Khaled Abu Tayeh, a member of the Silwan Land Defence Committee, has accused the Israeli occupation of aiming to reduce the Palestinian population in Silwan, a historic town in the occupied West Bank.
Silwan, home to 80,000 Palestinians, lies on the eastern protective boundary of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem. Abu Tayeh stated,
“There is a clear intention to reduce the population by denying building permits and imposing obstacles, including rejecting mukhtar signatures, which limits the ability to issue land seizure permits through absentee property laws.”
Abu Tayeh highlighted new developments, including mounting debts on Palestinian landowners, transferring these debts to Zionist organisations, and converting lands into Talmudic paths. These paths span from Bab al-Khalil to Wadi al-Rababah, through the Al-Bustan neighbourhood, Batn al-Hawa, and Ain al-Lawza.
Last Monday, Israeli occupation forces demolished 14 homes, a warehouse, and a parking lot in Silwan and Anata. In the Al-Bustan neighbourhood of Silwan, eight homes belonging to the Jalajel family were targeted, as well as properties owned by the Abu Diab and Bashir families, who were forced to destroy their homes themselves. Five homes belonging to the Abu Shafe’ family, built between 1993 and 2000, were also destroyed.
In Anata, northeast of Jerusalem, six houses were demolished, including four belonging to the Al-Dhifain family and two owned by the Abu Ghalia family. These homes were part of a Bedouin community that had lived in the area for over a decade.
The Israeli occupation municipality has rejected residents’ structural plans to preserve their neighbourhoods, instead pursuing its controversial “King’s Garden” project, which seeks to replace the indigenous Palestinian population.
Silwan, known as the “Guardian of Jerusalem,” has a history spanning over 5,000 years and is considered the original nucleus of the city of Jerusalem. Since 1967, the town has faced continuous Judaization efforts, with Israeli authorities claiming it sits on the ruins of the so-called “City of King David.” These policies have subjected Silwan’s residents to a high risk of forced displacement through home demolitions and land confiscations, threatening the town’s Palestinian identity.
Source : Safa News
