TEL AVIV, November 18, 2009 (WAFA)- Last minute political pressure is preventing the implementation of an Israeli Supreme Court ruling to evacuate Beit Yehonatan, which was established in East Jerusalem by the right-wing group Ateret Cohanim, the Israeli daily Haaretz said.

In July 2008 the court ruled that the seven-story structure in the Silwan neighborhood must be shuttered.

Haaretz has learned that parallel preparations by the municipal inspectors and the police to carry out the court order, pressure has come down on the legal counselor of the municipality, Yosef Havilio, to delay the execution of the order.

 The issue had been deliberated for the past four years and the court, despite a series of delays, rejected the appeal by the residents of the building. However, a statement issued Tuesday from the office of the Israeli  Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat announced that 'a variety of legal alternatives are being examined between the owners of the structure and the courts.'

Barkat's response was issued following a letter sent last week by Deputy Mayor David Hadari to the Israeli legal counselor and other senior municipal figures, opposing the order to evacuate and seal the structure.