East Jerusalem residents anguished as homes demolished to make way for biblical park

Key Points:

• Yusra Qwaider, a 97-year-old bedridden woman, faces the imminent demolition of her home in Jerusalem's Al-Bustan neighborhood, marking the third time she has lost her residence due to municipal plans to build an archaeology and tourism park.
• The Jerusalem municipality claims Al-Bustan is zoned for a public park and not residential use, and has halted negotiations with residents, leading to a dramatic increase in demolitions since October 2023.
• Palestinian residents accuse the municipality and settler organizations of pursuing the "Judaisation" of Silwan by displacing Palestinians to expand the City of David archaeological site and adjacent "King's Garden" park.
• Israeli NGOs and local leaders warn that over 2,000 Palestinians risk displacement in one of the largest waves of expulsions in East Jerusalem since 1967, while Palestinians face severe restrictions on obtaining building permits.
• Contrastingly, Jewish settler homes in the area have not been demolished in decades, highlighting disparities in municipal enforcement and fueling local resentment among Palestinian residents.