Jerusalem
© Ma'an Images
The mayor for the Israeli-run Jerusalem municipality hopes to make "Jerusalem the greenest city in Israel," largely at the expenses of Palestinian residents.

Jerusalem municipal Mayor Nir Barkat revealed his "master plan" for the city on Monday, which includes the ominous pledge for the "Development of eastern Jerusalem," where most of the Palestinian population lives.

Also of concern to Palestinian residents is his intention to create five new metropolitan parks, particularly given the current demolition orders on nearly 100 Palestinian homes in the Silwan neighborhood of the city to make way for the construction of green space.

Equally distressing is the issue of Israeli "Conservation and preservation of historic buildings," since this often means the judization of Islamic or ancient historic sites.

In his explanation of "Developing Eastern Jerusalem," Barakat said "An additional 13,550 housing units will be made available for construction for the residents of eastern Jerusalem," which means the expansion of illegal East Jerusalem Israeli settlements. These settlements will be constructed on the land Palestinians will establish their capital city on under the Road Map and Arab Peace Initiative.

The mayor said he intended to build most of the new housing in the Palestinian A-Tur neighborhood (1,500 units), the Palestinian Beit Hanina- Shuafat neighborhoods (2,500 units), Tel Adesa (2,000 units), Jabel Mukabar (2,500 units), and the eastern Jerusalem city center (750 units). These areas house the highest number of Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem.

Barakat outlined his plans for the revitalization of tourism in Jerusalem, saying efforts would be concentrated on the Old City, again an area of high-concentration Palestinian homes.

According to reports, "The plan affixes the borders of the historical city to include the neighborhoods and buildings built until 1948," which will annex even more Palestinian land.