Israel to destroy 20,000 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem

[newyorican]

The announcement came as preparations were underway to demolish those homes, while a further 6,000 homes were also handed demolition notices.

Palestinians living in the holy city accused the Israeli Jerusalem municipality of imposing high taxes against them and allocating about 2 million dollar to demolish their homes.

<snip>

Meanwhile, Israel's military chief said the Jewish state plans on building a temporary fence separating Jerusalem from the West Bank by July.

Israel says the structure is needed to protect its cities but the Palestinians say it's an illegal confiscation of land.

Read more...

[madrchsod]

1. makes perfect sense to me

how else can they keep the war going? after all it`s dam hard work to run a country that is at peace with their neighbors.

[The Straight Story]

2. And the solution is?

Hell if I know. Have things ever really gotten better there? Seems like all they do is get worse....

[burrowowl]

3. Say an average of

six people live in those homes: 120,000 homeless like that.
How to win friends and ... 120,000 is a small city.

[TheModernTerrorist]

6. and somehow....

they think that this WON'T create more violence???? People do some crazy things in desperate times, especially when push comes to shove.
this is shameful and sad to everyone... :-(

[DemFromMem]

4. AlJazeera.com?

That's the most reliable source you could come up with? And you have the mysterious "Read more..." without actually showing the URL of the source of the article which should raise red flags with readers here.

Ha'Aretz, the NY Times, BBC and the other media outlets that covere Palestinian issues on a daily basis would normally go bananas over a story like this.

Here's great journalism in action as proven by the always reliable Al Jazeera:

"The Israeli authorities announced that there are some 20,000 Palestinian residential houses in the city of Jerusalem and its outskirts which they allege were built without licenses."

Israeli "authorities"? Who are these authorities? The article doesn't mention the name of the person who made the announcemenet, what agency they work for, what their position is?

"The latest steps by Tel Aviv are seen by many as further steps taken against the Palestinian people and their lands in a bid to 'turn' the city of Jerusalem into a Jewish faith one rather than a multi-faith one."

Tel Aviv? Israel's capital city is Jerusalem and all of its leaders are there.

"Meanwhile, Israel's military chief said the Jewish state plans on building a temporary fence separating Jerusalem from the West Bank by July."

And who might this Israeli military chief be? The article doesn't even bother go give a name, much less a title.

This is irresponsible journalism and doesn't deserve reposting. Any decent publication in this country would have sent the reporter back to the word processor before reporting on this. The fact that no one else is reporting such a sensational claim as this should tell you something.

[newyorican]

5. Read more...

is "mysterious"? It's how I have been linking articles for 4 years now.

The "journalism" is similar to what passes these days. I've often seen Ha'aretz quote a "Hamas spokesman" or a "Hizbollah source" without naming names. Isn't it odd you don't complain about that "journalism"?

[DemFromMem]

8. That's your response?

What about the fact that no one else is reporting this? And don't you think it's strange Israeli government officials are giving interviews to Al Jazeera?

[Colorado Blue]

7. Here's an article with a slightly different take on matters:

Israel calls a halt to destruction of Palestinian homes
Friday, February 18, 2005
KARIN LAUB
The Associated Press

JERUSALEM - Israel's defense minister ordered a halt Thursday to the controversial policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinian suicide bombers and gunmen after an internal army review concluded it has not deterred attackers but has inflamed hatred.

snip

Here's a link to the full story:

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/wire.ssf?/base/news/1108721709158950.xml

Granted, the homes referred to in the article are those thought to have belonged to terrorists, not those of ordinary citizens as in the original post. But it does indicate a change of heart on the matter and hopefully the practice will stop altogether.

Here's another article, from an Israeli paper, on the subject of the Jerusalem homes in particular, the destruction of which apparently had been going on for some time:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/international/middleeast/13cnd-mideast.html

The article takes a very strong stance against the practice. My search did not turn up articles suggesting it is still going on though. If so, hopefully articles like this, arising from the Israeli people, will stop it.

