Sunday, March 13, 2016

Is Encinitas for sale?

Commentary by former Mayor Sheila Cameron in the Coast News:
Is everything in our City for sale? Even our integrity? Why is it that the rich can pay their way onto any building — whether it is a library, community park, or ball field?

Is this not what is partly wrong with Congress today? Lobbyists and people of means can give money and own people as well as places?

I never thought I would see this in Encinitas, but why not?

We are merely a microcosm of the larger picture of the way government unfortunately operates in this country.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, former president of the United States put it this way: “Government by Organized Money is as dangerous as government by an Organized Mob.”

The Encinitas Library went through a controversial ballot initiative over the site for our library. The current site was chosen overwhelmingly by 66 percent of the voters. During the construction phase of the library, tours were available to people who paid $500 each for the privilege.



Over $50,000 was raised, along with many other personal generous donations to help make this library a reality.

The grand opening of the library took place in February, 2008.

The Encinitas Library, the citizens’ library, is the “Jewel on the Hill” in our city with a 180 degree view of the Pacific Ocean that can be enjoyed by all who visit it.

Our library has become the second most used library in the county. The building belongs to us, and is staffed by county library employees!

In October 2015, the Encinitas City Council contracted with Green Play consultants of Colorado, who wrote up a “Financial Sustainability” report that basically told the city that a way to make money on our city amenities, was through offering “naming rights.”

You give money and your name goes on a trail, a park, the Community/Senior Center; or in this case, starting with the Encinitas Library.

Why is a city, who tells its residents over and over that we are in great financial shape, contracting with consultants to tell us how to make money by selling our souls?

And that is about what naming rights for money donations amounts to when you sell your identity as a city.

A foundation, has come forward and offered $500,000 (in installments) to go to the “Friends of the Library,” which as a 501C-3, the Friends are obligated to spend on the Library.

This foundation is offering another $1 million (in installments) to go into the city’s General Fund to be used as the City Council chooses, for the naming rights to our library.

I do not believe any name should appear on the Encinitas Library, except “Encinitas.”

This library is very special.

It belongs to all of us, and does not deserve to have its name changed for any amount of money!

It would be very generous for a donation to be made to the Friends of the Library outright — perhaps a plaque on the Friends area to recognize that contribution.

Why does it have to have a caveat attached that the city must sign an agreement to get the donation through claiming a “naming right?”

I admit that I have a personal and emotional attachment to this library, having put in more than 11 years to have it become a reality — during my four years on the City Council and eight years following, including six years on the Friends Library Board.

I worked with the architect and a group of dedicated citizen volunteers to bring this about.

It had many hoops to jump and obstacles to overcome, but always the citizens of this city were behind it, in support of it, celebrated with joy at its opening, and enjoy its use today.

This library should not be named for anyone else — for any amount of money — it belongs to the citizens of Encinitas and it should be known as it is now — The Encinitas Library.

55 comments:

  1. Excellent comments and I totally agree that OUR library should NOT be renamed to suit the Mizels. Who are these people that think they can throw money in your face to take away our identity?

    It would be better if the Mizels gave the money as a gift without something in return. If they are that in love with the library, that is what they should do. They should not be allowed to take it off their taxes and they should not be allowed to screw our citizens.

    The library should remain THE ENCINITAS LIBRARY.

    Shame on our mayor for letting this come to council.

    Shame on the Mizel family. Give your donation without strings.

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  2. Bravo Sheila. This better go through the Planning Commission before the Council, so we will have a voice in this sell out. The Barth fruitcase grove did not and the public had no input before Council gave that one way.

    Perhaps we need a Prop A type of protection statute to save our pubic treasures from an altogether too amenable council. If it takes a vote, then so be it. This appears to be all too easy for our council to sell out OUR treasures without our participation.

    Karen are you listening? Council, can your hear your public asking for our input before doing these giveaways. The precedence this sets in place needs to countered with OUR permission. These treasures are not for you to giveaway.

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  3. If you haven't noticed the Encinitas library is a very well populated homeless shelter with coffee, snacks, free internet and ocean view.

