While most Israelis see all of Jerusalem as their united capital, Palestinians want the east as the capital of their hoped-for, future, independent state. The current Israeli government has pledged “to bury” the idea of Palestinian statehood – and is taking steps accordingly.
According to the UN, some 200 Palestinian households – about 900 people – are facing eviction cases filed against them in the Israeli courts, mostly by settlers.
Israel uses laws allowing takeovers of property owned by Jews before the state was created in 1948, so that settlers can move in. This is currently happening next to al-Bustan, in another part of Silwan called Batn al-Hawa. Palestinian families who have long lived there are now classed as “illegal squatters”.
Israeli law does not allow Palestinians to claim back properties within Israel that they owned historically.
Silwan’s proximity to a key holy site, the al-Aqsa mosque compound – or al-Haram al-Sharif as it is known to Muslims and Temple Mount to Jews – is central to its importance to Israeli authorities and settler groups. It is the holiest place in Judaism as well as the third holiest place in Islam.
“Silwan sits on a very important site called ‘City of David’,” says Yonatan Mizrahi from the Israeli anti-settlement NGO Peace Now, referring to an Israeli archaeological project. “Part of the plan is to create a touristic area that very much emphasises the Jewish narrative, the Jewish belonging to this land.”