Deputy Premier Yigal Allon disclosed yesterday that Arab residents are voluntarily leaving the former Jewish quarter of East Jerusalem and Jewish settlers are being encouraged by the Government to move in. Mr. Allon spoke in the Knesset in reply to a motion that not enough was done to settle Jews in the Old City, formerly occupied by Jordan.
He said the Government will provide aid and support to any Jew who wants to settle there and was planning to construct more than 7,000 dwelling units for Jewish residents. Mr. Allon stressed that the Arab residents are not being expelled. He said they were gradually moving out after agreeing to accept higher standard accommodations in areas of their choice or cash payment to help them establish households elsewhere. He said the government planned to build 100 new houses in the Wadi Joz sector for Arabs now occupying old or dangerous buildings, 30 of which are presently under construction.
Mr. Allon said there was no section of united Jerusalem, including the Old City, that is barred to Jewish habitation. The authorities are willing to help Jewish individuals and groups who buy or rent accommodations there. He said there were presently 2660 Jews living in the former Jordanian sector and predicted that there would be 42,000 by 1973. Mr. Allon declared that Israel would accept no demand, whatever its source, to change the present status of Jerusalem as a unified city under Israeli rule.
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