Gaza, November 19: Israel has ordered demolition of around 88 Palestinian homes in the East al-Quds (Jerusalem) neighborhood of Silwan, Palestinian officials say.
Israeli Attorney Yehuda Weinstein ordered the destruction in al-Bustan area under the pretext that they were illegally built, said Ahmed al-Rowaidhi, the chief of al-Quds Unit at the Palestinian presidency.
“Israeli will evict 1,500 Palestinians from al-Bustan to make room for a tourist center in the area,” Rowaidhi said.
The Palestinian official further added that Weinstein’s order may affect 20,000 homes in East al-Quds.
He also warned that Israel will displace around 100,000 Palestinians from East al-Quds if it implements its demolition threats.
Israel occupied al-Quds in the 1967 war — a move not recognized by the international community and the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Israel reportedly plans to sell 3,000 new settler units in al-Quds next year after Tel Aviv approved the construction of 1,300 units in East al-Quds.
——–Agencies