An Arab family was evicted from their home in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina on Wednesday morning, and ten Jewish activists with the right-wing Israel Land Fund moved into the house, prompting left-wing activists to dub the issue "the new Sheikh Jarrah." The eviction is first step toward creating a new Jewish complex of 50 apartments in the predominantly Arab neighborhood.
According to Israel Land Fund director Aryeh King, a Jewish buyer 35 years ago purchased two buildings, each with two apartments. The properties also belonged to Jewish residents prior to 1948, he said.
An eight-year court battle with the current residents recently concluded with the court’s decision to award ownership of the house to the Jewish buyer.
