WhatsappToday, two Arab families squatting on old Jewish property located within the Yemenite Village, still controlled by the more than a century-old Jewish trust, were removed by the police after being prewarned for weeks. Despite what the anti-Israel pundits are claiming about today’s operation, the Arab families and others in the same neighborhood have been deemed squatters by Israel’s Supreme Court.
In 1882 Yemenite Jews moved to an empty hillside outside of Jerusalem’s Old City walls. Despite hardships, the Yemenite Village continued to grow. In 1938 marauding Arabs carried out a massive pogrom against a community of Yemenite Jews that lived in what today is known as “Silwan.” In the ensuing years, instead of Yemenite Jews returning to their properties, Arab squatters built up houses and buildings on what was once a Jewish community. Squatters even moved into the Old Yemenite Synagogue that was once the centerpiece of the old community.
In 2004, the first Jewish family moved back in, and after a series of court victories, the synagogue returned to Jewish hands as well. The Arab squatters have continued to lose court cases, returning more property to Jewish families.
Today’s operation is not some sort of illegal takeover of Arab property, but rather true justice that saw squatters that had no business living on what was once Jewish property and still is be removed as would be done in any other law abiding country.
The Shiloach or Yemenite Village has always been historically Jewish. While the world wants to paint Jews as interlopers, the fact is that Jerusalem was majority Jewish by 1880. The Shiloach, like many other areas of Jerusalem, is now returning to Jewish hands. Will the antisemites around the world complain? Sure. But that will never stop the continuing reestablishment of the Jewish people in all of Jerusalem.
