LONDON: Israel demolished four Palestinian homes in the Silwan area of Jerusalem, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on Monday after evicting several families last week.
Israeli forces entered Al-Bustan neighborhood with armored vehicles and heavy machinery and razed properties belonging to the Awad, Abu Shafeh and Ruwaidi families without warning, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
Jerusalem Governorate said that during February alone, Israeli authorities carried out 49 demolition and land-clearing operations in the city. The affected communities included Silwan, Al-Bustan and Batn Al-Hawa, which are close to the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem.
More than 2,200 Palestinians are at risk from eviction orders as a result of an Israeli policy that permits Jewish interests to reclaim properties allegedly owned before the establishment of Israel in 1948.
It comes as Israeli authorities are developing an underground archaeological and tourist attraction in Silwan, which is home to 50,000 Palestinians, called the “City of David.” It is operated by the Elad settler organization, also known as Ir David Foundation, which was founded in 1986.
