Court hears expulsion appeal

ISRAEL’S supreme court held a hearing yesterday on the case of Palestinian families facing expulsion by Israeli settlers in annexed east Jerusalem, an issue that sparked conflict in May.

Dozens of people protested outside the Jerusalem court in support of the Palestinians from the city’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and against “Israeli settlement”.

Violent clashes in May over the possible Sheikh Jarrah evictions spread to Jerusalem’s Al-aqsa mosque compound, sparking a crackdown by Israeli security forces. That triggered an 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, which ended in a tense ceasefire.

Four Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah have asked the supreme court to hear an appeal on their case, after the magistrate and district courts ruled their homes belong to Jewish settlers.

The Israeli court system normally allows only one appeal after a ruling.

Since the Palestinians had already appealed against the magistrate court ruling, the supreme court must decide whether to make an exception in this case. “The court could enable us to appeal,” said Sami Irshaid, the lawyer representing the families.

Israeli anti-settlement group Ir Amim says that over 1 000 Palestinians are at risk of losing their homes to Jewish settler groups and individuals in Sheikh Jarrah and the neighbouring Silwan neighbourhood.