Jerusalem mayor, are you causing a third Intifada?

Palestinian residents have put up 88 homes without building permits in the Gan Hamelekh complex, in East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood. Gan Hamelekh - "the king's garden" in Hebrew - is at the juncture of the Kidron and Ben-Hinnom gorges, 500 meters from the Temple Mount and 100 meters from the City of David.

Mayor Nir Barkat intends to demolish some of these buildings, to issue permits for most of them and to create a park that will attract tourist on the site.

What is your plan for Silwan?

"Above all, good news for its inhabitants, even though understandably it may be hard for them to say this in public. The proposal offers a conceptual change in my thinking: not only to enforce the law and court rulings on the illegal structures but also to help the families to build new homes in accordance with the law.

"In other words, issuing permits retroactively for dozens of homes on the eastern side and granting construction permit for additional homes, which will move from the east to the west [of the Kidron Valley].

"On the eastern side of the Kidron we will add 3,000 square meters for commercial use as well as homes for all those who move from the western side, which will remain an open public space.

All together, you get an anchor for tourism to which people can come for shopping, a good restaurant and a cafe, and in addition there is room for everyone to live. The plan will provide jobs for residents as well as homes and quality of life.

"The situation today is that the vast majority of the homes are unauthorized and the courts have ordered their demolition. Under the new situation, not only will the houses be made legal but 2,000 square meters of commercial enterprises and public buildings will be added for the benefit of the residents. There will be classrooms, day care centers, kindergartens, a gym, a swimming pool, a well-baby center and so forth. The alternative to a plan that takes into consideration the existing situation is the demolition of all of the homes."

Can you understand the suspicion and distrust on the part of the Palestinian residents?

"Yes. After more than 40 years of neglect one can understand that. But the suspicion is unwarranted. I have heard expressions such as 'a home demolition plan.' It's true that when you upgrade the entire complex with a 'tear down/rebuild' program, 20 people will move a few dozen meters to the east. But to come and say that the intention is to expel them? These are irresponsible, baseless portrayals."

Are you frustrated by the gap between your perception of the plan, as benefiting the residents, and the headlines about the imminent eruption of a third intifada?

"No, not at all. Unfortunately I know the media are the last to grasp what is happening. On the ground the project is progressing nicely. People recognize that this is a serious plan and are beginning to make comments. Media spin doesn't upset me. I would be happy, of course, if the media reported it differently.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked you to wait, and to continue to negotiate with the residents. Will you destroy the homes even without their agreement?

"The alternative is to destroy all of them, or to not carry out the court rulings and to leave the inferior living conditions in place. I would prefer to implement my plan, which speaks of putting things in order."

The Palestinians ask who is the king of the "king's garden," and the answer is obvious - David. They believe that another City of David compound will be created - a religious-nationalistic park under the settlers' control. Are you willing to discuss its character with them?

"I have been asked whether the Elad association [which promotes the Judaization of East Jerusalem] is connected with the plan. Unequivocally, no. The municipality is behind the project and the nature of the park is open to discussion. We will want to suit it to the millions of visitors who will want to come.

The site is an international asset that must be open to all. There is no intention of spiting anyone. That is part of the residents' distrust. There is no doubt that we must develop trust. I hope that they will understand that I mean what I say and I say what I mean."

At the press conference [convened by Barkat last Tuesday to announce his plans for developing the Gan Hamelekh complex], you made a remark that was untypical for a Jerusalem mayor - that the city and the state bear responsibility for the problem of unauthorized construction in East Jerusalem.

"There are 20,000 illegally built structures in the city. That is undoubtedly a systemic failure. There is no excuse for illegal behavior, but the state must look in the mirror and recognize that something is wrong. We will try to take as lenient an approach as possible, to reduce friction while taking the prevailing situation into consideration. We shall create reasonable, practical plans and implement them."

Did you select Silwan and Gan Hamelekh as the prototype for dealing with unauthorized building in Jerusalem because of the commitment of you and your political partners not to evacuate Beit Yonatan [the seven-floor apartment building housing eight Jewish families that was built without permits in the heart of Silwan by the nationalist Ateret Cohanim organization, and whose demolition the state has ordered]?

"No. I began there because of the state comptroller's report. I took responsibility instead of burying my head in the sand. This is a comprehensive solution that has nothing to do with [the identity of] the people living there, Jews or Arabs."

In conclusion, to another matter: Last week we had the privilege of seeing the trial run of Jerusalem's light railway. Should people in Tel Aviv be jealous yet, or will the project continue to be synonymous with failure?

"When I entered office I placed a real question mark over the light rail project, which accelerated many measures. It will take another month or two but in the end it will come right.

"In the past six months I have been busy mainly with the next stages. The first rail line is a serious and worthy improvement, but we plan to announce a network of lines so that everything can connect with everything else. In Jerusalem, everything needs to connect."