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    1. I know, treating the homeless like they were human or something.

      By the way, all the cool kids are calling "free internet" free Wi-Fi.

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    2. The library has people of all economic means enjoying its services.

      I haven't seen the so-called homeless people causing a problem. Also many people are using the free WI-FI with their own lap-tops, enjoying this beautiful location as a kind of home-away-from-home office.

      Plus the Community Room is great. Carlsbad is revamping the Dove library, I read, and is raising about $8 Million through various foundations for non in perpetuity naming rights for various rooms.

      Hospitals can have a wing named after them. Perhaps someone could be content with having the Community Room named after their family? If we do decide, publicly, to sell naming rights, it would be for a County Public Library, on County land, staffed by County personnel.

      The City of Encinitas built the library, and tore down the pre-existing library, took over the SDWD land, and tore that down, too. Therefore, it's the Encinitas Library, but it's also the Encinitas branch of the SD County library system.

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  4. Why can't they just give the money and not have their name on the library?

    Kudos to former mayor Cameron and all the other folks who kept the library where it is (some suggested it be moved to Quail Gardens) and got it built.

    Once you start selling your soul this way, there is no end to where it can take you.

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  5. "This library should not be named for anyone else"

    Freudian slip.

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  6. The Library was a huge waste of money. Cameron is clueless.

    the Encinitas library is a very well populated homeless shelter with coffee, snacks, free internet and ocean view. Our family will not go there. Its too unstable with all the crackheads.

    Honestly, when is the last time you wen to our library. Besides the homeless, not many residents use the library. Just Cameron and others pet project.

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    1. Yes. Doesn't feel so safe around evening when the homeless head out. Transient magnet that place.

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    2. Thank you for avoiding the library, if only you would move out of Encinitas this would be a better place to live.

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    3. I use the library quite a bit. It's a great place to work, nice views, and powerful wifi. I love to take calls on the patio - walk and talk....but if you don't get there by 10am, good luck finding a place to sit! As far as the homeless, there seems to be only a small handful. The skinny lady with the big glasses and plastic bags; the old lady with the massive diabetic ankles; the swarthy middle aged gentleman with his DVD player; the large, white haired older fellow with the red hat who likes to put a book on his chest and take a nap!! Basically, they're harmless. Plenty of residents of all stripes making good use of our tax dollars - a more than worthwhile investment!

      - The Sculpin

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    4. Yup, the 2nd most heavily used library in the system is a huge waste of money. All of that study time, free concerts, fabulous bookstore, child enrichment programs, senior programs and library services are a complete waste.

      Sarcasm intended. Libraries are for everyone, and judging by the lack of parking, everyone is using the library. It's a true success in our community. Thanks Sheila!

      -MGJ

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    5. - The Scuplin and MGJ.... always the govement tools. More like city employees.

      Bad Job Shiela as usual. Library should have been $4 million not the $20 million.

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    6. Neither one of us is a government employee. I work for myself or contract out to various companies. Nice try, Mikey.

      The library is a great asset. Sheila wasn't in charge of the building process, but she did help us get our new library, so kudos to here.

      Go crawl back under your rock in Oceanside.

      -MGJ

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    7. Agree......in fact, I routinely go against the government; whether it be procedurally, judicially or legislatively I always push back!!

      - The Sculpin

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  7. Recently, Lisa Shaffer told members of the No Rail Trail group that the Coastal Rail Trail was to be HER legacy!

    This from someone who had only been in the City of Encinitas less than 7 years; and even though one can easily take a position that nothing should be named for anyone; save the drunks the parks were named after by Dalablabber; in reality Cameron DID slow down long enough to allow the library to be built in the first place and rightfully, tho she doesn't spit it out sans diplomacy, Sheila believes if anyone deserves to have the library named after them, it is SHE ala H. Rider Haggard. Much like Bonde's never-ceasing war against the bullet-train and double-tracking that Sheila then misrepresented to people who work for a living as Bonde being the 'Godfather of Incorporation', Sheila writes this letter and its published by her soulmate Jim Kydd in the 'Coast Newsydust Manifesto' as a desperate attempt to keep the library from being named after anyone but herSELF. Frankly, if Barth gets a 'Fruit Salad' in Glen Park to feed the homeless, and Shaffer gets to condemn half of central Cardiff for a legacy; and Maggie Houlihan's name is ladled upon a Dog Park; then why shouldn't Sheila get the breathtaking view from the Encinitas Library named after her? And why shouldn't it be painted the pale 'Yellow Fever' yellow, the same color that Sheila fought Weezie Aspell over City Hall's Spring Refresher Outdoor Application, lo these 20 years ago? The Sheila Cameron Public Library? Why not?

