RAMALLAH, Jan 21 (JMCC) - The Israel Land Administration published a public tender two weeks ago to reconstruct the village of Lifta in Jerusalem into a luxury mixed development to include residential housing units, restaurants and galleries. Developers say they are committed to preserve the original character of Lifta, a village that has been deserted by Palestinians in 1948.

Some Palestinians criticize this move and call it the second Nakba, the Arabic word meaning catastrophe  referring to the events leading up to the establishment of Israel in 1948.

Gabriel Kertesz, the architect who designed the new development in Lifta, disagrees and said the redevelopment is actually the best thing that could happen to Lifta.  

There is one approach that nothing should be done, which means the disappearance of the village. Our approach is one involving preservation and revival. The plan requires the most meticulous preservation rules and permits construction only after the historic buildings are preserved and everything is done under the supervision of the Antiquities Authority and a conservation architect, he said.

Read the full story at Haaretz...