Capital braces for Beit Yehonatan evacuation

E. J'lem home measured; occupants: Barkat's absence being exploited.

By ABE SELIG, JPOST.COM STAFF
silwan beit yehonatan jeep 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski )
silwan beit yehonatan jeep 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski )
The Jerusalem Municipality on Tuesday appeared to be preparing for the evacuation of Beit Yehonatan’s Jewish residents, as inspectors accompanied by security personnel arrived to take measurements at the structure in the mostly Arab southeast Silwan neighborhood.
Residents of the seven-story building, which is named for Jonathan Pollard and was built in 2004 with funds from the Ateret Cohanim organization, were told that the inspectors were indeed making preparations for the implementation of an outstanding court order to evacuate and seal the structure, as it was built without the proper permits.
The residents complained that inspectors refused to answer their questions or present them with relevant orders, and claimed that municipal legal adviser Yossi Havilio was exploiting the fact that Mayor Nir Barkat was abroad to carry out the court order without his consent.
However, Barkat’s office said the move was being undertaken with his full knowledge and in accordance with his commitment to implementing the court order.  In February, the planned distribution of evacuation orders at Beit Yehonatan was abruptly called off, as Jerusalem police and the municipality traded blame for what both said was an apparent breakdown in coordination.
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Attempts to stave off the execution of the court order have included anagreement in principal reached in discussions with municipal officialsto seal off the top two floors of the structure, in return for theretroactive legalization of the remaining five. Although residents havepetitioned the municipality to formalize the agreement, and Barkat hastouted it as a possible solution, it has not materialized.
The building is home to eight families, and has also been at the centerof conflict between Barkat and State Attorney Moshe Lador. In lateJanuary, Lador demanded that the mayor implement the order to evacuateand seal the building. Barkat refused.
Under increased pressure, the mayor announced in February that he wouldevacuate and seal the building, and then begin implementing outstandingdemolition orders for more than 200 illegally built Arab homes in theneighborhood. In the meantime, implementation of the court order forBeit Yehonatan has continued to be delayed.
Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.