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  8. A potential name - The Downtrodden Destitute Dominion - the homeless need recognition to enhance their self-esteem!

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    1. Well, at least you tried.

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    2. If at first you don't succeed. .....

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  9. 7:40am Mikey a..ream, please crawl back under your rock. Every time you show up at council meetings or planning commission meetings, your reputation in this community enters first. Anyone that associates with you becomes stained. It is amazing anyone would align with you after your well known past history around here. You are delusional if you think you have any credibility. Just crawl back under the rock you creep [haha] out of. Your ability to make peoples skin crawl is your m.o.

    Sheila has no designs to have anything named after her. You are pulling that out of your fat .... There is no level to which you will not stoop.

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  10. Also 7:40am, if you knew anything, you would know Jim Kidd has little to do with the Coast News editorial policy these days. Tony Cagala sp has been allowed to squander the decades of trust this community has had for the Coast News.

    As unbelievable as it sounds, the Manchesters Advocate is much more relevant to our community these days and it is a shame. I miss the old Coast News. There is little of value that can't be gone through in five minutes these days in the Coast News.

    Chris and Jim, we thank you for your years of service to this community and hold hopes you can restore what has been lost under Tony's reign.

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  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Mel Gibson, what are you doing here?

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    2. Just because you don't support the settlements in Israel doesn't make you Mel Gibson. Their hard to find non-profits, and how they got their money, that's fair game.

      The bottom line is, that library doesn't need a name, the people of our town, and our leaders at the time got us the library, not someone looking for a vanity project.

      Keep it as it is...

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    3. The chairman of the Jewish Defense League and a follower were arrested after allegedly plotting to blow up a Culver City mosque and the office of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., federal authorities said today.

      Jewish Supreamcist Irv Rubin, 56, and Jewish Supremacist Earl Krugel, 59, both of Los Angeles, were arrested late Tuesday after the last component of the bomb-- explosive powder-- was delivered to Krugel's home, U.S. Attorney John S. Gordon said.

      Other bomb components and weapons were seized during a raid at Krugel's home.

      Rubin and Krugel were expected to appear in court later today.

      They were booked for conspiracy to destroy a building by means of an explosive, which carries a maximum five year sentence, and possession of a destructive device related to a crime of violence, which carries a 30-year mandatory sentence.

      A government source told authorities about a series of meetings at which the scheme to bomb the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City and Issa's office was hammered out, Gordon said.

      The original target was to be the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles but the source told authorities there was another meeting last weekend and it was changed.

      "Prior to last night's arrest, the source delivered explosive powder, the last component required to begin construction of the bomb, to Krugel's residence," the U.S. attorney said.

      The complaint against the pair quotes Krugel as making a comment during a meeting that Arabs "need a wakeup call."

      Tajuddin Shuaib, director of the King Fahd Mosque, said he was astonished by the alleged plot, which came during Ramadan, the holiest time of the year for Muslims. He said no threats were received by the mosque.

      As many as 1,000 people attend the mosque to pray there during the Ramadan season.

      "I can't understand why people would do such a thing. We are not against Jews. We are not against anybody. We are like any church or synagogue or temple," Shuaib said.

      Issa, the grandson of Lebanese immigrants, is on the House Committee on International Relations and supports Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Last month, he met with Lebanon's president to discuss Hezbollah, which the United States considers a terrorist group. Issa, who represents northern San Diego County, called on the group to renounce terrorism.

