(VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Residents of the Mevasseret Tzion Absorption Center protested outside the High Court of Justice Building in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning 8 Elul together with social activists and MK Yona Yonah, who has been working with the residents during their struggle. They are scheduled to be removed from their homes on Monday, 13 Elul.

There are 450 families in the absorption center who do not know what will happen to them. Until now, it has been made clear to them that they will be transferred to other absorption centers in the north and south of the country and not to permanent residences.

It should be noted that the legality of the sale of the absorption center is still being discussed in court in the framework of a petition submitted by the Movement for Quality Government.

On Wednesday, at 11:30 am, a hearing was held in the Supreme Court on a petition submitted by Attorney Nadav Haetzni on behalf of the residents requesting an injunction to stop the planned evacuation.

MK (Machane Tzioni) Yossi Yona said at the demonstration, “The evacuation of the residents of the absorption center at Mevasseret Zion is a sign of government insensitivity and of the scandalous conduct of the state and Jewish Agency institutions.

“If the evacuation is carried out, it will be a glorious demonstration of activities contrary to the purpose for which the Jewish Agency was founded. It is to be hoped that the court will now frustrate the intention of these institutions to harm the residents of the absorption center and issue an order to prevent the eviction of these immigrants from their homes.

“We came to prevent the evictions from the absorption center, to be given decent housing solutions for home buyers in the center [of the country].”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)