By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Oct 12, 2004
Residents of Jerusalem last week expressed growing frustration over massive unauthorized construction at a UN compound on the eastern side of the capital.
The world body has reportedly initiated a major construction project on a 160 square meter area adjacent to its headquarters near Ammunition Hill.
The UN has failed to obtain a valid permit for the construction, but continues with the project at a feverish pace nonetheless.
Israelis living near the site said the UN did not even bother to halt the noisy construction during the Shabbat or recent Succot holiday – making it nearly unbearable for local residents to celebrate those occasions.
The area, however, enjoys diplomatic immunity, so there is little the residents can do. Arutz 7 quoted them as saying the incident was just another example of the UN’s “blatant disregard for Israel, her residents, laws and customs.”