Settlers threaten to forcibly evict East Jerusalem Palestinians
Israeli settlers say they will hire private security firms to evacuate four families if they do not leave property by July 4.
By Nir Hasson Tags: Israel news East Jerusalem Israel settlersIsraeli settlers in East Jerusalem on Wednesday threatened to forcibly evict four Palestinian families they claim are living on property belonging to Jews in the neighborhood of Silwan.
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Beit Yonatan, a building where Israeli settlers live in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
The settlers said they would hire private security firms to implement the evictions if the four families, which include 40 individuals, do not leave by July 4.
The Palestinian families are living in a structure that was once a Yemenite synagogue in Silwan, located near the neighborhood's controversial Beit Yonatan structure.
Beit Yonatan, a seven-story residential structure, was built illegally in the heart of the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood by the nationalist association Ateret Cohanim.
Despite police discussions in preparation for the evacuation of Beit Yonatan several weeks ago, the implementation has been postponed until at least the end of the month.
There is a standing order, issued two years ago, to evacuate and seal Beit Yonatan, where ten Jewish families reside. Jerusalem municipal officials have yet to enforce the order, despite court rulings and orders from the former attorney general.
Meanwhile, the Beit Yonatan settlers claimed on Wednesday that police have not evicted the Palestinian families due to political constraints and have warned they would take matters onto their own hands next month.
National Union MK Uri Ariel raised the issue Wednesday during a Knesset discussion with Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch.
The settlers are justifying the eviction by claiming deeds for the property show it was owned by Yemenite Jews who lived there from the late 19th century until the 1948 War of Independence.
Aharonovitch said police are prepared to evacuate the structure, but that he has been instructed to delay the action due to political considerations.
"There is discrimination in everything related to the enforcement applied by the state and prosecution in Jerusalem," said a spokesperson for the Jewish community in Silwan.
"It is unclear why the state insists on evacuating Beit Yonatan despite a proposed compromise over the matter," the spokesperson continued. "On the other hand, the same authorities do not implement a court order that unequivocally called for the evacuation of Arab families who invaded a synagogue belonging to Jews."
Silwan, home to some 50,000 Palestinians and 70 Jewish families, has been at the center of a battle between Israeli Jews and Palestinians in their bids to retain control over East Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem municipality on Monday approved preliminary plans to demolish 22 Palestinian homes in the neighborhood as part of a plan to build a tourist center there.
The U.S. State Department criticized the decision, calling it the kind of step that undermines trust fundamental to progress in the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has said the plan gives a much-needed facelift to Jerusalem's decaying al-Bustan neighborhood, which Israel calls Gan Hamelech, or the King's Garden.
The plan calls for the construction of shops, restaurants, art galleries and a large community center on the site where some say the biblical King David wrote his psalms.
The 22 displaced families would be allowed to build homes elsewhere in the neighborhood, though it's not clear who would pay for them.
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Every Pal structure, including the infamous Beit Yonatan, should be evacuated of illegal settlers... only then can the settlers demand so-called Jewish property that they claim is theirs... we, the world, everyone is sick-and-tired of settlers requisitioning Pal property...
If Jews owned the building until 1948 they must be allowed the right of return? Hmmm, can we apply the same justice to the claims of the Palestinians?
Anything to distract the world's attention from Rubashkin's conviction in the slaughterhouse scandal.
Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel, and the land in question belonged to Jews before the Palestinians squatted on it.
I think Israel State& its some embedded citizens loves to invert the things. I see that takes the biscuit...
Then let the Jewish owners, if they have deeds, evict them properly through the courts. The settlers have nothing to do with it unless they can prove they are the true owners.
Repeatedly in Jerusalem the police refuse to evict them even after court rulings.
Let me get this straight. A building gets built that looksa like it should be in Manhattan. And now it they claim it was built illegally. So the people have to get out. Talk about getting Screwed but with a capital J. Wow! Tell a person that they have to get out of thier home and now its mine.
These settler fanatics are just as nuts as the Pals. What's worse, they're a liability to Israel: they require disproportionate military protection, they selfishly stir up the s**t pot, and they consistently give up what little political leverage the Israeli government has left. Peace is a compromise and a process, and the settlers don't want to be a part of either.
Secular Israel is showing the growing trend of non-religious Jews to hate themselves, and love their enemy.
Why should Arab East Jerusalem be subject to Israel`s apartheid system with discriminatory use of zoning laws, discrimination in permitting, discrimination in services, discrimination in courts...Arab East Jerusalem must be FREE and part of Palestine.
