates that only a two-State solution that realizes the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis can lead to sustainable peace between the two peoples and contribute to broader peace in the region. I am similarly encouraged by the call to restore hope in the peace process and resume negotiations on the basis of international law and agreed parameters, as made by the Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Egypt, France and Germany in Amman. The recent moves toward strengthening Palestinian unity as demonstrated by the outcome of the Fatah-Hamas meetings calling for long-awaited national presidential and legislative elections are also encouraging. Elections and legitimate democratic institutions are critical to uniting Gaza and the West Bank under a single national authority vital to upholding the prospect of a negotiated two-State solution.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and the Occupied Territories 2014 Human
    ISRAEL 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Israel is a multi-party parliamentary democracy. Although it has no constitution, the parliament, the unicameral 120-member Knesset, has enacted a series of “Basic Laws” that enumerate fundamental rights. Certain fundamental laws, orders, and regulations legally depend on the existence of a “State of Emergency,” which has been in effect since 1948. Under the Basic Laws, the Knesset has the power to dissolve the government and mandate elections. The nationwide Knesset elections in January 2013, considered free and fair, resulted in a coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Security forces reported to civilian authorities. (An annex to this report covers human rights in the occupied territories. This report deals with human rights in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.) During the year a number of developments affected both the Israeli and Palestinian populations. From July 8 to August 26, Israel conducted a military operation designated as Operation Protective Edge, which according to Israeli officials responded to increases in the number of rockets deliberately fired from Gaza at Israeli civilian areas beginning in late June, as well as militants’ attempts to infiltrate the country through tunnels from Gaza. According to publicly available data, Hamas and other militant groups fired 4,465 rockets and mortar shells into Israel, while the government conducted 5,242 airstrikes within Gaza and a 20-day military ground operation in Gaza. According to the United Nations, the operation killed 2,205 Palestinians. The Israeli government estimated that half of those killed were civilians and half were combatants, according to an analysis of data, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded 1,483 civilian deaths--more than two-thirds of those killed--including 521 children and 283 women; 74 persons in Israel were killed, among them 67 combatants, six Israeli civilians, and one Thai civilian.
    [Show full text]
  • The Upper Kidron Valley
    Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies Founded by the Charles H. Revson Foundation The Upper Kidron Valley Conservation and Development in the Visual Basin of the Old City of Jerusalem Editor: Israel Kimhi Jerusalem 2010 Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies – Study No. 398 The Upper Kidron Valley Conservation and Development in the Visual Basin of the Old City of Jerusalem Editor: Israel Kimhi This publication was made possible thanks to the assistance of the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, San Francisco. 7KHFRQWHQWRIWKLVGRFXPHQWUHÀHFWVWKHDXWKRUV¶RSLQLRQRQO\ Photographs: Maya Choshen, Israel Kimhi, and Flash 90 Linguistic editing (Hebrew): Shlomo Arad Production and printing: Hamutal Appel Pagination and design: Esti Boehm Translation: Sagir International Translations Ltd. © 2010, The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies Hay Elyachar House 20 Radak St., Jerusalem 92186 http://www.jiis.org E-mail: [email protected] Research Team Israel Kimhi – head of the team and editor of the report Eran Avni – infrastructures, public participation, tourism sites Amir Eidelman – geology Yair Assaf-Shapira – research, mapping, and geographical information systems Malka Greenberg-Raanan – physical planning, development of construction Maya Choshen – population and society Mike Turner – physical planning, development of construction, visual analysis, future development trends Muhamad Nakhal ±UHVLGHQWSDUWLFLSDWLRQKLVWRU\SUR¿OHRIWKH$UDEQHLJKERU- hoods Michal Korach – population and society Israel Kimhi – recommendations for future development, land uses, transport, planning Amnon Ramon – history, religions, sites for conservation Acknowledgments The research team thanks the residents of the Upper Kidron Valley and the Visual Basin of the Old City, and their representatives, for cooperating with the researchers during the course of the study and for their willingness to meet frequently with the team.
