AL-Maqdese today warns of a new declaration from Gadi Shmerlange, West Jerusalem Municipality (JM) official spokesman, as he declared that JM will rent private security companies to participate in implementing the demolition orders which will take place in Silwan, Old City, Biet Hanina, Al-Essawyah and other places.
This comes after the JM Mayor sent an official letter to the “Israeli Department of Building for Monitoring and Inspection” requesting they rent private security companies to act as an alternative to the Israeli military forces and policemen when they execute demolition orders in East Jerusalem (EJ). Also, they will be used to escort the Israeli Department of Building for Monitoring and Inspection staff in their inspection tours in EJ when they enter Palestinian houses and buildings to collect information and data.
Al-Maqdese recognizes that such actions and declarations confirm JM determinations to carry out demolition orders in EJ. This declaration comes in conjunction with pressure from the United State on the Israeli Authority after the Israeli Minister of Internal Security declared last week that “there is no reason to delay executing this demolition orders tomorrow morning, and the Israeli police will provide with the needed defense to execute these demolition orders, and the appointed time to execute the demolition orders has already passed and many demolitions will be executed soon”. This forced the Israeli Prime Minister to declare and insure that they will not demolish Palestinian houses in EJ in the coming fortnight. Also, this declaration comes in conjunction with a new Israeli plan to build a huge compound on the “Al-Sharaf area” near the Old City Wall. This sets alarm bells ringing regarding Israeli Zionist plans for the City.
Al-Maqdese calls the United Nations, the International Community and the Security Council to intervene immediately and pressure the Israeli Authority to terminate all the issued demolition orders against Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. Moreover, Al-Maqdese calls on the Palestinian Authority to carry out its responsibility toward occupied East Jerusalem and support Jerusalemites in their struggle against these orders and declarations. Al-Maqdese would like to reiterate that East Jerusalem is an occupied city, subject to the provisions of international law and as such, the Israeli Authority is forbidden from apply its laws on it.