Jerusalem city inspectors accompanied by police arrived at Beit Yehonatan in the Shiloach area of Yerushalayim on Tuesday morning. Beit Yehonatan is part of the ongoing Yerushalayim land reclamation project undertaken years ago by Ateret Kohanim and its affiliates. The organization is paying a hefty price to buy land from Arabs in some cases, and using the courts to prove ownership in others, in cases in which Jewish ownership can be traced and documented.

Beit Yonatan, a 7-story apartment dwelling, was built in 2004, and the controversy surrounds its top 3 stories primarily, which were added without permits. The inspectors on Tuesday morning explained they were “taking measurements” in preparation for carrying out the orders to seal portions of the structure while some areas will be destroyed.

Efforts to reach and agreement, to seal the unauthorized floors and permit the remaining residents to continue living downstairs appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

It is noteworthy that the action was carried out today, while Mayor Nir Barkat is out of town. Elements in City Hall who favor the demolition seem to be advancing their agenda in the mayor’s absence. The mayor is at odds with his legal advisor , explaining he favors equal enforcement of the law, not just against illegal Jewish homes while hundreds of Arab homes in the very same area, slated for destruction, are permitted to remain.

Just this week right-wing activists held a flag march through the area in the hope of highlighting the double standard, demand demolition orders against over 200 Arab homes be enforced as well.

Beit Yehonatan is named in honor of Jonathan Pollard, who continues to serve a life sentence in the United States for his efforts to help Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)