Jerusalem Police prepare for Silwan demolition disturbances

Unrest expected to spread beyond Silwan area.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Silwan 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Silwan 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Police in Jerusalem have begun preparations for "widespread disturbances" that are expected to follow the demolition of illegal homes in Silwan, east Jerusalem, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Ahronovitch told the Knesset on Wednesday.
Police expect the unrest to spread to "beyond the [Silwan] area, and this creates a need for special preperations," Ahronovitch added.
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The comments were made in response to a question by Knesset Member Uri Ariel (National Union), who claimed that police only provide assistance to the Jerusalem Municipality when it came to demolishing illegal Jewish homes such as Bet Yehonatan."
The public security minister said police were obligated to carry out a court-ordered demolition, adding that "the timing would decided by operational considerations and diplomatic considerations."
He stressed that police do not decide to demolish homes but rather assists in the carrying out of the court order.
Ahrnovitch said he received instructions from Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to act in accordance with potential requests from the government to delay the demolition, but added, "As of now, there is no such request."