US millionaire in East Jerusalem means confrontation
Israel, Local, 7/29/1997

Despite Palestinian outrage, a US millionaire claimed on July 28 that he has the right to build a settlement project for Jews in an Arab neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

However, Irving Moskowitz, a Miami businessman and bingo parlor owner, refused to confirm or deny reports that he has agreed to postpone the start of the project or specify when work will begin.

The project has raised tensions in occupied Jerusalem where Palestinian officials warned that violence would result if the construction went ahead.

Palestinians were skeptical about Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu's reassurances that he would stop the project.

Thursday's decision by Jerusalem city officials to authorize the building of 70 homes for Jews at Ras Al Amoud caused a storm of protest. Reports later said Moskowitz did not plan to build immediately, in part because he wanted to build more apartments.

"The entire subject of whether I should build or not is ludicrous because I have a right to build," Moskowitz said in an interview on Israel army radio on July 28.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the cabinet he is opposed to the project "at this time" and will act to stop it, Israel radio reported.

The prime minister's aide David Bar-Illan, said even if the permit is legal,
the prime minister can overrule it if he thinks it would threaten public
security." He can always prevent something that poses a danger to public safety and national security," Bar-Illan told the Associated Press.

"I expect that in the State of Israel if there is any rioting the government will prevent it,² said Moskowitz, a doctor who earned a fortune by owning hospitals and a bingo parlor in southern California.

Moskowitz,69, has been a supporter of Netanyahu and a financial backer of the Jewish settlement movement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He has worked through the New York-based Jerusalem Reclamation Project to buy Arab properties in Jerusalem.

Palestinians maintained the land was obtained underhandedly and that launching the project would ignite violence.

"It is not an issue of timing," said Palestinian Minister for Higher Education Hanan Ashrawi. "Building there (in Ras al Amoud) means friction and confrontation, and it is also illegal," she said.

Moskowitz told an Israeli newspaper he will build in Jerusalem, and the government does not have the right to stop him.

"They can't. We have all the required permits. For 90 day anyone who wanted to could have submitted an objection, but nobody did, because it has always been Jewish property, which I bought with my own money."

Previous Stories:
  Israel plan declaration of war   (7/28/1997)
  Talks in vain without halt in settlements, say Palestinians   (7/24/1997)
  Israelis condemn anti-settlement vote   (7/18/1997)

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