Rights group: J'lem house demolitions increase under Barkat administration

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Jerusalem authorities have stepped up demolitions of illegally built Arab homes in the east of the city since the election of mayor Nir Barkat last year, a human rights group said yesterday.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel issued a report lambasting Barkat for failing to fulfill his pre-election promise to uphold the Arab residents' civil rights.

"Even though it has been 200 days since Barkat assumed office, his actions have not indicated any major change toward the rate of investment and development in East Jerusalem," ACRI wrote.

ACRI said Barkat's appointment of a city counselor to East Jerusalem has had no effect on living conditions in that part of the city; on the contrary, the number of demolitions of illegally built homes in Arab East Jerusalem has increased, the group said.

It said that since the start of this year, some 1,052 demolition orders have been issued, including 34 injunctions with Barkat's signature on them, and 23 houses without permits have been demolished."

more