Jerusalem24 – The Central Court suspended the decision to demolish the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, for a period of 6 months.
Fakhri Abu Diab, a spokesman for the Defense Committee in Silwan, explained that the court suspended orders to demolish homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan for the month of February next year, with the exception of 17 facilities that are subject to the “Kaminets” law, where it is not possible to object to demolish orders or to freeze them.
Abu Diab added that the families’ lawyer submitted an appeal to the court against the decision to demolish the orchard, and accordingly the demolition orders were suspended.
Abu Diab explained that the residents of the Al-Bustan neighborhood presented a plan for the neighborhood, in a new attempt not to demolish it, and this plan will be strengthened during the freezing period.
Abu Diab confirmed that the residents of Al-Bustan are demanding the cancellation of the neighborhood demolition orders, and not their just suspension. Over the past years, they have submitted the necessary plans to license the neighborhood.
In March, the municipality had rejected the engineering plans for the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan, and the court had ordered not to extend the suspension on the demolition orders of the neighborhood’s homes.
The Israeli authorities are planning to establish a “Biblical Garden” on the ruins of the houses of the Al-Bustan neighborhood.
