In his address to the Jerusalem Conference, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced he will indeed comply with the high court rulings regarding Beit Yehonatan, adding there will be no discrimination in his enforcement of the law. He explained he will seal Beit Yonatan, and take similar legal action against illegal Arab structures in the area.

In the meantime, members of the Knesset Interior Committee on Tuesday visited the Shiloach area of the capital, seeking to obtain a first-hand look at Beit Yehonatan, which the High Court of Justice has ordered sealed shut. Surrounded by a sizable security force, the MKs asked state prosecution officials just why there is such a preoccupation with sealing Beit Yehonatan while the widespread illegal construction in the Arab sector in the very same area of the capital is ignored.

The representative of the state prosecutor told the MKs they were sent to defend the actions of law-breakers, resulting in an angry response. MK Gideon Ezra questioned the policy, explaining if the law is not enforceable against area Arabs, why is it enforceable against Jews?

“You created the problem and now you accuse MKs of breaking the law. This is demagoguery” stated Ezra.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)