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Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-692808
Israel Clears Land for Special Needs School for Arab Children in Jerusalem, European Diplomats Seek to "Protect Criminals"
(Jerusalem Post) Lahav Harkov - European diplomats have a "Pavlovian instinct to attack Israel without knowing the facts," a senior Israel Foreign Ministry official said on Monday, following criticism of Israel's move to demolish an Arab-owned business illegally constructed on public property in Jerusalem. "The ambassadors that attacked Israel today were confused - instead of protecting the residents, they're protecting criminals." The evacuation was authorized by the Jerusalem District Court. The Jerusalem Municipality plans to build an educational complex on the property for Arab residents of the capital and would include a school for special-needs children. The Salhia family built a nursery, two storage units, and two temporary homes on the site. The Israeli official lamented that Europe calls on Israel to help Arabs in eastern Jerusalem - like build schools - and then attacks Israel when it does so. The Jerusalem Municipality noted: "Contrary to the family's claims, the buildings have not been on this territory for decades. Rather, they were built illegally in recent years. The family's illegal takeover of public property prevents hundreds of children with special needs in the area to get basic educational services....The claims that the territory will be expropriated in order to be transferred to Jewish residents is unfounded and baseless."