JERUSALEM, November 16, 2011 (WAFA) – The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem Thursday seized a piece of land belonging to a Palestinian Orthodox Monastery in the neighborhood of Al-Thawri, west of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, according to a press release by the committee for the defense of Silwan.

The release said the Israeli municipality seized the 850 square meter piece of land in order to turn it into a Talmudic garden and a parking lot.

It added that the Israeli municipality refused a request, submitted by a Palestinian school located near the land, to annex it to the school property in order to build extra classrooms and end the shortage in schoolrooms.

The committee expressed fear that the land would be turned into a Talmudic garden under the control of the Israeli nature and parks authority, surrounding the areas of Wadi Hilweh and Al-Bustan in Silwan.

It called upon the international community to move in order to stop the Israeli escalation in targeting Palestinian residents and their land in Silwan.

To be noted, Israeli authorities’ measures in Silwan aim to remove the entire neighborhood after demolishing its 88 houses and displacing about 1600 Palestinian residents.

T.R./F.J.