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West Bank and East Jerusalem conditions aren't much better. On April 5, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) released data showing 70.5% of Palestinians aged 60 or over suffered from at least one chronic disease in 2010. Many are serious and life-threatening.
The percentage rose from 45.5% in 2000. It's likely higher now and worsening annually. Nearly 19% of Palestinians aged 18 or older are affected compared to 11.5% in 2000. Birth rates are down, from 5.9 per woman in 2000 to 4.1 in 2010.
Settlement expansions on stolen Palestinian land continue. In early April, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced a new one in Occupied East Jerusalem.
Known as Kidmat Zion, 200 homes will initially be built, followed by many more. The location lies between East Jerusalem's Abu Dis and Jabal Mukkaber, close to Israel's Separation Wall.
The area's one of East Jerusalem's most sensitive because of its proximity to Palestine's future parliament location. According to Meretz Party member Meir Margalit:
"The Palestinians cannot live with a plan like this, which will split East Jerusalem in two and destroy any chance of dividing the city and of reaching a peace agreement. In my opinion, (Barkat) doesn't understand the serious implications of the issue for him."
On April 4, Haaretz headlined, "Israel issues tender for hundreds of new apartments in East Jerusalem," saying:
They're earmarked for Har Homa beyond the Green Line. Five tenders include 827 units. They're mostly for "a new section of the neighborhood called Har Homa Gimel..."
Construction will "significantly expand Har Homa to the south and east, bringing it closer to Palestinian towns Beit Sahour and Nauman."
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