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by Regina Qumsieh - IMEMC & Agencies

The Palestinian News Network, PNN, reports that the Israeli Supreme Court has decided to evict Palestinians Ghazi Zalloum and Ismail Wazwaz from their properties in the neighborhood of Alqurma in the Old City of Jerusalem in favor of Israeli settlers, giving as the reason that both properties belonged to Jews before 1948. Implementation of the eviction order may occur at any moment.

Lawyer Mohammed Dahleh reported that "The Israeli Supreme Court confirmed today the November ruling of the District Court that the two evictions must occur. The Court also instructed that all Court and attorney costs be paid by the two Palestinians.

Haiel Sandouka, who is a specialist in issues of settlement, told the France Press Agency that the settlers had also filed a lawsuit for eviction against two other Palestinian families, those of Azzam Sharabti and Shaker Abu Assab, on the grounds that their homes were the property of Jews before 1948.

He added that the settlers had also evicted Ayed Costaro from his store. They subsequently turned it into a banqueting hall and constructed a tunnel linking the neighbourhoods of Al Karmi and Al Khalidiya.

Ghazi Zalloum, the owner of the house, stated that by evicting him from his house, Israel will be evicting Palestinians from half the houses of the Al Karmi and Al Khalidiya neighbourhoods.

He added that "The eviction process is a political issue rather than an issue of ownership by Arab or Jew. This decision was made at the same time as the announcement of early parliamentary elections and is a message to the Israelis that Israel liberates Jerusalem from the Arabs."

The Jewish organisation, "Ateret Cohanim", has enabled 900 settlers to reside in the Old City of Jerusalem in addition to the 3,100 Jews living in the Jewish quarter.