Last time i've checked. ikke snakket om det.
give up the fairytales people, God / gods promised you nothing and you own nothing. accept that fact, move on, and learn to live together.
Israel must not allow these Palestinians to be evicted. If necessary, Israel should send its soldiers to protect them. The Israeli government should attempt to purchase the land. The settlers want to build a tourist center, let them raze Israeli homes and then build it. Again, under no circumstances should these Palestinians be evicted.
Only the Pals can turn what has been known and maintained as for two thousand years, the Kings Gardens into a filthy slum. Besides, The Pals dont know what to do with infrastucture such as clean water, sewers, shops and such. I hear there is plenty of land in Jordan for them to live like animals. Peace through Victory!
Evicting a people and replacing them with Jews is akin to the cleansing of my fatherland - evicting the jew for the Deutsche master - all the world sees this - and this will be Israel's downfall - a self defeating, self consuming nation - not unlike the zealots of old that brought the jews down - again and again - so interesting how history repeats itself - and when we see the miracle of the jews survival - we also see the miracle of their repeated mistakes and punishments (OY VEY OY VEY) without ever learning from history.
Tell a lie enough and it becomes the truth. Disgusting bias in this article, typical talkbackers on the bandwagon. Who did Israel liberate J'lem from anyway? The illegal occupation by Jordanians, that's who. Amazing how ignorant people are of history.
Just because the squatters are Arabs and those that own the land are Jews, Israeli authorities are reluctant to carry out the law. A shame. Glad we're not apologists when it comes to security matters.. What would happen if a landlord in London or Paris demands to evict squatters in his building and people call it a hate crime or something just because they're Muslim immigrants? Double standards.
This latest news is dismaying as if we haven't already had enough bad news where Israel is concerned. It seems that Somalia has slightly more control over it's citizens than "the only democracy in the middle east" - Israel. Allegra's comment that the settlers should be deported from Israel makes good sense, either that or charge them with treason. Enough is enough, Israel's coffin already has enough nails in it.
These people forcing the issue are not kind. They don't know the meaning of kindness. This is disturbing to read and they should be the bigger man and let these humans stay. It's their land, everybody knows it's their land and it's always been their land. Does Jerusalem believe in the Rule of Law? Does Jerusalem believe in the human being?
will they mind if private firms are used to remove them from their illegal squats.
Why not enforce the law and return lands expropriated from Israeli Arabs to their rightful owners? After all thousands of Israeli Arabs have valid deeds to their lands too?
East Jerusalem (unlike West Bank) is officially part of Israel. Settlers are those who settle outside of Israel, in Israeli controlled territories (West Bank). I understand why anti-Semites would call every Jew a "settler" wherever he lives, but why Haaretz follows the same convention?
Read the subject
...is officially part of Israel according to only Israel. it's also officially the future Palestinian capital only according to Palestinians. See the problem here? Unilateral annexations aren't really all that sustainable when 99% of the world doesn't agree with you.
So jewish Israelis living in east jerusalem are called SETTLERS!
It is a nicer word then "theives".
Just leave it as it is and let them live there and share. Peace is a lot easier than both sides are making it.
This place is an old Yemenite synagogue. It's time to stop its desecration
They are bringing only shame and financial burden in the country, instead of helping citizens to build its future.
yea, they throw a rock, you use a bulldozer, they use a fire craker, you use F16, Jews are the masters of dirty tricks to steal more land. I try to respect jews but man what they say don't match there actions. Its always poor us... they are human also!
nothing but trouble. if the land is owned by a jew or a black or anyone for that matter , they have the right to evict period. Quite frankly im getting sick of both jews and palestinians. let em kill eachother off if they cant settle after all this time. They are both stubborn boneheads.
The settlers should return the lands they stole form the Pales in the West Bank and move to Israel proper. The way I see it is that you are the bone head here for calling on both sides to kill each other
Since East Jerusalem is not part of Israel but is part of the Palestinian territories in Law, Israeli settlers do not have the right to confiscate houses from the Palestinian families who've been living there forever.
Just imagine some other state doing similar stuff to Jews... It has happened before, it will happen again! But now, Israel and the Jewish organizations, have NO ground to protest, because Israel is doing similar things! Israel is implementing, and legitimizing, many abuses borrowed from the Apartheid regime and the Nazis! You are legitimizing discrimination and abuse against ethnic and religious minorities!!! This is a very, very disturbing trend to set, especially if you are a JEWISH state. Remember the pogroms, and the holocaust. Learn from the mistakes of history. Have some empathy, morality and humanity. Treat other people the way YOU want to be treated! PEACE!
