Settlers seize a property and two lands in Silwan
Elad settlement organization seize on Wednesday morning the property of Al-Malhi family and two lands in the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh in Silwan south of Al-Aqsa Mosque through “leaking” property and falsifying documents. Wadi Hilweh Information center explained that the occupation forces along with the settlers and their guards raided on Wednesday morning Al-Malhi family property and immediately seized three residential apartments after one family member falsified the property’s documents which enabled Elad organization from raiding the houses and seizing the property as they claimed ownership. The settlers and their guards removed the contents of the apartments and changed the locks and also closed the windows while the police prevented the young men and locals of the neighborhood from approaching the area. Verbal altercations broke out between both sides and the occupation forces assaulted the 13-year old Mohammad Al-Malhi and also detained him in their military vehicle; he was released after several young men intervened. The Center explained that Elad organization tried to seize the property in 2007 but the family then resorted to the Israeli courts. The Center added that Elad organization claimed that Al-Malhi family is an unprotected tenant and the house is owned by the “guardian of absentee property”; note that the property was originally owned by Abbasi family which has been living abroad for many years. Wadi Hilweh Center added: “Decisions issued by the Magistrate and District courts ensured that the property is owned by Al-Malhi family after they fought the case for more than 5 years.” The Center also added that one family member falsified the documents of the property which enabled the settlers to seize it after buying it. Al-Malhi family explained to Wadi Hilweh Information Center that the occupation’s Intelligence called the 18-year old Muntaser Al-Malhi on Tuesday night and his mother for interrogation at Salah Eddin Street police station; when they headed there on Wednesday morning, they were detained. The 12-year old Siraj Al-Malhi and Samah Al-Malhi were also detained when the forces raided the house and the family explained that the settlers raided the other two apartments when nobody was inside. In a related matter, dozens of armed settlers along with occupation forces seized a 500-meters land owned by Abbasi family in the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh which was used by the children of the neighborhood as a playground; settlers immediately started building a room from tin plates on the land. Also, settlers seized a 1200-meters land owned by Sha’ban family in the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh and a bulldozer cleaned the land; a barracks was immediately placed in the land.
