Israel Approves $90 Plan for East Jerusalem

The Israeli cabinet said the plan will focus on increased security and police presence in east Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in 1967. The cabinet said the plan is meat to bring about a significant decline in violence by reducing gaps in infrastructure, employment, education and social welfare and by boosting personal security. It calls for more Israeli policemen in the area and more security cameras. Police figures show that in March and April there were 390 incidents of stone-throwing at the security forces and cars in east Jerusalem, and dozens of cars stolen. The plan also calls for improving the education system in east Jerusalem and more social assistance. Most of the 306,000 Palestinians who live in east Jerusalem are residents, not citizens. There are also about 200,000 Israelis living in neighborhoods built since 1967. Israel says that east Jerusalem is part of the united Jewish capital, while Palestinians say it must be the capital of a future Palestinian state.