13 November 2024

On the morning of November 13^th, 2024, Israeli authorities demolished Al-Bustan Center in Silwan, East Jerusalem. This reprehensible act is an assault on a vital community resource and an acceleration in the systemic campaign aimed at dismantling the resilience and erasing the identity of the Palestinian community in Jerusalem. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC) condemns this deliberate violation of human rights and international law and calls upon JLAC’s partners to respond and stand in unwavering solidarity with the residents of Al-Bustan as they face yet another chapter of injustice and dispossession.

Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan has long suffered under Israeli policies that continue to create a coercive environment intended to force its Palestinian residents to leave - a practice that amounts to forcible transfer, prohibited under international law. Israeli authorities claim that Al-Bustan is a site of religious importance and should be converted into green zones or archaeological parks. In 2004, the 86 houses in the area received demolition orders; notably, three of these houses were built before 1948 and 28 between 1948 and 1967, preceding Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem. This ongoing policy has subjected residents to increasing terror by settlers and occupation forces. The struggle of Al-Bustan’s residents epitomizes the broader challenges faced by Palestinian communities in Jerusalem.

As of today, the total number of demolished structures in Al-Bustan since October 7, 2023, has risen to 15. Approximately 116 Palestinian houses are currently under imminent threat of demolition, as Israeli authorities have recently resumed demolitions in the area. The demolition of the home of Fakhri Abu Diab, spokesperson of the Silwan’s Committee, on February 14 serves as a reminder of these policies. His family, including five children, was forcibly displaced.

The discriminatory Israeli planning and zoning policies in East Jerusalem, including Silwan, unlawfully support settler expansion and undermine Palestinian housing rights (JLAC was able to document 19 settlements projects that were presented in East Jerusalem since October 7^th, 2023). Al-Bustan community has sought to negotiate alternative planning that respects their housing needs, investing in zoning plans at their own expense, only to face persistent refusals and continued threats of demolition.

To bolster community resilience amid these violations, the Al-Bustan Center was founded in 2012. Over the years, it has been a pillar of support for the residents, providing cultural, educational, and social resources that nurtured hope and collective strength. The center was the “Safe Zone” for 1,200 beneficiaries through various activities, fostering a sense of unity and resilience that has been crucial to the survival of the community. The center has played a key role in showcasing the reality of life in Al-Bustan to international diplomatic delegations, emphasizing the neighborhood’s determination to endure despite the oppressive measures against it.

For JLAC, the Al-Bustan Center has been an essential partner in bringing awareness to these struggles. Despite this latest demolition, the members of the Al-Bustan Center remain hopeful and refuse to succumb to despair.

JLAC urge international society to act swiftly to ensure that this latest violation does not pass without response. The demolition of the Al-Bustan Center highlights the urgent need for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to justice and protection for the residents of Al-Bustan. The support and advocacy are more crucial than ever to uphold the rights of the community. The voices of those affected must be heard, and together we must continue to stand for justice and defend those living under the threat of displacement.