National park zoning used as pretext for ethnic cleansing of East Jerusalem

‘The Totanji family live beside a grassy valley that extends to the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City. In 2000, Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority designated much of Wadi al-Joz and the surrounding area as belonging to the expansive Tzurim Valley National Park.

The move has placed the 17,000 Palestinians living in Wadi al-Joz in a perilous situation. The Israeli authorities may decide to destroy their homes at any time.

Under the deal struck by Kawar, locals may seek to have 12 houses on Imru al-Qays Street rezoned so that they are no longer included in the national park. To do so, they would have to hire an engineer at an estimated minimum cost of $50,000, according to Kawar.’

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