Israelis and internationals demonstrate outside Barakat’s house in west Jerusalem

Wadi Hilweh Information Center

6 July 2010

Dozens of international and Israeli solidarity activists protested in solidarity with Silwan in front of the west Jerusalem house of Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat. Demonstrators stated that they were opposing his racist policy in Silwan, which follows an agenda of promoting illegal settlements.

The demonstrators condemned the intention of the Jerusalem Municipality to demolish houses in Silwan in order to build a biblical garden which will be linked to the settlement City of David tourist site in the village.

The demonstrators instead sarcastically demanded that Barakat’s house should be demolished and a biblical park built upon it. They also asked that Barakat’s neighbors accept the building of a second floor for Barakat upon their own house – in mockery of the ‘compensation’ offer he made to the 22 houses that he plans to demolish in Silwan.