With pictures: Cracks and collapses in Silwan
Collapses and cracks occurred in the houses and streets of the neighbourhood of Wadi Hilweh in Silwan after the continuous rainfall and accumulation of snow and due to the Israeli excavations in the area.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center pointed out that most of the collapses and cracks occurred in the area of “Ein Um Al-Daraj” in the neighbourhood of Wadi Hilweh where there is a high incidence of Israeli excavations and the rain and snow revealed the extent of damage caused by the excavations in the area.
Harbi Abu Sbeih said he was surprised on Thursday early morning when he heard an explosion-like sound. When he checked the matter, he found out that the cracks on the inside and outside of the building had expanded in addition to the fall of a balcony as well as a plaster wall in his house.
Abu Sbeih explained that the cracks started in his house two years ago and had gradually increased on Thursday indicating that he always hears digging sounds underneath his house, but the Israeli Antiquities Authority and “Elad” settlement organization try to evade responsibility and claim that they are not responsible.
He said: “we have been living in the area for tens of years and we never witnessed any cracks or landslide. We always felt safe in our houses, but today we are worried about our lives and our children’s lives if we stay in our houses because of the Israeli excavations.”
In a related matter, a large collapse occurred in the stairs of Al-Ein and the municipality had placed red tape and a sign that said “Be cautious …..Dangerous wall.”
In Al-Abasyeh area, landslide occurred in the cave of Khaled Al-Zeer, he said: “rocks and soil collapses on the entrance of the cave” pointing out to the Israeli Magistrate court’s decision that prevented him from doing any renovation works to the cave he and his family were forced to live in after demolishing his house that was built on his land.
Al-Zeer explained to the judge that he has been living in the cave after the bulldozers of “Israeli Nature and Parks Authority” demolish his house on the 20th of last august, noting the he lives in it with his wife and five children where the oldest is 9 years old and youngest is 6 months.
Cracks and landslides expanded in the main street of Wadi Hilweh near “Al-Ein” mosque. It is the same area that suffered collapses last week and the Jerusalem municipality claimed that it made the necessary repairs and claimed that the cracks occurred because of the sewer extensions; the locals pointed out that landslide occurred in several areas of the street.
The locals also confirmed that the cracks and landslide are due to the Israeli excavations carried out by “Elad” settlement group and Antiquities Authority underneath the town of Silwan; note that there is a tunnel that connects Ein Silwan with the courtyards of Dung Gate underneath the area where the cracks and landslide occurred and they plan to connect it with the Wailing Wall.
