Israel to relocate 1500 Palestinians from Silwan

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RAMALLAH: As part of Israeli attempts to Judize the disputed city of Jerusalem, the Jewish-dominated Jerusalem Municipality may offer to voluntarily relocate some 1,500 Palestinian residents of the city’s Silwan neighborhood to alternative lots in East Jerusalem, Arab residents said.

The daily Haaretz said that the option was brought up by city council and East Jerusalem portfolio holder Yakir Segev, in meetings with the Arab residents. The 88 houses at issue were allegedly constructed without permits in the Al-Bustan area of Silwan and are slated for demolition by Israeli authorities. They stand in an area known as the King’s Garden, defined as being of great archaeological importance by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Silwan, a Palestinian neighborhood of 10,000 people, is set in a beautiful valley just outside the Old City walls, Jews claim it to be there ancient city. Therefore, according to the Jewish National Fund, it is “historical justice” that only Jews should live on this land.

The nasty and obviously racist battle to cleanse Silwan of non-Jews is under way with a vengeance. Palestinian residents call it “house-to-house combat.” According to attorney Ziad Qa’awar, the last meeting took place in early February and saw Segev proposing two alternative locations, one on a different hill in Silwan, and the other in the neighborhood of Beit Hanina, in the northeast of the city. The proposition was unanimously rejected by the residents.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=119436&d=21&m=2&y=2009