A dangerous collapse - a decision to vacate a house and a room in Silwan due to settlers’ works
On Friday,the Israeli occupation authorities issued a decision to vacate a house and a room for Abu Rmeileh family in the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh in Silwan, after the collapse of one of the external walls surrounding the house and the closure of the main entrance leading to it.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center/ Silwan said in a statement that one of the external walls surrounding the house had completelycollapsed, causing serious damage to the building. This was the result of continuous excavations carried out by Elad settlement association in a land that was “leaked” several years ago adjacent to the property of Abu Rmeileh family in order to make a playground for settlers.
The center added that the damaged house belongs to Mufid Abu Rmeileh, who explained that the family heard voices outside the house. When examining the source, they found out that the external wall surrounding the house collapsed, closing the entrance of the house and the passage leading to it. He pointed out that the height of the wall is 4 meters and was built of cement, warning of the danger of the collapse of the rest of the walls and its impact on the house, adding that the settlers in the past few days put piles of dust and stones on the wall of the house during the construction of a playground on the land adjacent to the house, causing serious collapses.
The information center explained that the occupation municipality sent the competent engineer to examine the matter, which acknowledged the seriousness of the house and the collapse that occurred, and issued his decision to evacuate and close the house immediately, as well as an external room.
The family of Mufid Abu Rmeileh which consists of 7 individuals lives in the house; his brother Abdullah and his family of nine live nearby. The danger of the collapse of the wall may affect the other house.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center warned of the danger of the work being carried out by Elad settlement association in the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh above and below the ground, in order to serve the settlers and settlement goals without taking into consideration the safety of the residents of the neighborhood.
The center also warned of the danger of the eviction orders issued by the Israeli municipality under the pretext of "dangerous buildings", denouncing the Israeli government's official and governmental positions, especially the Jerusalem municipality, which only transfers homes to "unsafe homes" and demands that they be closed and evacuated. Meanwhile, the municipality does not take the necessary measures against those who dig down the neighborhood or work on the ground illegally.
The Center pointed out that the danger of collapse threatens the entire neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh due to the settlers' works. The area of cracks and landslides in the buildings and streets are significantly increasing, calling on the international and local legal institutions to stand up to protect the Palestinian population and put pressure on the occupation authorities to stop these excavations that threaten thehomes and lives of Palestinians.
