Settlers take over a residential building in Silwan after buying it from its owner
The settlement organization Ateerat Cohanim took over another residential building in the Middle Neighborhood “Batn Al-Hawa” in Silwan after buying it through its owner Jamal Sarhan.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that more than 60 settlers broke into the Middle Neighborhood in Silwan around 2:30 a.m. and took over the building under heavy protection from the occupation’s Special Forces; settlers had their personal clothes along with some equipment to live in the building.
Settlers immediately put iron mesh on the windows and raised the Israeli flag.
The Information center explained that the residential building consists of 12 apartments divided over 5 floors and the settlers took 4 floors since one tenant refused to leave his apartment.
Jamal Sarhan-through a young man who claimed to be a college student- changed the locks one the building’s main doors on Wednesday, and the settlers easily took over the building today after opening the locks with their keys.
The number of settlement outposts in the Middle Neighborhood increased to 7 where all of them were sold by their owners. The first was taken over in 2005 (Bet Yonatan), the second is House of Honey and three buildings were taken over last years and one more this year.
The building of Jamal Sarhan is considered the biggest settlement outpost in the Middle Neighborhood after Bet Yonatan. It is located in a strategic place and overlooks Al-Aqsa Mosque and the town of Silwan and is in the middle of a densely populated residential neighborhood.