"The 22 displaced families would be allowed to build homes elsewhere in the neighborhood, though it's not clear who would pay for them. " Uh, excuse me but isn't that the story of Israel in a nutshell?
You need to google Eugene Rostow on this subject. He is the attorney who drafted the famous UN Resolution 248 for the UN that everyone claims as grounds for making the settlements "illegal." In his many published explanations of that resolution he states that the settlements are not illegal and that under international law Jews have the "same" right to buy, sell, build, and live in the West Bank as Arabs and Palestinians. It would seem that the guy who wrote the law might know more than most. The real question is are the Palestinians getting fair treatment or do Jews get preferred treatment. You need to remember that some of these so called settlements have been lived in continuously by Jews for hundreds of years, at lesser numbers of course. Also that even the most liberal human rights groups estimate that 75% of all settlement land is legally and traditonally Jewish land and that all settlements make up less than 6% of the West Bank. So we are only talking about a disputed 1.5% of the land in a 60 year time frame, not exactly an agressive land grab.
you should know Jews hating and Antisemitic, doesn't mean closing eyes to the facts. the building is owned by Jews.
Settlers living in East Jerusalem live in brand new, luxury buildings, surrounded b y their own private militiamen and an ultra expensive security system. They live in luxury, partly thanks to Israeli taxpayers' money. Meanwhile, ordinary Israelis strive to make both ends meet.
Are all jewish owned things yours? Odd way of thinking about things..
when israel is itself guilty of stealing palestinian land..it would be like israel calling the kettle black..in regards to settlers..palestinians are treated no better then garbage in israel and in palestine..since israel occupies palestinian land..and if the case is a jewish person owned the land some 100 years ago..then israel should lay claim to the entire world..since israelis are nothing but..neaenderthals.
it's the policemans fualt. they were told to make them move and they didn't. the residents have 2 do something
the "residents" live somewhere else, quite comfortably jugged by their financial means. What they intend to do is not only illegal under international law, but now, when the Israeli gov finally shows some restrictions in their pursuit of illegal behaviour, the settlers start to even violate Israeli law (which in turn already violates international law). That is just outrageous, it basically means these settlers do whatever they like as they seem not to have to obey ANY law. Israel becomes more and more a banana republic
So, will settlers accept it if Palestinians hire private security firms to evict illegal settlers from Palestinian lands?
Didn't anyone notice that the illegal building was going up?
There is a July 4th in every country around the world. It's just a date. Don't try to put some meaning into the fact that in one country - only one country - it is a special date.
and get rid of the crazies living there.They are destroying Israel and Bibi is letting them.
does anyone know if they are for Jews only?
The collateral from attack upon an armed adversary is.....well, collateral.. The GC's are there to protect Israelis too. They should not be in "territories occupied"
This attitude is a direct result from the anti-Israel stance of Haaretz.
These "settlers" are a disgrace to everything Israel stands for; they have violated- and continue to violate- Israeli law. SHAME
People making comments about "settlers ruling Israel" and "where is the supreme court" clearly have no clue as to the situation, or how these types of disputes are resolved in Israel. The indivuduals (who Haaretz refers to for some reason as "settlers") have title to the property in question, and the Israeli Court has in fact ruled in their favor in this matter. For those who will comment that that could not possibly be "fair", should realize that the truth is quite the opposite - and that it is almost impossible for a Jew to win any claim in court against an Arab in what they refer to as East Jeruslaem or "occupied areas" - so the fact that court ruled in favor of the claimants and issued eviction orders against the current illegal occupants is an even greater proof of their claim. The people living on this property never purchased the land, they are nothing more than squatters who took the propery by force in 1948 from its rightful owners. The true owners have been fighting for decades to get their property returned. Also, as for the final point - In Israel when an eviction order is issued, it is the responsibility of the property owner to enforce the order - not the court, police, or army. This is why the property owner must hire a private security company to evict the illegal occupants. It is not a matter of taking the law into their own hands, but actually the proper and only way to enforce property rights in Israel. I concede to critics that this perhaps a less desireable method than sending the sherrif as in the states, but nevertheless that is the law here in Israel.
