A Giant Middle Finger

A couple days ago, this story showed up buried on page 5 or 6 or something in the Atl. Journal-Constitution:

Jerusalem revives plan to raze homes

A Jerusalem planning body this week approved a plan to raze 22 Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem

Oh, bulldozing more Palestinian homes? Well, it must be a matter of vital national security, maybe rooting out terrorists, or I don't know, something super important. They wouldn't just destroy peoples' homes without a damn good reason, right?

A Jerusalem planning body this week approved a plan to raze 22 Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem to make room for a tourist center

I'm sorry, what?

The plan calls for the construction of shops, restaurants, art galleries and a large community center on the site where some say the biblical King David wrote his psalms. The 22 displaced families would be allowed to build homes elsewhere in the neighborhood, though it is not clear who would pay for them.

So this is just bulldozing homes because, fuck you, we'll do what we want? And you're going to allow these people to build new homes and maybe even pay for them, but probably not? Really? And you wonder why these people resort to terrorist tactics aginst you?

Back in March, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pressured Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to hold up the plan so authorities could consult with Palestinians losing their homes — a delay that appeared to be aimed at fending off U.S. criticism.

Right, because if you're going to destroy peoples' homes for the most frivolous of reasons, you have to worry that the US may possibly criticize you!
And how exactly do you consult with someone whose house is facing the wrecking ball that you sent to knock it down? What the hell is there to discuss?

This is just a giant middle finger from Israel to the rest of the world.