source: Compiled from Jerusalem Post, 31-5-2005 & Aljazee
summary: The Jerusalem (Al-Quds) municipality wants to demolish 88 homes in a Palestinian neighbourhood of the city to make room for an archaeological park.
If the courts approve the municipality`s request, it will be one of the largest demolitions since "Israel" captured traditionally Arab East Al-Quds in the 1967 Middle East war, and would cause an uproar among Palestinians who claim that part of the city as a future capital.‏‏
Aljazeera has quoted Palestinian Negotiations Minister Saeb Erekat as calling for the international community and the Quartet`s immediate intervention to prevent the "Israeli" authorities from carrying out the demolitions.‏‏
The 88 homes are located in east Al-Quds` Arab neighbourhood of Silwan, just outside the walled Old City, an area steeped in biblical history.‏‏
The municipality wants to enlarge a small archaeological site beside the homes and turn the area into a national park, the Haaretz newspaper quoted Uri Shetrit, the Al-Quds city engineer, as saying.‏‏
Connect‏‏
The park would connect several Jewish settlement enclaves in Silwan to the nearby City of David - an area of excavations dating to the biblical King David.‏‏
In November, Shetrit wrote a letter to the director of the city`s construction department, describing the "national and international importance" of 5000-year-old-archaeological shards discovered in the area.‏‏
In light of the discoveries, "I order the removal of all illegal construction in the King`s Valley," Shetrit wrote in the letter, referring to the area by its Jewish name.‏‏
Shetrit, who was not available for comment on Tuesday, wrote that the law permits the demolitions because the homes were built on land designated in 1977 as a "green area" where no construction was allowed.‏‏
In February, Silwan resident Mohammed Bardan, 43, received an order to appear in court. The order states the municipality`s intention to demolish his home because it is on land designated as "open public territory".‏‏
1967 recalled‏‏
Bardan said his home was built by his father in 1961 - six years before "Israel" captured the area. Pulling out reams of documents - including a tattered, yellowed Ottoman-era deed to the property - Bardan points to the road in front of his house, recalling the day "Israeli" soldiers first walked down the block in 1967.‏‏
"I was born here, my life is here. It may not be the fanciest place, it`s actually the smelliest place in the city, but I want to stay in my house," Bardan said.‏‏
Sami Arshid, Bardan`s attorney, said he represents five residents who own the oldest homes in the area, some built more than 40 years ago. At least another 15 people in the neighbourhood have also received orders to appear in court, Arshid said.‏‏
A decision is expected in Bardan`s case on 3 July, and will likely set the precedent for the rest.‏‏
Bardan retired from the Al-Quds municipality`s sanitation department 18 months ago.‏‏
He says his payback for 20 years of loyal service is the demolition - which according to court documents he would have to pay for.‏‏
The municipality acknowledged in court that it is barred from demolishing homes built without permits if they are more than seven years old, according to court documents.‏‏
However, the homeowners could be barred from residing in the buildings.‏‏
Hopes‏‏
Palestinians and "Israeli" human-rights groups have said "Israel" is using zoning and other administrative tools to keep a lid on Palestinian population growth in Al-Quds.‏‏
Palestinians have complained that it is often difficult for them to obtain building permits in East Al-Quds, and that they have no choice but to build illegally.‏‏
"Israelis" and Palestinians both claim Al-Quds as their capital, and the city`s fate is at the heart of the "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict.‏‏
Danny Seidemann, an "Israeli" human-rights activist, said that the demolition would be one of the largest since 1967 in a single area of Al-Quds.‏‏
He said that about 160 homes were destroyed in 2004, but that they were spread across all Arab neighbourhoods of Al-Quds.‏‏
In Silwan, "the intention of the municipality is very clear, and that is to rid the area of its Palestinian residents," said Seidemann, who heads Ir Amim, a Al-Quds settlement-watchdog group.‏‏
"We are getting rid of 21st century human beings to make room for 3000-year-old memories," Seidemann said, adding that the municipality suffers from "moral autism".‏‏
"I don`t fault the authorities for seeing the archaeological artifacts as of enormous importance to the Jewish people, but I do fault them for being blind to the human reality of this Palestinian neighbourhood," Seidemann said.‏‏
"Silwan residents in east Al-Quds stand next to previously demolished houses in their neighborhood.‏‏
The neighborhood in question is located in the Kidron Valley, alongside the ancient history-rich City of David, making it one of the oldest areas in the capital.‏‏
Meanwhile, dozens of angry local residents held a boisterous tent meeting in the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon -- the local equivalent of a town hall meeting -- a demonstration which was covered on the pan-Arab television station Al Jazeera, as well as Abu Dhabi Television.‏‏
"The "Israeli" Government should know that if you push people too hard they will explode in your faces," said a local resident who would only give his first name, Abed.‏‏
Arab participants at the event said that the city campaign was part of an "Israeli" attempt to "Judaize Al-Quds," and vowed to stop the planned demolitions, "at all costs."‏‏
Dozens of residents have received a summons to appear in court to date, the city and residents said.‏‏
Palestinians and left-wing "Israelis" complain it is difficult for Arabs to obtain building permits in Al-Quds, while the municipality insists it is evenhanded in enforcing building codes in all parts of the city.‏‏
The municipality said Tuesday it had demolished 22 buildings in east Al-Quds since the beginning of the year.‏‏
The issue of Arab house demolitions is especially explosive in east Al-Quds since it is on land, which Palestinians want for the capital of their future state."‏‏