Of course armed with a court order tehse settlers could have over teh years evicted these people right. Why wait until new peace talks are going ion to pull this stunt.
"The people living on this property never purchased the land, they are nothing more than squatters who took the propery by force in 1948 from its rightful owners." Isn't that exactly what happened to many Pals in today's Israel back in 1948 by the hands of Israel?!? If the property claims of these settlers are just and acknowledged by an Israeli court, would that not also mean most of Israel is privately owned by Pals living abroad? apparently law of absent etc. does not apply to the israeli settlers, so why should it apply to Pal refugees? they are opening Pandoras box, soon the Israeli courts will be filled with Pals claiming (righteously so!) their property in West Jerusalem and all over Israel.Even if there are Israeli laws that turn land to state property after a certain time of absence by the owner, there is no way such a one sided application of laws can be justified in the eyes of the world.
I don't undestand how this can be llegal. I suppose that the Palestinians have no rights
The water and jobs are in the north but little cheap or open land for communities, with apartments in Israel short term option at best due to cost and few for rent. 2 state solution dead in 5yrs if no peace deal before.
The settlers have deeds showing that more than 100ys ago the property/land was once owned by Jews. Why do these documents entitle this particular group of entirely unrelated settlers to reclaim the building as theirs, simply because a previous owner was of the same religion or race? Did the settlers directly inherit the land in the original owners' will? Why should they personally claim the property, rather than some other random Jew? Can I claim a property in north London as mine, simply because it was once owned by a fellow Welshman?
THEY ARE INTERNATIOANL MAFIA
I'm not sure about the legal details of this case, but I think the argument is that, since it (allegedly) wasn't legally owned by Arabs when Israel was founded, it is state land, which means that any Israeli citizen or person eligible for citizenship under the law of return (read: Jew)--but not Arab residents of the East J'lem--have the right to enter into a long-term lease with the state. So I don't think that they are claiming it's theirs, but that they are rather just trying to get the Arabs evicted so they can acquire the land for themselves.
strongly disagree with these policies.It is the tail wagging the dog as far our government is concerned.The minority settlers and/or religious extremists are taking the law into their own hands,unless the government is in silent collusion that is.Because they live in their own bubble(on disputed territory!) they have absolutely no regard for anyone outside their own section of the community.This includes Jews Arabs the US etc.They have no regard for people as human beings or individuals.They do NOT speak for the majority of Israelis.I know that Netanyahu relies on this insular selfish lot to maintain his position in the government.So its about time we found another way to run the country which DOES NOT allow a minority to dictate to us.I'm sick of this displacement of Arabs by fanatical fundamentalists..We are now a hated country because of them.All the good stuff we do is overshadowed by them.Also because it is time for us to meet the US president,they will do everything in their power to throw a spanner in the works yet again.
If you think the settler movement is not absolutely central to the national strategy favoured by the majority of the Israeli center and right, then you are possibly well intentioned but very naive. The settlements are the ONLY reason for 40 years of occupation.
Yes, there are people who hate Israel but in my humble opinion they are extremists aswell. And im 100% convinced that extremists are a small minority compared to the mass. Irsael and its people arent hated by the world, i dont think so, and most people understand the difficult siutuation Israel is enduring. I am a friend of Israel, a friend of the peace loving peaople in Israel. Thats why i find it so hard to understand some actions the leaders of Israel takes. Because i doubt it would lead to any peace. To me it seems as many of their strategies leads to more hatered and conflicts. That makes it very hard for me to defend the actions taken by the Israel govenrment in everyday discussions about the world. I would like to ask if the president of Israel want peace and if so, under what conditions. Becuase to can't see any efforets to reach it. Israel deserves better!
I will leave the home I "inherited" in Katamon, Baka and Talbiya and return it to him... So i can return to "my" old Synagogue in Silwan Where the deer and the antelope pray/prey. Where quiet is a word seldomly heard Where force and "showing our presence" Is the way.
I agree entirely - we see all the time that if enough international, and particularly US, pressure is applied - Israel reverses these actions. This being the case, we are all complicit in allowing this to happen
Yeah, sure they'll be allowed to build homes. Jerusalem rarely gives out permits to palestinians.
israel has been taken over by thughs... led by thoughs... think like thughs
Most Israelis want nothing to do with these "settlers"/thugs.
1. Where are the settlers from originally in general, Israel? 2. Are they in general beloning to a specific group of jews like the Haredim? Thanks in advance for the answers :)
...there are some folks in town that would just as soon those "dots" not be connected?