    [Show full text]
  • A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution WATCH
    HUMAN RIGHTS A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution WATCH A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution Copyright © 2021 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-62313-900-1 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org APRIL 2021 ISBN: 978-1-62313-900-1 A Threshold Crossed Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution Map .................................................................................................................................. i Summary ......................................................................................................................... 2 Definitions of Apartheid and Persecution .................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Memo: Applying for a Building Permit in East Jerusalem
    February 2017 1 Legal Memo Applying for a Building Permit in East Jerusalem OBJECTIVE: This fact sheet describes the procedures involved in applying for a building permit in occupied East Jerusalem. Numerous documents and procedural obligations are required in order to receive a building permit under Israeli planning regulations in effect in East Jerusalem. Detailed here are the particular constraints Palestinian residents face in undertaking these application procedures, which make obtaining a building permit almost impossible. A prerequisite to the authorisation of any building permit is the existence of an approved planning scheme. Therefore, this fact sheet also details the planning process and provides an overview of the steps involved in submitting both planning schemes and building permit applications. Background Under the Israeli Planning and Building Law 1965, a building permit issued by the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee is a mandatory prerequisite for any construction within the municipal borders of Jerusalem, including annexed East Jerusalem. The law stipulates that any construction of a building without a permit is a criminal offence. Consequently, the building can be subject to a demolition order and the builder will be subject to an indictment. According to international law and the consensus of the international community on the matter, East Jerusalem is occupied territory and subject to the relevant laws of occupation.1 However, Israel, which unilaterally annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 and formally codified the annexation in 1980, considers East Jerusalem as Israeli territory and subjects it to Israeli jurisdiction.2 According to Israeli authorities, therefore, Israeli planning and building laws apply identically to East and West Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • General Plan for East Jerusalem: the State of Public Spaces and Future Needs
    General Plan for East Jerusalem: the state of public spaces and future needs (DRAFT) International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) UNDP CRDP project February 2016 East Jerusalem General Plan International Peace and Cooperation Center East Jerusalem General Plan International Peace and Cooperation Center List of Appendices Appendix A Population Data ........................................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B Education Additional Information .............................................................................. B-1 Appendix C Health Additional Information .................................................................................... C-1 Appendix D Open Spaces Additional Information .......................................................................... D-1 Appendix E Community/Cultural Additional Information ............................................................. E-1 Appendix F IPCC Existing Work Additional Information ............................................................. F-1 Appendix G Schedule of Existing Public Facilities......................................................................... G-1 Appendix H Schedule of Potential Land for Development ............................................................. H-1 Appendix I Priority Projects............................................................................................................ I-1 List of Figures Figure 1 East Jerusalem Neighbourhoods and Zones .........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Greater Jerusalem” Has Jerusalem (Including the 1967 Rehavia Occupied and Annexed East Jerusalem) As Its Centre
    4 B?63 B?466 ! np ! 4 B?43 m D"D" np Migron Beituniya B?457 Modi'in Bei!r Im'in Beit Sira IsraelRei'ut-proclaimed “GKharbrathae al Miasbah ter JerusaBeitl 'Uer al Famuqa ” D" Kochav Ya'akov West 'Ein as Sultan Mitzpe Danny Maccabim D" Kochav Ya'akov np Ma'ale Mikhmas A System of Settler-Colonialism and Apartheid Deir Quruntul Kochav Ya'akov East ! Kafr 'Aqab Kh. Bwerah Mikhmas ! Beit Horon Duyuk at Tahta B?443 'Ein ad D" Rafat Jericho 'Ajanjul ya At Tira np ya ! Beit Liq Qalandi Kochav Ya'akov South ! Lebanon Neve Erez ¥ ! Qalandiya Giv'at Ze'ev D" a i r Jaba' y 60 Beit Duqqu Al Judeira 60 B? a S Beit Nuba D" B? e Atarot Ind. Zone S Ar Ram Ma'ale Hagit Bir Nabala Geva Binyamin n Al Jib a Beit Nuba Beit 'Anan e ! Giv'on Hahadasha n a r Mevo Horon r Beit Ijza e t B?4 i 3 Dahiyat al Bareed np 6 Jaber d Aqbat e Neve Ya'akov 4 M Yalu B?2 Nitaf 4 !< ! ! Kharayib Umm al Lahim Qatanna Hizma Al Qubeiba ! An Nabi Samwil Ein Prat Biddu el Almon Har Shmu !< Beit Hanina al Balad Kfar Adummim ! Beit Hanina D" 436 Vered Jericho Nataf B? 20 B? gat Ze'ev D" Dayr! Ayyub Pis A 4 1 Tra Beit Surik B?37 !< in Beit Tuul dar ! Har A JLR Beit Iksa Mizpe Jericho !< kfar Adummim !< 21 Ma'ale HaHamisha B? 'Anata !< !< Jordan Shu'fat !< !< A1 Train Ramat Shlomo np Ramot Allon D" Shu'fat !< !< Neve Ilan E1 !< Egypt Abu Ghosh !< B?1 French Hill Mishor Adumim ! B?1 Beit Naqquba !< !< !< ! Beit Nekofa Mevaseret Zion Ramat Eshkol 1 Israeli Police HQ Mesilat Zion B? Al 'Isawiya Lifta a Qulunyia ! Ma'alot Dafna Sho'eva ! !< Motza Sheikh Jarrah !< Motza Illit Mishor Adummim Ind.
