Jerusalem city inspectors on Wednesday morning served demolition orders in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan to owners of homes and stores built without permits.

The move is in line with Mayor Nir Barkat’s promise to enforce the law equally in both the Jewish and Arab sector, committed to abiding by High Court of Justice rulings to seal Beit Yehonatan, built without permits, as well as to begin carrying out demolition orders against the many illegal Arab structures in the eastern capital.

Responding on cue, the left-wing Peace Now organization decried the city’s actions, accusing Mayor Barkat of acting like “the settlers” and implementing the “Price Tag” retaliatory response program to legal action taken against illegal Jewish sector housing.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)