West Bank /Nawa Network- Filastiniyat:
The houses in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan have been exposed to demolition operations for many years. The stated goal is to transform it into a settler national park, push its citizens to migrate, wipe out the history of the holy city, and falsify its ancient identity.
Since the beginning of the year, the Israeli occupation has demolished more than 10 homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, exploiting the distraction that international public opinion created for the war in Gaza City. While many notifications have been sent from the municipality to inform families about the damage to their houses, those families live in constant anxiety and fear because they have been forced to leave their homes and are suddenly displaced.
The Owda Family is one of them. For a long time, they have endured in the Al Bustan neighborhood, resisting the occupation's demolition machinery to protect their homes. The Jerusalemite doctor Amani Owda says, "For 10 years, my extended family has been blocking demolition orders, and they live in anxious fear of the municipality's execution of her demolition by force. We resisted the demolition machines and lost many homes, but we will remain for the last breath."
Amani was born, grew up, and married in the neighborhood. She lived 37 years ago in life there and memorized the streets, stones, and citizens' names. She was still in her neighborhood resisting while the settlers' assaults continued, because she believed that steadfastness was the command from God to citizens of the holy city and was a sacred trust.
Now, more than 100 homes are slated for demolition, she mentions. "All of this is apart from the large settlers' planning; it's not just for the Al Bustan neighborhood, but it's for all Jerusalem neighborhoods."
Dr.Owda received the municipality's resolution, giving her 21 days to vacate her home for self-demolition, in the last mid-February, and the deadline finished on March 9th. As of now, the whole family is still under the threat of demolition.
""I believe it's my land, and it's for Palestinians. We will stay resistant to the end
She added, "The Selwan town is protecting Al Aqsa mosque from the south; it has 13 neighborhoods, and 6 of them are under assault in demolition and eviction at any moment."
In addition, she stated, "I believe it's my land, and it's for Palestinians. We will stay resistant to the end."
Dr. Amani is anxious about this situation. "Demolishing a house means displacement, or rebuilding everything from scratch. It means the success of the grand settlement plan of the Israeli occupation of Palestine." She noted that the entire family completely rejects the idea of self-demolition, as do most of the residents of Al-Bustan. She says, "Demolition is not just about a stone. It is about the destruction of roots, memories, history, and the future."
About 60,000 people live in the Silwan town, while around 1,550 people live in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, residing in 100 homes
Since 2005, the Odeh family received the decision and initiated legal and engineering proceedings against the occupation municipality, with legal support and assistance from the neighborhood committee. She says, "The occupation took advantage of the world's preoccupation with the Gaza war to wage its silent war on Jerusalem and Silwan."
In the absence of advocacy and pressure campaigns that had succeeded in freezing demolition orders in previous years, and coinciding with the Gaza war, Israeli occupation forces demolished a fifth of the homes in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Jerusalem.
About 60,000 people live in the Silwan town, while around 1,550 people live in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, residing in 100 homes.
