Comments (0)Jews, Palestinians Scuffle Over E. Jerusalem Home
November 6, 2009Jerusalem
JTA Wire Service
Jewish Israelis moved into the home of a Palestinian family in eastern Jerusalem after a court ruled that it was Jewish-owned.
After a Jerusalem district court on Tuesday denied the Palestinian residents appeal to remain in the home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, the Jews arrived at the home with security guards and attempted to vacate the family, according to reports.
The Jews and Palestinian residents, as well as human rights activists, scuffled, leading to the arrests of some area residents.
The Palestinian family remains in the center of the home and the Jewish settlers are holed up in an addition.
The house is one of 28 buildings in the neighborhood under dispute that Israeli courts have ruled belonged to Jews before the establishment of the state. The courts ruled that the Palestinians could remain in the homes as long as they paid rent to the Jewish owners, represented by a Sephardic committee. The Palestinians do not pay rent and are contesting the ownership of the homes in court.
Israel to Deport Children of Foreign Workers
Children of foreign workers in Israel illegally will be deported at the end of the school year.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office made the announcement late Sunday regarding the children, who are studying in the state school system and number about 1,200.
The prime minister also instructed Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz to lead a team that will formulate a comprehensive policy on reducing the number of illegal foreign workers in Israel. The team will consider, among other issues the team will consider stiffening punitive measures against employers who violate the law, increased enforcement measures and the construction of a ground barrier along the southern border.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman will be part of the team.
The issue of foreign workers’ children, many of whom were born in Israel and speak only Hebrew but have no visa, has been contentious in recent weeks, as human rights groups have publicized the cause and fought to prevent the deportations.
Yishai, the Shas Party leader, has been leading the call for deportation. Yishai claims that allowing the children to remain and giving them citizenship could damage the Jewish character of the state.
Ex-Employee of Family Arrested in Their Murders
The man arrested for the murder of three generations of an Israeli family had been fired from the family’s restaurant more than a year ago.
Damian Kirilik, 38, was arrested last week for the Oct. 17 murder of six members of the Oshrenko family. Kirilik was fired as head waiter of the family’s restaurant in Rishon LeZion.
The victims were Revital, 3, and Netanel, 4 months; their parents, Tatiana, 28, and Dimitry, 32; and grandparents Edward and Ludmilla, both 56. Tatiana and Dimitry were Russian emigres who operated clubs and a restaurant for Russian Israelis.
Their bodies, all bearing stab wounds, were found in their burning apartment.
The investigation has been under a police gag order. Police had questioned employees as well as the relatives and friends of the family.
Robbery and avenging honor appear to be the motives behind the killing, according to reports.
Kirilik’s wife, who also had worked at the restaurant, was arrested for aiding the alleged murderer, as were other family members.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.