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Plan puts shul in Arab part of J'lem By Akiva Eldar Tags: East Jerusalem The Jerusalem municipality has begun the process of approving a plan for a new housing complex, including a synagogue, in the heart of the Arab neighborhood of Silwan south of the Old City. The plan, submitted by the right-wing Elad association, includes 10 apartments, kindergarten classrooms, a library and underground parking for 100 cars. Documents show the land the complex is to be built on belongs to the Israel Lands Administration (ILA); however, the ILA said it was unaware of the plan. Advertisement The municipal spokesman said Elad had leased the land, and therefore the plan does not require ILA approval. A municipal document dated January 21, 2008 notes that all necessary recommendations had been received in the planning file. The area slated for the new project is located 200 meters from the Old City walls, in an area considered one of the most sensitive in the present negotiations with the Palestinians over the final-status agreement. In a letter yesterday to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, attorney Daniel Seideman, representing the Ir Amim association and a city council member, Pepe Alalo (Meretz), asked whether Mazuz thought it proper that a synagogue be established in the heart of an Arab neighborhood. The Ir Amim association addresses issues impacting Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem. Seideman reminded Mazuz of repeated pledges by the State Prosecutor's Office to the High Court of Justice to ensure there were no recurrences of the government allowing right-wing associations to take over public lands in Silwan and the Old City. He attached the photocopy of a 1991 deed of sale by the Jewish National Fund of the lands of Silwan to the ILA. The ILA then transfered the land to Elad in a process that was not made public. "In the heart of Jerusalem, for all intents and purposes, an independent Elad kingdom has been created, in which hegemony, above and below the ground, has been given to a body with a clear ideological bent," Seideman wrote Mazuz. He also said the "kingdom" was being established through actions designed to push out thousands of Arab residents from the area. Seideman demanded that Mazuz instruct the ILA to withdraw the plan and the city to shelve it, and to investigate how the decision was made that led to the proposal for the construction project. A 1992 government investigation headed by then Justice Ministry director general Haim Klugman found that associations managing properties in East Jerusalem, including Elad, had took them over by continuously submitting false affidavits, misusing the law governing absentee property and illegally transfering tens of millions of shekels public money to the associations, among other allegations. In November, Haaretz reported that the registrar of non-profit associations was considering demanding that Elad be disbanded as a non-profit association, after it refused to report the sources of contributions of more than $7 million that it had received in 2005. The Justice Ministry said in response that Elad had given the registrar the names of its donors, but asked that the names remain confidential in its financial report, as the law allows. The request was granted, and there is no intention of disbanding the association, the Justice Ministry added. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A few good celebs Some of Hollywood's top guns congratulate Israel in a clip played in Times Square. Chosen, shmosen 'Religion is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions,' wrote Albert Einstein.   1.   Well, they did put a big gold mosque in the old city, didn`t they 09:51  |  Harvey (Chaim) 14/05/08   2.   Anywhere else in the world.... 10:07  |  Yitzhak Sokoloff 14/05/08   3.   Absolutely Shameful 11:41  |  Josh 14/05/08   4.   Why not a House of G-d on Stolen Property 11:59  |  El-Birawi 14/05/08   5.   One state for both peoples, now! 12:27  |  Danny 14/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: We owe the Palestinians a state Responses: 61 Editorial: Israel should go along with Egyptian efforts for Gaza calm Responses: 9 Plan to put synagogue in heart of Arab East Jerusalem likely to be approved Responses: 15 Clip shows IDF officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range Responses: 24 Shmuel Rosner: Bush is trying to change the world, for the good Responses: 7 More Headlines 12:13 Bush: Israel, U.S. have joint alliance that confronts terrorists 12:13 Palestinians: IDF kills two militants, two civilians in Gaza 07:35 Israel to transfer security in Jenin area to Palestinians 11:44 As fighting flares up, Lebanese cannabis growers expect a bumper crop 10:14 Shas official says gov't to okay hundreds of homes in W. Bank 11:33 Hamas delegation to Egypt next week to discuss Gaza truce 12:29 40 families leaving Gaza border community after member killed 09:51 Two Israelis found in China; 3 still missing since Mon. quake 09:58 Clip shows IDF officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range 07:32 Police quiz U.S. tycoon Sheldon Adelson as part of Olmert probe 12:24 Plan to put synagogue in heart of East Jerusalem likely to be approved 03:15 MK Orlev wants to end former MK Bishara's retirement payments Previous Editions Select Day 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr

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