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Last update - 10:36 21/02/2008 Peace Now: Israel denies Area C Palestinians building permits By The Assoicated Press Tags: Israel, Area C, Palestinians  Israel denied 94 percent of the building permit requests submitted by Palestinians living in Area C of the West Bank over the past seven years, the Peace Now group reported Thursday. 70,000 Palestinians live in Area C, which according to the Oslo Accord gives Israel full civilian and military control of the area. In all, 91 of 1,624 requested permits were approved, Peace Now said. By c Advertisement ontrast, 18,472 apartments and homes were built between 2000 and September 2007 in Jewish West Bank settlements, the group said, citing Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. Military officials in the West Bank responsible for construction said the figures were distorted. Peace Now also said the army demolished 33 percent of the 4,993 cases of illegal Palestinian construction against which it issued demolition orders. By contrast, 7 percent of the 2,900 cases of illegal settler construction that drew demolition orders were torn down, the group said. The data demonstrate clear and conspicuous discrimination against the Palestinian population, Peace Now said. The report applied only to the 60 percent of the West Bank that Israel fully controls. Peace Now's assertions on the denial of building requests were based on data that Meretz MK Chaim Oron received in response to a query to Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Information on demolitions were drawn from military data Peace Now obtained. Capt. Zidki Maman, spokesman for the military unit that oversees civil affairs in the West Bank, accused Peace Now of skewing data to fit its political agenda. The number of building permits was low because Palestinians rarely submit requests, and then, generally after they receive demolition orders, Maman said. If Palestinians would submit request for building permits, there could be thousands more approvals, he said. He would not speculate on why Palestinians did not submit more requests. Palestinians have long complained that Israeli officials reject their building requests. Maman said the data on demolitions were distorted because the number of settler demolitions did not include construction the settlers themselves tore down after receiving demolition orders. The data on Palestinian demolitions did include self-demolition, inflating the numbers, Maman said. A new neighborhood comprising 27 trailers is currently under construction at the settlement of Eli, north of Ramallah, even though Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed publicly after the Annapolis conference that any such building would cease. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Declassifying AIPAC Two former pro-Israel lobbyists charged with revealing secret info. to Israeli diplomats. Jersualem pilgrimage Christian pilgrims flock to Holy City to mark Good Friday and retrace the route of Jesus.   1.   Don`t they know this land is meant for Jewish squatters? 10:29  |  Clickfool 21/02/08   2.   OBVIOUS ! 10:34  |  Canada 21/02/08   3.   Only Jews have natural right.Oops I am Anti-Semite 10:48  |  American 21/02/08   4.   "Peace Now" had its certificate withdrawn ! 10:53  |  redmike 21/02/08   5.   What goes on there in never-never land... 11:11  |  Esther 21/02/08   6.   why should Pals ask IDF to build on their land? 12:20  |  Leona 21/02/08   7.   more institutionalised racism 12:48  |  Ernst 21/02/08   8.   This is good news: Arabs can build in their own 21 Arab countries 12:52  |  Jeremy 21/02/08   9.   Both the pasls and Piece Now are the enemy within. So whats the 13:10  |  Alon -Chiloni 21/02/08   10.   Palestinians Arab usually don`t ask 13:26  |  fred 21/02/08   11.   #8 13:37  |  merlot 21/02/08   12.   And how many permits 13:42  |  Jackie 21/02/08   13.   Jeremy #8 13:56  |  living in harmony 21/02/08   14.   HOW MANY ISRAELIS IN ARAB LANDS? 14:04  |  Petra 21/02/08   15.   # 4 Redmike great news!!! Thanks 14:06  |  Petra 21/02/08   16.   Peace Now or Racism now? 14:07  |  Gili 21/02/08   17.   Peace Now - Israel`s Number 1 Arch enemy!!! 15:52  |  Sue 21/02/08   18.   Ethinic cleansing - Good! You learn from us! 16:47  |  German 21/02/08   19.   Terror Infrastructures By Illegal Foreign Terror Arabs Squatters 19:39  |  Joseph . E 21/02/08   20.   # 5 Arabist Inclined Esther is Looking For "World Sympathy" 20:23  |  Joseph . E 21/02/08   21.   re 16 peace now or racism now 11:43  |  john 23/02/08

Today Online Hezbollah: We have proof Israel killed Mughniyah Responses: 83 Gideon Levy: Blind int'l friendship enables Israel to kill, settle Responses: 20 Editorial: Swiss gas deal with Iran a disgrace, like WWII neutrality Responses: 12 Zvi Bar'el: U.S. has turned Iraq into Iranian dependent Responses: 8 Uzi Benziman: Halakhic concepts in public discourse threaten democracy Responses: 7 Rosner's Domain U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? There's no need for American pressure on Israel Jewish connections in the NCAA (WTR) More Headlines 16:16 Cheney, in Ramallah: Peace will require 'painful concessions' 15:56 Jerusalem official denies reported truce offer to Hamas, Jihad 14:10 PM: Israel to send back refugees who infiltrate from Sinai 15:59 Shi'ite mourners hail Mughniyah as martyr at Beirut gravesite 15:25 Ethiopian activist: Integration failed, separate schools needed 15:36 Hamas, Fatah officials in Yemen agree to revive direct talks 12:35 Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter 15:45 Israeli singer Yael Naim embraces Apple, Britney Spears for success 14:33 Saddam collected information on dozens of potential targets in Israel 08:42 ANALYSIS: Unofficial Gaza cease-fire benefits everybody 14:20 Egypt frees 34 Palestinians imprisoned after border breach 13:09 TASE opens strong as traders expect BoI to cut interest rates 13:55 Man sentenced to 9 years in jail for assualting 4 elderly women Previous Editions Select Day 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar

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