http://www.nrg.co.il/online/54/ART1/759/199.html
להסרה מרשימת התפוצה, שלח/י אימייל ריק לכתובת: removeme@alt-arch.org
Court victory for the residents of Silwan
After more than a year and half the court decided that the Jerusalem municipality has no right to expropriate the residents' lands and use them for parking lots.
The history of the struggle
About two years ago, the Jerusalem municipality decided to expropriate nine private lands in Silwan from their Arab owners and turn them into parking lots. The decision was based on a regulation which allows the municipality to expropriate private land for public use if the owner doesn't build on it.
In February 2007 the lands' owners appealed to the Israeli court asking to prevent the municipality from expropriating their lands. They claimed that the purpose of the expropriation (parking lots for tourists) didn't conform to the real needs of the village: there was and still is a terrible shortage in public buildings such as kindergartens, schools, playing grounds, sports grounds, community centers, etc.
Last week, the municipality, which hoped to start with the construction, asked the court to hurry with the decision on the residents' lands. It appears that the court's decision has surprised the municipality and PAMI (the Company for the Development of East Jerusalem), who had expected to win the case.
The legal struggle against the archaeological excavations under the residents' houses
In June, a hearing took place in the Israeli High Court of Justice regarding the excavations under the residents' houses and lands. The residents would like to thank those of you who showed your support by attending that discussion. As soon as the court hands down its ruling, we will inform you.
http://www.nrg.co.il/online/54/ART1/759/199.html
