Israel uses restrictions on Palestinians to Judaize Occupied East Jerusalem
By Inter Press Service
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Mel Frykberg
Inter Press Service
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: The Israeli government is attempting to Judaize Palestinian East Jerusalem, and maintain a Jewish majority against the "demographic threat" of a higher Palestinian birth rate. To that end, the Israeli government is enforcing a number of policies aimed at establishing facts on the ground to limit the number of Palestinian residents in the city. To make any future division of Occupied Jerusalem almost impossible, the Israeli authorities are applying a combination of strategies including limiting family reunification permits, redrawing Occupied Jerusalem's municipal boundaries, enlarging illegal Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and establishing new ones.
Under international law, the Green Line divides Jewish West Jerusalem from Palestinian East Jerusalem. However, Israel has illegally occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Last month Israel published tenders for the construction of 1,761 illegal housing units for Israeli settlers in Occupied East Jerusalem alone, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now.
--MORE--
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Mel Frykberg
Inter Press Service
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: The Israeli government is attempting to Judaize Palestinian East Jerusalem, and maintain a Jewish majority against the "demographic threat" of a higher Palestinian birth rate. To that end, the Israeli government is enforcing a number of policies aimed at establishing facts on the ground to limit the number of Palestinian residents in the city. To make any future division of Occupied Jerusalem almost impossible, the Israeli authorities are applying a combination of strategies including limiting family reunification permits, redrawing Occupied Jerusalem's municipal boundaries, enlarging illegal Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and establishing new ones.
Under international law, the Green Line divides Jewish West Jerusalem from Palestinian East Jerusalem. However, Israel has illegally occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Last month Israel published tenders for the construction of 1,761 illegal housing units for Israeli settlers in Occupied East Jerusalem alone, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now.
--MORE--