Nof Zion buyer believed to be Bashar al-Masri

Residents of Nof Zion claim that Jerusalem mayor “allowed a Palestinian takeover of a Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem.”

By CHEN SHALITA/ GLOBES
nof zion 311 (photo credit: MELANIE LIDMAN)
nof zion 311
(photo credit: MELANIE LIDMAN)
The Nof Zion neighborhood of Jerusalem is the dream of any devotee of Greater Israel: a spacious apartment, pure air, a view of the Temple Mount and an opportunity to show the Arab villagers of Jebl Mukaber who’s boss. But now, there’s a new boss, and he’s Palestinian. The residents claim that Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat “allowed a Palestinian takeover of a Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem.”
Digal Investment and Holdings Ltd., which owns the land, built luxury apartments for the wealthy and sold them to ideologically motivated Jewish residents who wanted to live in east Jerusalem. However, the project ran into financial difficulties, and Digal was forced to sell. A client of attorney Dov Weissglass submitted the highest bid of the four that were received. The occupants of the seven buildings almost sighed with relief. There was just one small problem: The leading candidate to buy the property is Palestinian.
Who is he? According to Globes weekly magazine G, rumor among the groups that bid for Digal has it that he is Bashar al-Masri, the developer behind the construction of Rawabi, the new city planned north of Ramallah. Masri has used Weissglass’s services before. Sources close to the negotiations with the Palestinian who were asked to confirm his identity avoided direct denial, strengthening the supposition that Masri is the man.
Israel Zeira, CEO and owner of Bemuna Ltd., sells housing cheaply to members of the national-religious community through buyer groups.
“I don’t believe that a sale to a Palestinian, who will change the character of the neighborhood, will stand up in court,” he said. “We have definite information that al-Masri is examining the idea of compensation for the Jewish residents so that they won’t interfere with his plans. DS Apex [Digal’s main bondholder] and Bank Leumi will face a claim for damages of NIS 100 million if they go along with this move, to make a few more pennies from Weissglass. It’s hard to believe that Bank Leumi, a Zionist bank owned by the state, will become entangled in such a traitorous act.”