20,000 ‘unlicensed’ homes in Jerusalem threatened with demolition

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barakat claimed that there are nearly 20,000 homes built without licences or permits in East Jerusalem and threatened them with demolition.

In a statement yesterday, Barakat added: “A number of homes and buildings are being demolished in West Jerusalem. The number of the homes demolished in West Jerusalem is actually double the number in East Jerusalem.”

Additionally, Barakat denied “the intention of the mayor’s office and the Israeli Ministry of Education to impose and implement Zionist curriculums in East Jerusalem schools.”

He added: “I would like to stress that the Israeli education plan is not obligatory and will not be imposed on anyone. No one in Jerusalem will be taught a curriculum they do not want to study and they have the right to learn the curriculum they want. Students have the freedom to choose the curriculum they want to learn.”