[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jewish residents of Jerusalem with the help Israel Land Fund’s Councilman Aryeh King moved into a newly reacquired property in Jerusalem’s Shimon HaTzadik/Nachalat Shimon (Sheikh Jarrah) neigborhood Monday morning. After a tense and sometimes violent morning with Arabs throwing rocks and firebombs on the new residents , the area calmed down. The Arab family who had lived in the residence were pulled out after an Israeli court saw clear evidence they were in fact squatting in what was a Jewish property before the Jordanian army chased the home owners away in 1948.
Rabbi Ben Packer of the Jerusalem Heritage House said the following about the new property and court decision:
“The recent reclaiming is a very positive step but way overdue. Its time for the Israeli Government to allow real development in Shimon HaTzadik/Nachalat Shimon for the rightful Jewish owners, as they have for the Arab owners. That’s real Israeli sovereignty and basic fairness.”
Until 1948, west of the road linking Sheikh Jarrah, the American Colony and Mt. Scopus, was the neighborhood of Nahlat Shimon. The name is a reminder of its closeness to the Cave of Shimon HaTzadik. The neighborhood was founded in 1891 and was home to hundreds of Jewish families. Just before the British Mandate ended in 1948, security in Nahlat Shimon deteriorated considerably and its residents were evacuated to the Israeli side of Jerusalem. The Jordanians took control of the neighborhood and settled “Palestinian” Arab refugees there.
With one house now firmly back in Jewish hands, the many more houses stolen from their original Jewish owners may find themselves returned as well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”6016,6017,6018,6019,6020,6021,6022″ img_size=”150×75″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Police are reporting that three Arab residents of the Silwan were arrested overnight as a result fo a targeted operation. The three are suspected of being responsible for throwing molotov cocktails at a Jewish security vehicle in the neighborhood. Although the vehicle burned, the security team escaped unharmed.
“Immediately after the incident, a targeted operation was carried out in the village. The area was closed and evidence was collected from the site. Investigators and police detectives soon arrived to identify the suspects and arrested them while they were at home.,” a statement from the Israeli police said.
Incidents in the Yeminite Village now renamed Silwan by the neighborhood’s Arab squatters have increased since the beginning of the riots over the Temple Mount. The neighborhood was built in the 1880s by Jews coming from Yemen. The Yemenite Village ultimately destroyed by marauding Arabs in the riots of the 1920s and 1930s. The British colonists agreed to eventually return the Jewish population, which never happened.
In recent years Jews have begun to move back into the neighborhood, most times under great difficulty and danger. Despite this, the Jews of the Yemenite Village have succeeded in reclaiming a number of buildings as well as the original Synogogue built in the 1880s.
Daniel Luria, Executive Director of Ateret Cohanim said the following concerning the incident:
“Why the silence from the authorities when the Jewish residents Shiloach (Silwan neighbourhood) which number over 100 of the Shiloach in the heart of Jerusalem near the Temple Mount, Ir David and the Old City, are under constant attack from some of the local hate-driven, violent and intolerant Arabs? I say enough is enough.”
The latest attack comes after five Jewish vehicles were firebombed in recent weeks. Despite the neighborhood being a national landmark, the government has never put in the kind of infrastructure needed to ensure the violent Arab clans would have less leverage on the residents.
“The time has come for a major switch in thinking in the heart of Jerusalem near the Old City. If we are truly the sovereign body here in united Jerusalem, then a message of strength and conviction must be given to the Arabs in these neighbourhoods. The weakness and capitulation recently shown by the Government has not helped in the slightest and in fact has caused great damage,” Daniel added.
After thirteen years in the Israeli Court system – the district court ruled that the Imperial and Petra Hotels at the Jaffa gate entrance – the “key to the Old City”, are formally and officially in Jewish hands. The Greek Orthodox Church was also told to pay symbolic court costs to the Jewish concerns.
It has yet to be determined what will be the the fate of the current tennants, but not withstanding the slight possibility of an appeal by the Greek Orthodox Church in the Supreme Court, it is still a wonderful and uplifting court ruling.
A spokesman from Ateret Cohanim said the following in relation to the news:
“This was a great day…G-D hasn’t forgotten…turning days of fasting to days of joy. This is a perfect answer to recent harsh days in these three weeks.”
The acquisition of the two hotels will dramatically increase the overt Jewish and Israeli presence at the main gate most tourists take to enter into the Old City. More importantly, it shatters the feeling that the “Arab” Shuk is off limits to Jews, breaking down the forced quarter system the British imposed on the Old City during the years they occupied Jerusalem and the Land of Israel. The quarter system was forced on Jerusalem’s Old City in order to control its population. The result lead to a strengthening of the Arab presence at exense of the Jewish population, which was then the majority of the city.
