Al-Sa’oo Family in Sheikh Jarrah Faces Eviction Threat for Major Settlement Project
Al-Sa’oo family, residing in the western part of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem, is facing the threat of eviction from their property as part of a large-scale settlement project targeting the entire area for the benefit of settlers.
The roots of the case go back to 2005, when an eviction lawsuit was filed against the family in favor of settlers. However, after years of legal proceedings, a decision was issued stating that the family would be “protected in the home” and would not be evicted. In 2009, the local planning committee of the Israeli municipality proposed a project to add three floors above the existing structure and reinforce the old building.
Recently, however, the family was surprised by a modified version of the plan, which now calls for the demolition of the original building (Al-Sa’oo family property) and the construction of a six-story building in its place, according to Mahmoud Al-Sa’oo, the property owner and a member of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood committee.
The family, which consists of 14 members including children who were born and raised in the home, stated that they will file a formal objection to the project in Israeli and international courts, insisting on their right to the property.
Mahmoud Al-Sa’oo said:
“The fastest way to evict us from the property is through moving forward with this settlement plan, which threatens the entire area.”
The family accuses settler organizations and known figures—including Aryeh King, deputy mayor of the Israeli municipality—of supporting the project, along with companies and financial interests linked to settlement expansion.
Al-Sa’oo pointed out that the project is filed under the name of a company called “Debrali Inc”, noting that despite attempts to find official information about the company, nothing could be found. However, the individuals backing the project are well known and are the same ones who previously attended court hearings related to the case.
The family emphasizes that the issue is not only about their home, but about a broader settlement project targeting the entire western section of Sheikh Jarrah, which is home to three Palestinian families, including Al-Sa’oo family. Al-Sa’oo added:
“My mother is a displaced refugee from the Nabi Dawood area. We've lived here for decades. We hold a lease agreement from the Jordanian era, signed by the Custodian of Enemy Property, but they claim ownership of the property.”
Al-Sa’oo family insists that their home is not just a building, but a memory and a deeply rooted way of life. They have declared eir rejection of forced eviction policies and affirmed their readiness to continue the legal battle to defend their right to remain.
