18 August 2023
While the Israeli right claims that the country’s courts are too liberal and discriminate against Jews, a recent case has, sadly, made clear how ridiculous that charge really is. In July, the Sub Laban family was evicted from their home in the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City that they had lived in since before the Six Day War. As if to rub salt in the wound, they are now responsible for costs of NIS 50,000 (about $13,000) incurred in evicting them.
This is not an uncommon occurrence. By virtue of a law passed after the Six Day War, Jews are entitled to reclaim any property owned by Jews before 1948. In practice, this means that settler companies, which have bought the “rights” to the property from the heirs (who are not involved), can evict non-Jews from homes they have lived in for decades – and then use the property to expand Jewish settlement in historically Arab neighborhoods. Perhaps needless to say: Arabs have no parallel right to reclaim property taken over by Jews in the same conflict.
Partners for Progressive Israel has been a leader in making Americans aware of everyday injustices like this. Please support our work to make Israel a more just and equitable society!
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