Israel orders demolition of 14 homes in Jerusalem

Israeli authorities informed residents of 14 homes in the al-Bustan neighbourhood of Silwan, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, on Sunday evening that their houses were to be demolished. The authorities said the homes had been built without permits and plan to replace the area with so-called “biblical gardens.” The Jerusalem Governorate, part of the Palestinian Authority, said in a statement that the Israeli authorities issued notices to immediately demolish the 14 homes in al-Bustan, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. The governorate described the move as “a new escalation in a systematic policy targeting the Palestinian presence in one of the most sensitive and strategic areas around Al-Aqsa.” It added that the homes targeted for demolition shelter Palestinian […]