Ratifying the “National Park” plan on the lands of Al-Tur and Esawyeh
The Israeli Building and Planning District Committee ratified on Thursday night the “National Park” plan on the lands of Al-Tur and Esawyeh. It is noteworthy that the project of “National Park 11092 A” taking place in the heart of Al-Tur and Esawyeh will result in the confiscation of 740 Dunoms of locals’ lands. The Jerusalem municipality, Nature and Parks Authority and Jerusalem Development Authority submitted the project of “National Park” in July of 2009 and in December of 2009 the project was ratified after meeting the initial conditions. In January 2010, the Local Committee decided to expand the project to the North and North West and in April of 2010, the Israeli District Committee for organizing and building ratified the project with a total area of 740 Dunoms. The Israeli Building and Planning District Committee which is part of the Israeli Ministry of Interior held a session yesterday to hear the objections submitted against the project. The session lasted from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. and two hours after later, the committee ratified the project. Specialists, human rights workers and several institutions confirmed during yesterday’s session that the main goal behind the project is political and does not have anything to do with organizing the area. They pointed out that Minister of Israeli environment protection requested the head of Nature and Parks Authority on 02/10/2013 to stop the project because the area does not have any special natural value. On the 29th of October, the office of Israeli Prime Minister announced the intent of the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior to proceed with the implementation of the project.
