Silwan: Evacuation orders and judicial notices to seize two residential buildings
The settlement organization “Ateerat Cohanim” recently obtained thought the Israeli Collection Department an order to evacuate a residential building and handed the residents of the building located in the neighborhood of Batn Al-Hawa in Silwan south of Al-Aqsa Mosque judicial notices asking them for the land where the building is established under the pretext of “settlers’ ownership of the land”.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that the Israeli authorities handed an evacuation order to Yousef Basbous and his sons that was issued by the Israeli Collection Department in favor of the settlement organization “Ateerat Cohanim” claiming that the land is owned by settlers since the year 1881; they also imposed large sums of money on the family as “compensation for lawyers”.
Raed Basbous, Yousef’s son, explained that the evacuation order was issued on the name of his father and eight brothers (males and females) and gave them 20 days to execute the order.
The occupation authorities issued the evacuation order in absentia last July under the pretext that Basbous family did not file any objection to the lawsuits against them filed by Ateerat Cohanim.
The family confirmed not receiving any notices from Ateerat Cohanim and was surprised by the evacuation order. They added that they will head to court to protect their property which they own from being seized by the settlement organization; note that they have been living in the building since tens of years.
The information center explained that Basbous family building consists of three residential apartments where 14 individuals live.
Rajabi family
The settlement organization also handed the sons of later Jaber Abdel Fatah Rajabi judicial notices asking for their land in the neighborhood of Batn Al-Hawa in Silwan where their residential building is established under the pretext of “ownership by settlers”.
Zuheir Rajabi, head of Batn Al-Hawa committee, explained that the family received judicial notices under the name of “sons of later Jaber Rajabi” (15 brothers and sisters) asking them for their land where their building is established; note that every floor has on apartment and three families of 15 individuals live in the building.
A plan to confiscate 5 Dunoms (5000 square meters) in the neighborhood of Batn Al-Hawa in Silwan
Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that the buildings of Basbous and Rajabi families are located within the area where the settlement organization Ateerat Cohanim plan to confiscate 5000 square meters from the area of “Batn Al-Hawa”. The plan was revealed by the center last May and claims that Yemen Jews owned the lands since 1881. The area is into 6 sections numbered 73, 75, 88, 95, 96 and 97. The settlement organization claim that the Israeli Supreme Court acknowledged Yemen settlers’ ownership of the land of Batn Al-Hawa.
The center explained that the land has between 30-35 residential buildings where more than 80 families consisting of nearly 436 individuals live. All the residents have been living in the neighborhood for many years after buying the lands and property from their previous owners.
The center also mentioned that settlers’ attempted to seize land in Batn Al-Hawa started 8 years ago using several ways and many families were already handed eviction notices where most of them managed to protect their property until this day and the settlement organization was able to seize some of them.
