Silwan and the proverbial key

ISRAPUNDIT ^ | Feb 25/10 | Ted Belman

[tedbel]

The Mount of Olives is located east of the Old City across the Kidron Valley. It offers a magnificent view of Jerusalem because its summit is 300 feet higher than the city. One can also see the Judean Hills as far as the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab on the east side. It also demarcates the watershed.

The Dead Sea is twenty two miles away to the south east along the Kidron Valley. It is along this valley that water flows down to the Dead sea and pilgrims historically have travelled up to the Holy City. The City of David in the Kidron valley includes Silwan which has about 14,000 Arabs residents and 500 Jewish residents. It is about 300 yards from the Old City. Silwan sits on a very important archaeological site. Many believe, or at least hope, that excavations there will uncover evidence of King David's palace. The municipality of Jerusalem has developed plans to make this area into an archaeological park. These plans involved the demolition of 88 Arab homes all of which were built without permits. Beit Yonatan, also built without a permit, is part of this story.

The Supreme Court has ordered that Beit Yonatan be shuttered and Nir Barkat, the Mayor has refused to do it arguing that if he is forced to do it then he should be permitted to demolish 78 Arab homes for which demolitions orders have been issued. He argues the law should be enforced equally. Currently everyone is negotiating a compromise except for the leftist city solicitor who is opposing the Mayor.

In the nineteenth century this was a Jewish Yemenite Village.

[SJackson]

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[SunkenCiv]

The municipality of Jerusalem has developed plans to make this area into an archaeological park. These plans involved the demolition of 88 Arab homes all of which were built without permits. Beit Yonatan, also built without a permit, is part of this story. The Supreme Court has ordered that Beit Yonatan be shuttered and Nir Barkat, the Mayor has refused to do it arguing that if he is forced to do it then he should be permitted to demolish 78 Arab homes for which demolitions orders have been issued. He argues the law should be enforced equally. Currently everyone is negotiating a compromise except for the leftist city solicitor who is opposing the Mayor.

from February.