Reports in Arab media suggest that the Saudi Arabian government has been directly involved in trying to calm tensions on the Temple Mount. In fact a delegation of Saudi officials were invited to see for themselves the status quo is still being enforced on the Temple Mount, which is Israel’s holiest site.
So who is stirring up the tensions?
The current round of conflict on the Temple Mount was started when armed terrorists came from the mount and shot and killed two Israeli policemen near the Lion Gate. This is the first terror attack emanating from the Temple Mount since Israel liberated it 50 years ago. In reaction, Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered a full scale investigtion into the incident and placed metal detectors at each entrance to the complex. Until then only Jews and tourists had to be checked, Muslims could roam freely and even picnic and play soccer there.
Metal Detectors in place at the entance to the Temple Mount. wakf closed the door in protest.
This small act of sovereignty by Israel, one that is perfectly justified, has now triggered riots in and around the Temple Mount entrances. Although the Wakf and PA President Abbas have encouraged the rioters, it is in fact Jordan who has instigated the violent clashes at the entrances.
Why is Jordan Inciting Violence on the Temple Mount?
To understand the current conflict over the Temple Mount, it is important to look back at British colonial aspirations in the Middle East after the first World War. The Hashemite family who rules what is today Jordan comes from a the Hashemite family who ruled in Mecca for nearly one thousand years until they were overthrown by the Saudi family in 1925.
The current Hashemite dynasty was founded by Hussein ibn Ali, who was appointed as Sharif and Emir of Mecca by Sultan Abdul Hamid IIin 1908. In 1916 he was proclaimed King of the Arab Lands after initiating the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
With the help of the British, his sons Abdullah and Faisal assumed the thrones of Jordan and Iraq in 1921. In 1925 the Saudi family overthrew Hussein ibn Ali as Sharif and assumed leadership. In 1958 his Hussein ibn Ali’s son Faisal was deposed in a bloody coup as the King of Iraq.
With only one Kingdom left and no power in their historic home of Mecca, the Hashemites, who sided with Britain and relied on them to establish their rule require a foothold on the Temple Mount in order to lay claim to leadership in the Arab world.
They Will Not Go Quietly
The Hashemites will do whatever is necessary to force the Israeli government to take away the metal detectors from the entrances of the Temple Mount. The rioting is part of the pressure, but the incitement also deflects growing dissatisfaction with the King and his family.
The self imposed “exile from the mount” over the metal detectors is not working to sway world opinion, which is growing tired over continuous tantrums by the Hashemite backed Arab street.
Arabs protesting by the entrance to the Temple Mount near the Lions Gate.
The Saudis, who are looking to pivot towards Israel have never trusted Jordan. Afterall, the Jordanian King allows the Muslim Brotherhood to have a base of operations in Amman as well as playing both sides by accepting funding from Qatar as well as . More than that, in the intra-Arab competiton for rulership, the Saudi would rather not have the Hashemites control access to the Temple Mount. So in a bizarre twist of fate, it is the Saudis, who not only remained quiet during the latest flare up, but it will be their delegation who will determine that it is in fact Jordan who is inciting.
Metal Detectors Return the Temple Mount to the Heart of Zionism
With all the tumult in the Jewish world over the Western Wall, which is the last retaining wall of the Temple Mount comlex, it is in fact the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock which encompasses the holiest site in Judaism. The metal detectators now placed at the entrance to the Temple Mount, may appear to be a small and sensible act, but it is this act that appears to have begun a series of events that may in fact return the Temple Mount to Jewish hands and place it once again where it should in the hearts and minds of the Nation of Israel and at the forefront of the Zionist enterprise.
Entrance to the Temple Mount by the Lions Gate now heavily guarded with metal detectors.Arab media helping to fan flames of hatred in the Arab world by reporting on the security forces.
Israel announced today, that thousands of buildings in Jerusalem whose construction was frozen during the Obama administration have now been given to go ahead to be built. The 2,300 units were frozen in 2010 after then Vice-President Biden’s visit to Israel.
With the shelving yesterday of the United Jerusalem bill, today’s announcement has injected some optimism into Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Furthermore the approval also comes with the go ahead to evict 100’s of illegal Arab squatters in areas of the city where for years, Arabs have built without permits.
The most important part of theannouncement is that it approves 13 homes and a giant yeshiva complex in the Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood. The neighborhood was purchased in 1876 by the committee of the Sephardic community and the Ashkenazi Assembly of Israel. This community was expelled by Arabs before the creation of the State of Irael. In recent years a small Jewish community has been renewed in the area near the tomb of Shimon Hatzaddik.
The obvious connection of Trump ‘s stance on Israel being the catalyst for the building is hard to ignore.
