A Jerusalem court has rejected an appeal by Jewish families to allow them to continue living in an east Jerusalem building.
The Jerusalem District Court decided May 25 not to overturn an order to seal off the Beit Yonatan building in Silwan, a predominately Palestinian neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem. Eight families live in the building, which was built without a permit in 2004 by the right-wing group Ateret Cohanim.
Local building codes mandate that buildings can be no more than four stories. The building had been ordered evacuated due to building code violations.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has delayed carrying out the evacuation order. Barkat had threatened to raze the Palestinian homes if he was required to carry out the Beit Yonatan evacuation.
The evacuation and sealing off of the building will likely take place in the coming days, according to reports. — jta