A secret organization, which includes influential figures, is selling Palestinian real estate to Israelis in Jerusalem, said a lawyer specialized in Jerusalem affairs.
Khaled Zabarka stressed that the absence of religious, political and social regulations has opened the door for the organization to conclude more deals.
He underscored the importance of forming a leadership for Jerusalem, including religious, political, social and trade union figures, to expose the secret organization to address the ongoing illegal sales.
His remarks were made only two days after a property was sold to settlers in Silwan, near Al-Aqsa Mosque, in an incident that sparked outrage in the Holy City.
Jewish settlers on Saturday took over a house in Wadi Hilweh neighborhood, east of Silwan, after its owner reportedly “leaked” it to the “Ateret Cohanim” settler group.
In a statement, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center published new details about the sale of the property, which is located south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
According to the Center, the property’s ownership was sold for 4.5 million shekels ($1.4 million).
“Following investigations conducted by the local committees and authorities during the past few days, it was found that the owner sold his house to a buyer from the 1948 occupied territory (Israel) before the latter handed it over to a contractor for renovations.”
The new leak is a blow to Palestinians who have been fighting Israeli plans to evict them from the neighborhood and the rest of Silwan district to pave the way for tourism projects.
