Palestinians forced to demolish own homes to make way for Israeli theme park
Residents of al-Bustan district told to make way for Kings Garden, with knocking down own houses cheaper option
TL;DR
- Palestinians in al-Bustan, East Jerusalem, are demolishing their own homes to avoid higher costs from the municipality.
- The land is being cleared for a biblical theme park called the 'Kings Garden', part of an archaeological project focused on Jewish history.
- Residents describe the demolitions as a devastating erasure of their history, community, and future.
- The municipality claims the houses were built illegally and the area is needed for public space, while residents dispute permit issues and highlight discriminatory practices against Palestinians.
- The situation is exacerbated by the broader political climate and a lack of effective international intervention.