      Law enforcement agencies raided Krugel's Reseda late Tuesday. Several hours later, the screen door of the red brick home was broken and part of the fence had been knocked down. A menorah, the Jewish candelabra used for Hanukkah, was visible through a window and there was an American flag on the mailbox.

      Matthew McLaughlin, an FBI spokesman in Los Angeles, "The tools might have been in place to do this thing," he said. "We don't put people in (custody) just for superficial impressions. We put people in place for their physical actions."

      Maher Hathout, a senior adviser for the Los Angeles chapter of the MPAC, said he learned today they had been a tentative target. He said the arrests sent an encouraging message to the Muslim community.


      The Jewish Defense League opposes what it considers ANY threats to the Jewish people, whether from Arabs, evangelizing Christians or pro-peace Jews.

      Originally formed by Rabbi David Meir Kahane to mount armed response to any criticism of Jews in New York City, it gained notoriety when its members were linked to bombings.




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    4. Just the facts mam:
      http://mondoweiss.net/2013/07/murderer-baruch-goldstein/#sthash.DTPIV9oL.dpuf

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  12. https://youtu.be/bYJZS0n6LVk?t=10m40s

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    1. It looks like the NKVD secret police is censoring, suppressing, and destroying free speech herein by DELETING posts that are factually based but VERY unpopular to a group that Mel Gibson can likely concur is incessantly whining and playing the victim all the while want YOU to pay for everything. "To determine who wants to rule over your thoughts and opinions simply ask who you are not allowed to criticize." Please don't silence me as I only speak the truth and someday this truth will set you free!

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  13. The Steven & Patricia Mizel Library- dedication

    https://youtu.be/bYJZS0n6LVk?t=12m46s

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  14. Steve Mizel lecturing Israeli Death Forces (IDF) on how to "shoot straight" when they go out an assassinate Palestinians on their own land. Who is Steve's friend in the video Mr. Noah Foume(sp?) we better also look into this my fellow neighbors?

    https://youtu.be/CgLG3qL0RYU?t=3m35s

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    1. Their " own land "

      According to who??

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    2. The discussion here is about the naming of the Encinitas library, not Israel and the Palestinians. That's a separate topic.

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    3. No sirree, when the fellow who wants to put his name on our library is directly funding illegal racist settlements in ILLEGALLY occupied territories (internationally recognized as illegal by the UN)USING THE SAME UNTAXED (TAX PAYER SUBSIDIZED) AMERICAN DOLLARS OUT OF THE SAME NON-PROFITS IT MATTERS A WHOLE BUNCH. You seem like another one of him trying to CENSOR/SUPPRESS/DESTROY any conversation on this pressing issue.

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    4. I agree with 2:46 poster. You cannot separate the people wanting their name on OUR library and those same people funding illegal racist settlements. There is something wrong with this.

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  15. Interesting. The kind of people Encinitas can be proud of. I hope the council wises up and doesn't let these kind of people take over.

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  16. Nearly a decade ago, when I was blissfully unaware of local political drama, or the particular players, I went into a nondescript block building on Second St. to get my mower blade sharpened.

    Sitting on a cut stump while waiting my turn.

    Honestly, I had no idea who any of our council members were.

    In strolled a bearded young hippie who jumped off a motor scooter who seemed to be friendly with everyone. He shook my hand even though I had no idea who he was. He urgently wanted to talk to the shop owner about an idea, and no one minded him jumping ahead of people waiting to talk to the shop owner.

    He immediately launched into a passionate advocacy, loud enough for everyone to hear. He thought the new library should be named after someone named Ida Lou Coley.

    After he left and it was my turn, the shop owner shook his head and said he didn't often agree with the hippie, but in this case he was right, and the shop owner said he was going to look into what it would take to make it happen.

    This was literally my personal awakening to local Encinitas politics.

    Google helped me figure out who these people were, and what they stood for. And who was this Ida Lou Coley. I never met her.

    There were a handful of strangers in the shop. I wonder if anyone else remembers the moment.

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    1. Bob Nanninga is the name of the fellow who joined you at Dalager's Repair Shop... gone now these 7 long years since the day after Valentine's...

