Following Demolition of Shepherd Hotel, “Israeli” Forces Demolish House of Mufti Husseini

The "Israeli" Authorities and the Al Quds (Jerusalem) Municipality demolished on Sunday morning the old building of the Shepherd Hotel in Sheikh Jarrah, in occupied East Al Quds (Jerusalem).

Several bulldozers started the leveling of the hotel under significantly increased presence of "Israeli" policemen and soldiers.

The destruction of the hotel comes as "Israel" intends to construct a new settlement that includes 200 units for Jewish settlers.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, secretary general of the Palestinian National Initiative described the attack as part of "Israel's" ethnic cleansing policy against the Palestinians, and as an act that reveals "Israel's" intentions against the Arabs in the city, as well as to judaize Al Quds.

Dr. Barghouthi added that this hotel is located in the center of Sheikh Jarrah, and warned of the ongoing "Israeli" policies that target the presence of the indigenous Palestinian people.

"Israel is revoking ID cards of Palestinian residents of occupied East Al Quds (Jerusalem), targeting holy sites and demolishing Palestinian homes and property", Dr. Barghouthi stated, "All of these violations aim at forcing new realities on the ground, and removing the indigenous Palestinians from their city".

The Hotel is owned by the inheritors of Haj Amin Al Husseini, the former Mufti of occupied Al Quds (Jerusalem). "Israel" illegally confiscated the building under the so-called "Absentee Property Law".

Haj Amin Al Husseini, born in 1895 dedicated his life to resisting the Zionist occupation and to supporting the resistance fighters who were in the forefronts. He died in Lebanon in 1974, and was buried in the Palestinian Revolution Martyrs' cemetery.

On this note, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Sunday condemned the demolition of the hotel, noting that it is a "Palestinian symbol."

"I strongly condemn this morning's demolition of the Shepherd Hotel and the planned construction of a new illegal settlement. I reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law, undermine trust between the parties and constitute an obstacle to peace," said Ashton in an official statement.

Al Intiqad visited the rest place of the deceased Mufti Husseini, and came back with these photos.