Do illegal settlers who live illegally in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem, a part of the occupied West bank, rule?
since when a group of fanatical people can take decisions that belong to those who have proper authority? does the law in israel allow the settlers to take matters in their own hand while the state remains absent allowing the settlers the freedom to commit any injustice or crime that they are certainly capable of carrying out?
Is the government is power, or are the settlers taking over with the governments sanction.
Good grief, and Israel wonders why its reputation runs in the gutter. The entire world is growing sick and tired of this type of story of further persecution of the Palestinians!
as always...nothing new about this....They will get away with this one too..no doubt..
How can any justice system allow for private citizens to use force against other citizens (however they are defined technically)? If the courts do not get involved to promote Israel's basic laws, and to safeguard international norms, we shall have a huge crack in the edifice of our state's fundamental rule of law.
is increasingly an oxymoron!
The courts SUPPORTED claims of Jews in Sheikh Jarrah. SInce "legallly" the land never changed ownership after 1948..(i.e it remained "jewish") while in West Jerusalem, legally it is "ours".. As the opinion of the Ethics of our Fathers "The one who says ' What is/was mine is mine and what is/was yours is mine.' This is the wicked person."
The Arab squatters need to leave.
Get real. Palelstinians own lots of properties in Israel but cannot access them nor claim them back. If you want to discuss an exchange program, then it should be part of the negotiations and not a one way street.
Funny how you say "Jews own the property", but clearly not the Jews who want to replace the Palestinian families. Just some random, other Jews. Besides, if we're going to start using pre-1948 documents, you'll find Jews only have 7% of the land!
you did too. Game over.
The entire area belongs to Jews and hence evict them and have peace in the area.
My family owned a house in Katamon, in West Jerusalem, where 95% of its population was arab and emptied after 48. You're a shame !!
And the Arab owners were absentee landlords living mostly in Cairo and Damascus. Israel was mostly dust and tumbleweeds before the Jews got there (see Mark Twain).
There is an agreement between those two. That's is the difference. The world voted and UNSCR exists claiming E. J'lem, the WB and Gaza as occupied territories and the 4th Geneva convention applies (occupying power cannot tranfer its citizens). Until we have an agreement and a solution, the many UNSCR exist are the rule of Law. If you want to nullify those, think again as that is how Israel was created.
sorry, but the indians in america, and anybody else can live in new york. the palestinian families are not asking to own this piece of land, they want to live there and work, without evictions. it will be right to give the land back to the red indians, but there is not need for it, because they can live anywhere in america, like the jews do.
Since when do you make claim to illegally occupied land as your own- nitwit!
BTW a preemptive war is started by the preemptor....
Good point Rolex.This is never goona happen! Too much land grab under paltry excuse.
Rather odd don't ya think?
Howard Grief, "Legal Foundation and Borders of Israel under International Law.
Isn't property ownership deemed to be on a personal level. In other words property is owned by one person (or company ) or another. Property is not owned by a Nation. If that was the case can I come along, claim to be of a national group and take a piece of property as my own?
nobody is claiming ownership here, the palestinians want to live and work in jerusalem, nothing else. does the land belong to the jews, of course, they only want to work and live there.
This continuing land grab can only happen because the US let Israel get way with it. It's obvious now that this false tolerance only makes things worse. I suggest 10 million dollars for every Palestinian forced out of his home in the territories. Then the Israeli government would put a stop to those expulsion tactics by the settlers in no time!
surely, if the IDF implemented the court order on Jews as vigurously as it does on Palestinian properties, this bulding would be empty and this would be a non-issue. Instead, the Israeli policy continues to appease hard-line extremist settlers...when will Israel wake up and realise that the most serious emerging threat to its existence is settlers not arabs?
You would cry for these palestinians, 22 homes demolished for tourist park! How can people be silent about this? Israels day will come, and they will cry like cowards for what they have done to humanity.
Go live in Hamasastan and see how lovely they treat their citizens. You will cry and beg to move to Israel.
Clearly, by the views posted, not all Jews support this settlement. Let's not condem a whole race based on the actions of a few.
Palestinians have hamas, Lebanon has hizbollah, the Turks have Erdogan, the Iranians have the revolutionary guard and the ayatollahs, and guess who we have ? Yeah, the settlers
erdogan, hamas and hisbollah have all been democratically elected to represent their constituents who support them. Where Settlers???
but you rightfully put it within the company which it belongs to.