Settlers occupy Palestinian homes in Old City's shadow
(MENAFN- Arab News) JERUSALEM: Israeli police guarded Jewish settlers as they moved into seven homes in a Palestinian neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday while stunned and angry Palestinians looked on aware that there was little they could do.
The homes in Silwan which sits in the shadow of Jerusalem's Old City were purchased by Elad a pro-settlement group that uses funds from Jewish supporters in the United States and elsewhere to buy properties in Palestinian districts.
Tuesday's move was the largest purchase of homes in Silwan since the process began in the neighborhood in 1986 taking to 26 the number of settler-owned properties local officials said. Around 90 settler families totalling 500 people live in Silwan among some 50000 Palestinians. Israeli police protect them.
'This is a government by the settlers for the settlers' said Saeb Erekat the Palestinians' chief peace negotiator calling the move an attempt to erase Palestinian identity.
'It serves the objective of altering the character of Jerusalem through isolating containing and confining Palestinian existence allowing for more Israeli land-grabs.'
Israel usurped East Jerusalem after its capture in the 1967 war when the West Bank and Gaza Strip were also seized. Citing historical and Biblical roots Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital a claim not recognized internationally.
Residents of Silwan a tightly packed neighborhood of winding streets on the side of a hill acknowledged on Tuesday there is little they can do to stop settlers from moving in.
In the latest case all of the homes were purchased legally by Elad via intermediaries usually Palestinian brokers who buy the properties from local families at inflated prices.
The homes in Silwan which sits in the shadow of Jerusalem's Old City were purchased by Elad a pro-settlement group that uses funds from Jewish supporters in the United States and elsewhere to buy properties in Palestinian districts.
Tuesday's move was the largest purchase of homes in Silwan since the process began in the neighborhood in 1986 taking to 26 the number of settler-owned properties local officials said. Around 90 settler families totalling 500 people live in Silwan among some 50000 Palestinians. Israeli police protect them.
'This is a government by the settlers for the settlers' said Saeb Erekat the Palestinians' chief peace negotiator calling the move an attempt to erase Palestinian identity.
'It serves the objective of altering the character of Jerusalem through isolating containing and confining Palestinian existence allowing for more Israeli land-grabs.'
Israel usurped East Jerusalem after its capture in the 1967 war when the West Bank and Gaza Strip were also seized. Citing historical and Biblical roots Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital a claim not recognized internationally.
Residents of Silwan a tightly packed neighborhood of winding streets on the side of a hill acknowledged on Tuesday there is little they can do to stop settlers from moving in.
In the latest case all of the homes were purchased legally by Elad via intermediaries usually Palestinian brokers who buy the properties from local families at inflated prices.
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