    [Show full text]
  • DISPLACED in THEIR OWN CITY the Impact of Israeli Policy in East Jerusalem on the Palestinian Neighborhoods of the City Beyond the Separation Barrier June 2015
    DISPLACED IN THEIR OWN CITY THE IMPACT OF ISRAELI POLICY IN EAST JERUSALEM ON THE PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY BEYOND THE SEPARATION BARRIER JUNE 2015 27 King George St., P.O. Box 2239, Jerusalem 94581 Telephone: 972-2-6222858 | Fax: 972-2-6233696 www.ir-amim.org.il | [email protected] DISPLACED IN THEIR OWN CITY THE IMPACT OF ISRAELI POLICY IN EAST JERUSALEM ON THE PALESTINIAN NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY BEYOND THE SEPARATION BARRIER JUNE 2015 Written by: Ehud Tagari and Yudith Oppenheimer Research: Eyal Hareuveni and Aviv Tatarsky Hebrew editing: Lea Klibanoff Ron English translation: Shaul Vardi English editing: Betty Herschman Photography: Ahmad Sub Laban Thanks to: Atty. Oshrat Maimon, Atty. Nisreen Alyan of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Christoph von Toggenburg of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Roni Ben Efrat and Erez Wagner of WAC-MAAN, the Workers Advice Center, Lior Volinz of Amsterdam University, Atty. Elias Khoury, and Eetta Prince-Gibson. This publication was produced by Ir Amim (“City of Nations”) in the framework of a joint project with the Workers Advice Center WAC-MAAN aimed at strengthening the socio-economic rights of East Jerusalem residents. We thank the European Union, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Israel, and The Moriah Fund for their support. The content of this publication is the responsibility of Ir Amim alone. taBLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 5 Chapter One: Israeli Policy in East Jerusalem since 1967 8 A. Annexation and Confiscation . 8 B. Ensuring a Jewish Majority . 9 C. Non-Registration of Land. 10 D.
    [Show full text]
  • Oral Statement Submitted by Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, a Non- Governmental Organization in Special Consultative Status
    ENGLISH ONLY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Sixteenth Session, Item no. 7 28 February-25 March 2011 Oral statement submitted by Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, a non- governmental organization in special consultative status. Israeli policies in Jerusalem Accelerate Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinians and Undermine Palestinian Self-determination 1. Israel’s policies within the OPT and Israel systematically undermine the Palestinian fundamental right to self-determination. Within the OPT, including East Jerusalem, specifically, its policies of population transfer, colonialism, and Apartheid jeopardizes the territorial integrity of the land intended to constitute the state of the Palestinian people. Israel’s ethnic cleansing policies in East Jerusalem are particularly insidious. The State employs several legal mechanisms to systematically expropriate Palestinian land and forcibly remove its indigenous Palestinian population. 1 2. Today 35% of East Jerusalem has been expropriated for state land use and there exist 1,500 pending demolition orders. 2 In 2010, Israeli authorities destroyed 78 structures, including 24homes, displacing 116 people, and affecting 289. This figure does not include the number of residential buildings seized by settler groups with the sanction of Israeli Authorities. In 2010, settler groups seized 10 buildings and 28 residential structures, effectively displacing 158 residents, including 85 children.3 3. Israeli authorities have embarked on settlement expansion plan targeting the Palestinian residential areas in the “Holy Basin” area of East Jerusalem comprised of Muslim and Christian quarters of the Old City, Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, At-Tur (Mt. of Olives), Wadi Joz, Ras Al-‘Amud, and Jabel Mukaber. Today 2,000 settlers reside in these areas and the Government plans to link these settlements to one another by creating a series of contiguous parks around the “Holy Basin” and eastern slopes of Mount Scopus (the “Open Spaces” plan).
    [Show full text]