Israel Supreme Court proposes deal to avoid Sheikh Jarrah evictions

Jerusalem, Aug 2 (EFE).- Israel’s Supreme Court has asked for all parties to compromise in the legal battle over the potential eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, in East Jerusalem, proposing that they be allowed to stay but hand over ownership of the land to a Jewish settlement company.

Under said proposal, the Palestinian families would be granted “protected tenant” status for three generations, according to the families’ legal team, with rent payments of 1,500 shekel per year (roughly $465).

Israel’s top court adjourned the final ruling on the case to discuss the proposed deal and hear the Palestinian families’ appeals to the decision of the Jerusalem District Court to rule in favour of settlement company Nahalat Shimón.

The lawyer of the Palestinian families Sami Ershied celebrated the fact that the court did not outright reject their case and is listening to their arguments.

“We have been unable to find an agreement so far. The court said it will continue putting pressure on the parties to achieve it,” said Ershied

The families have seven days to decide whether they will accept the deal, in which case they will need to present a list of who would be granted the protected tenant status.

The legal process involves four Palestinian families of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, mostly inhabited by Palestinian people.

The Israeli settlement organizations claim ownership of the buildings in Sheikh Jarrah, citing an Israeli law from 1970 allowing the recovery of Jewish property dating back past 1948.

Dozens of Palestinian families in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan have received eviction notices, which international organizations have condemned as the systemic displacement of Palestinians through policy in Israel.

About 500 families are currently under the threat of eviction in Sheikh Jarrah, according to Israeli NGO Ir Amim.