The Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem recently returned to its decision to demolish the entire Jerusalemite neighborhood of al-Bustan which is adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque after its rejection of engineering plans freezing demolition orders and its cancellation of all agreements signed with Palestinian residents of the neighborhood.
The Israeli court refused to extend the freeze on the demolition orders which were distributed to the citizens of the neighborhood recently. Thus the municipality will demolish all homes for establishing the so-called “Biblical national park.”
Serious decision
Fakhri Abu Diab a member of the Defense Committee for Silwan confirmed that it is clear that the occupation’s decision to demolish the al-Bustan neighborhood this time is serious.
Abu Diab pointed out that there is pressure by the Israeli extreme right party to start the demolition of the neighborhood.
He explained that the Israeli occupation wants to empty Jerusalem of its original inhabitants and work on Judaizing projects in other areas as well.
The occupation wants to convey its message to the new American administration and the International Criminal Court that it will continue to impose settlements and Judaize lands and holy sites Abu Diab noted.
He stated that as a result of the court decision and the occupation municipality’s insistence to implement its plan the neighborhood’s houses are in danger of imminent demolition.
The demolition decision
The story of the al-Bustan neighborhood goes back to 2004 when the occupation municipality issued a decision to demolish the whole neighborhood. Back then it began distributing demolition orders to its 1550 residents under the pretext of unlicensed building even though its lands are privately owned by Palestinians and Islamic endowment.
Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan is located in Wadi Al-Nar between the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood and the National Park of the vicinity of Jerusalem’s walls to the west. It is about 300 meters from the southern wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and has an area of 70 dunums.
The Israeli occupation claims that the area represents “the historical-cultural heritage of the Jewish people” so it worked to Judaize its name and changed it into the “King’s Garden”.
Over the years structural plans for some parts of Silwan town were approved but they were not provided an area necessary for the expansion of the neighborhood.
The town witnessed overcrowding and its residents began building without a permit hence today they are facing the risk of displacement.
Fear of mass demolition
Residents of the neighborhood fear an unprecedented Israeli mass demolition which would constitute a dangerous precedent in the history of Jerusalem. Also they face deportation with the aim of emptying the city of its original inhabitants.
Decision to escalate
Abu Diab reveals that al-Bustan’s people have decided to confront the bulldozers of the occupation and protect their houses.
He said “We have exhausted all legal and diplomatic means and we will put pressure again on international institutions. However we will rely on our standing in front of the Israeli bulldozers and there will be an escalation of our steps to prevent these Zionist measures.”
He explained that the Jerusalemites succeeded in some cases with their unity and steadfastness to foil the occupation’s schemes. The last of which was refusing to install electronic devices at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque he added.
Abu Diab confirmed that the neighborhood residents have set up a permanent sit-in tent to confront the decision of mass demolition.