Meanwhile, here is some good news:

Israel Pledges to Dismantle 24 West Bank Settlements
By GREG MYRE

Published: March 13, 2005

ERUSALEM, March 13 - Israel's cabinet pledged today to dismantle two dozen illegal settlement outposts established in the West Bank since Ariel Sharon became prime minister in 2001. But ministers did not set a timetable or announce the fate of an additional 80 outposts.

The cabinet decision was the strongest public commitment to remove at least some of the more recent settlement outposts, as demanded by the Middle East peace plan, known as the road map.

snip

Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/international/middleeast/13cnd-mideast.html

The article is about the demolishment of 24 West Bank settlements.

Blessings!

[DemFromMem]

9. This is about the destruction of JEWISH homes

The Al Jazeera dribble was preposterously suggesting the Israeli government had given the go ahead to destroy 20,000 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem.

If that story was true, it would make front pages in newspapers all over the world.

[Coastie for Truth]

10. That's the point---

"If that story was true, it would make front pages in newspapers all over the world."

The source is www.aljazeera.com.

Of course, when I point that out, some appenders accuse me of a violation of Rule 17 of the Rules of Disinformation. My response to them --->

I politely refer them and all I/P appenders to Lala__Rawraw's append at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1305239&mesg_id=1306272

and to Colorado_blue’s append at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x87930

This is not a Rule 17 change of subject violation of the Rules of Disinformation.

[Coastie for Truth]

11. Good point

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Coastie for Truth]

13. Answer

I think we have reached an impasse –

My final position is that I politely refer you and all I/P appenders to Lala__Rawraw's append at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1305239&mesg_id=1306272

and to Colorado_blue’s append at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x87930

This is not a Rule 17 change of subject violation of the Rules of Disinformation. Just a recognition of a difference of opinion and style.

[Colorado Blue]

15. OK, in an attempt to answer you (again): please read all

the links I posted.

The one from the Israeli paper indicates that yes, some houses have been demolished in the past and might be again in the future. It also indicates that the Israeli people are uncomfortable with this situation.

The fence is doubtless going to cause disruption in the lives of the people of Jerusalem. Hopefully, as negotiations go forward between the Israelis and the Arabs, the necessity for the fence will disappear. The original purpose of the fence is to protect the people of Israel from terrorist attacks, which have killed some one thousand people and injured many more, in the past five years. It does seem to have worked in regions where it's up; attacks have been reduced by some 70% from what I've read.

Also there is no doubt but what some people are going to be angry about the ROUTE the fence takes. Again - it is hoped that continuing negotiations will modify the route OR - best of all - alleviate the need for the fence altogether. The UN is also watching the situation and has established a registry for the filing of damage claims brought by individuals.

Ultimately, of course, the solution is not a fence but a mending of the anger and pain in people's hearts.

Should peace negotiations prove successful, and the violent forces be calmed, perhaps the fence need not be completed. As it is the plans are for a TEMPORARY fence; there are court battles pending over the permanent model. That's the news up until this morning, as per a Google news search I did.

I hope this soothes your fears that your voice is being ignored. It isn't. BUT - al Jazeera has published some pretty provocative "news" in the past, including some opinions as to the source of the tsunami, which cause people to be skeptical.

Even if the articles CONTAINING the "news" seem to be reasonably objective, the kernels of doubt are sown in people's minds - ie, the banner "NATURE DID NOT CAUSE THE TSUNAMI" headlines one al-Jazeera online article I found. In other Arab sources I've found some really amazing stuff, including a suggestion that Al-Jazeera is a Zionist outlet, and Jewish matzos are made of Arab blood.

I have also found articles in the Arab press confirming the on-going PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. But none about 20,000 houses.

Therefore, without corroborating articles - and I've found NONE concerning plans to demolish 20,000 Arab houses - Al Jazeera cannot be considered a "paper of record" on the topic, especially, of Israel.

Thus the deafening silence.

OK?

[burrowowl]

14. Go check out

Haaretz and Jewish Voice for Peace ...