Minister of the Interior (Shas) R’ Eli Yishai is taking steps to prevent the eviction of residents of Beit Yonatan, a seven-story structure in the Shiloach area of  Yerushalayim. In accordance with High Court of Justice rulings, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is compelled to evict the tenants and seal the building, which was constructed without obtaining all the necessary permits.

The building is part of the ongoing effort spearheaded by Yeshivat Ateret Kohanim, having undertaken to purchase land parcels in the eastern capital, now predominately occupied by Arabs, seeking to renew the Jewish presence in these holy areas of the Jewish capital.

Hashem’s hand was visible on Monday, when eviction orders were not distributed as planned since local police stated they were not informed of the plan of municipal inspectors enough in advance and therefore, police were unable to provide the necessary escorts to the area.

Towards evening, Minister Yishai decided he must act and he is bulldozing ahead to legitimize the building retroactively to prevent the eviction of Jews from Yerushalayim. The minister ordered the ministry’s director of the Jerusalem District, Ruth Yosef, to begin moving ahead on the district planning board level to legalize Beit Yehonatan, which was constructed in 2004.

The district planning board is expected to address the matter as early as next week to legalize the building, as is done in other cases in the eastern capital.

Seeking to distance himself from the controversy, an official statement was released from the Prime Minister’s Office that the prime minister is not involved in the matter or the decision to legalize the building retroactively. It would appear the message is intended for the ears of the White House, for if the move succeeds, there will undoubtedly be condemnations from the international community against Israel for implementing such a “provocative” policy decision.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)