JERUSALEM, November 5, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities shut down the Sons of Jerusalem Club in the Sa'diya neighborhood of the Old City of Jerusalem on Thursday, under an order issued by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The Jerusalem Governorate said the closure is part of a new move targeting Palestinian national, sports and social institutions in Jerusalem, and falls within a systematic policy of restricting the Palestinian presence in the city.
It noted that the Sons of Jerusalem Club is one of the Old City's long-established sports and social institutions. The club plays a prominent role in providing a space for young Jerusalemites and promoting their sports, social and national engagement. Targeting it, the governorate said, amounts to an attack on an institution that serves an important role in the local community.
The governorate added that the decision comes amid an ongoing Israeli escalation targeting Palestinian national institutions and activities in Jerusalem through closures, persecution and restrictions. It said these measures seek to undermine Palestinian institutional and community life and further limit the spaces available to Jerusalemites to engage in sports, cultural and social activities.
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