In the al-Bustan neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, the sound of jackhammers and bulldozers has taken on a new and bitter quality. While the Israeli state has long sought to establish a uniformly Jewish identity in the occupied east of the city, residents are now frequently forced to demolish their own family homes.
This trend of “self-demolition” is driven by brutal economics. Homeowners face exorbitant fees if the municipality carries out the demolition, leading some to hire their own equipment to avoid financial ruin.
The Cost of Compliance
Jalal al-Tawil recently watched as a hired tractor ripped apart the house his father had built on the site of his grandparents’ home. The decision was financial; the Jerusalem municipality informed him that state-led demolition would cost 280,000 shekels (£72,000).
By hiring his own labour and equipment, al-Tawil reduced that cost to less than a tenth of the municipal fee. He described the choice as being between “suicide or being murdered.”
The Kings Garden Project
The demolitions are clearing the way for the “Kings Garden,” a biblical theme park designed to be situated where King Solomon is said to have taken his leisure three millennia ago. This project is part of a larger, largely settler-driven archaeological effort centered on the “City of David.”
More than 57 homes in al-Bustan, part of the Silwan district, have been demolished in the last two years. At least eight more are designated for demolition in the coming weeks.
Aviv Tatarsky, a senior researcher at Ir Amim, argues that the project represents the erasure of Palestinians from both geography and history. He describes the theme park as “Disneyfied nonsense” that masks the destruction of a community.
Generational Displacement
For many residents, these demolitions are the latest chapter in a long history of displacement. Yusra Qwaider, 97, was forced to flee Jaffa in 1948 during the Nakba, later lost her home in the village of Yalo in 1967, and was displaced from the Jewish quarter of the old city in 1970.
Now residing in Silwan, she maintains that her family will not leave. Her son, Mohammad Qwaider, recently demolished part of his home to appease planners, though he has since been warned that bulldozers may return to level the remainder.
Contested Legality
The Jerusalem municipality maintains that the houses in al-Bustan were built illegally in an area not zoned for residential use. They claim the park is intended for the benefit of all city residents to address a shortage of open public spaces.
However, community leader Fakhri Abu Diab asserts that some homes predated the Israeli occupation. He argues that the municipality routinely denies building permits to Palestinians while approving them for Israeli Jews and unauthorised settler outposts.
Abu Diab also noted that the community previously presented a master plan for the district that included green space, but it was overruled at the political level.
Changing Political Winds
For nearly two decades, Palestinian resistance and international opposition had slowed the progress of the Kings Garden project. However, residents note that these barriers have weakened following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, the subsequent war in Gaza, and the restoration of Donald Trump as US president.
With shifted support from Washington, international interventions have largely proved ineffectual. This environment suggests that further demolitions may be likely as the theme park project moves forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Palestinians in al-Bustan demolishing their own homes?
Residents are forced into “self-demolition” to avoid exorbitant municipal fees. For example, one resident was quoted a fee of 280,000 shekels (£72,000) for a state-led demolition, making private hiring significantly cheaper.
What is the purpose of the Kings Garden project?
The Kings Garden is a planned biblical theme park located where King Solomon is said to have spent his leisure time. It is part of a settler-driven archaeological project focusing on Jerusalem’s Jewish past.
What is the municipality’s justification for the demolitions?
The Jerusalem municipality claims the homes were built illegally in an area not zoned for residential use and that the project will provide necessary public open spaces for all city residents.
Do you believe archaeological projects should take precedence over existing residential communities?
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