Haaretz
Iyar 29, 5765
The Jerusalem Municipality
plans to demolish approximately 90 Arab homes that were built without
permits in Silwan (Kfar Hashiloah), south of the Old City's walls. The
homes constitute an entire neighborhood - known in Arabic as al-Bustan, in
Hebrew as Emek Hamelech, and in English as King's Valley - that is home to
some 1,000 residents. The story first broke in Haaretz a week ago, and
Deputy Interior Minister Ruhama Avraham said in response that while razing
the homes may indeed lead to unrest in East Jerusalem, "The government has
no intention of capitulating to law-breakers."
The government's
policies regarding law-breakers in the field of construction could serve
as the subject of lengthy discussions - for example, the construction of
the illegal outposts that has gone on all the while, and still is, just
three months after Talia Sasson filed her report. But the issue now is,
first and foremost, the powder keg that will ignite in East Jerusalem, and
also beyond the borders of the city in all likelihood - because everything
that is done in Jerusalem reverberates loudly in the media and the
political arena, and significantly affects Israel's relations with the
Palestinians.
The plan to demolish these homes in particular is no
coincidence. They lie on the outskirts of ancient Jerusalem - the City of
David - which serves as a focus for takeovers by settlers from the Elad
(the Hebrew acronym for "to the City of David") association. For years,
the settlers have tried, with great success, to acquire Arab assets in the
area and create a Jewish neighborhood there. According to building plans,
the land is slated for the establishment of an urban, archaeological park
with the ancient sites of the City of David at its center.
The
Palestinians see this as part of a broader Israeli plan to get the Arabs
out of the city, with some even terming it "a small transfer." They are
holding protest actions at the site and trying to drum up international
support.
The Jerusalem city engineer has explained that Mayor Uri
Lupolianski is aware of the demolition plans, and supports them - not only
because the aim is to establish a national park on the site, but also in
light of the danger the Arab residents will face if the neighborhood is
flooded by the waters of the Kidron stream during very rainy
seasons.
Some of the facts are in dispute. Some homes in the
neighborhood were built before 1967, and probably went through the
approval processes of the Jordanian municipality. Others were built some
seven or more years ago, and come under the statute of limitations; in
other words, they cannot be demolished even if they were built without
permits and their owners can only be charged with practicing illegal
building.
Lupolianski's position is not cut and dried either. A few
days ago, he hinted that he would consider the matter and make more
specific decisions with regard to which of the homes, if any, will be
razed.
The issue is, first and foremost, a political one. A
decision by the mayor to demolish homes would undoubtedly cause a major
uproar and constitute an obstacle in the face of the attempts to renew the
peace process. This is the principal consideration that the mayor must
take into account.