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  17. We're more than a microcosm, we are a poster child and petri dish for govt. corruption, mob rule and an Agenda 21 police state.

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  18. Sheila, don't get sick or you might end up at "Scripps" hospital or "Thorton" hospital. OMG, named after philanthropic people...how awful.

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    1. 4:32 That comment was really not necessary. You don't see the name of the family in lights at the hospitals. Scripps Hospital IS SCRIPPS HOSPITAL. Thornton Hospital IS THORNTON HOSPITAL. It does not have a visible family name.

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    2. 4:40,

      Um, huh?

      The name is quite literally in lights.

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    3. I am the one who posted at 4:40 PM I did not make my comments clear. What I was trying to imply was that we don't see the first name or husband and wife name on the hospitals.

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    4. 4:55- those people are so well known they don't need their first names on the hospital...
      Hey there's always Tri-City....

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  19. The owner of this blog us obviously Jewish as he is CENSORING/SUPPRESSING/DESTROYING all my attempts at fact based free speech. its the Jews who will silence you or assasinate your character every time. Beware.

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    1. It's just that your rather singular focus is not of interest to the general readers of this blog. Some, I dare say, may even find it offensive.

      Why don't you start your own blog about Jewish culture and world domination?

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    2. Mel's just upset that the library contains books other than Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

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    3. Com to think of it, Mel's probably upset that we can't burn most of the books in the library.

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    4. Well, that's what's wrong with anonymous posting, all the anti-Semitic, racist creeps have a forum for their drivel.

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  20. 9:54am. Anytime there is criticism directed toward Israel and their actions toward their own enslaved citizens and neighbors, the response is always antisemitism. That is so typical of the response we always hear. It never fails to be used in trying to defend their indefensible behavior.

    It is the justice that is lacking in their dealing with their neighbors and their own citizens that have no rights to justice within the existing system that causes criticism to be leveled their way.

    Mel being brought up has no relevance except for how not to react.

    The issue here and now is preserving our library from being renamed in honor of a person whose family is involved in the hopeless situation in the middle east who would not bring honor to our city. Plain and simple. No Mel, No antisemitism. No library renaming.

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    1. "its the Jews who will silence you or assasinate your character every time."

      No antisemitism there, eh Mel?

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  21. 8:22pm, you seem to not be aware who is behind censorship and the limiting of free speech in the United States. Most Americans do not know that in Canada and most European countries you cannot even question or have a conversation about the fact that the Polish government has reduced the number of Jews killed at Auschwitz four times down to under 1mm people while the International Red Cross tally that became declassified illustrates that less than 276,000 Jews, Poles, and others died as Auschwitz and predominantly of disease (typhus). Think about that, you as a citizen who may have lost grandparents in World War II cannot even talk about it? "To understand who wishes to rule over you and control your thoughts simply find out who you are unable to criticize...without your character being assassinated and your facts not disputed." Amazon 'The Holocaust Industry' by Norman Finklestein to learn more about how one tiny group in America censors and supresses free speech by calling anyone that brings up their shortcomings and deception as "anti-semites." Gosh does any other racial minority have such a 'hate-filled' term to defend themselves from answering people's criticisms? Encinitas citizens want to know.

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    1. I think that it's fair to say that the ADL accomplishes the mission stated above.

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    2. I guess the basic difference between you and me is that, even if I agree to your questionable numbers and unreliable sources, 275,000 innocent civilian souls slaughtered in industrial scale death camps and burned in ovens doesn't sound insignificant to me.

      Call me crazy.

      Or, more likely, call me a dirty, lying Jew (I'm not, but you don't seem too concerned about reality).

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    3. I'm Irish Catholic and I don't hesitate to criticize Israeli policies but 8:35 AM and other posts are antisemitism dressed up as trying to set the record straight. Just shut the f**k up and go away. Take your hate filled diatribes somewhere else.

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  22. Steve Mizel has contributed to this article:
    http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/West-Bank-Israel-Seizes-Largest-Amount-of-Land-in-Years-20160316-0003.html

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