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Witnesses said Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the racist right-wing Religious Zionism party, tried to force his way into the house on Tuesday afternoon before being stopped by resident Sheikh Jarrah.
Yaaqub Arafah, head of the committee representing Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, said that members of the al-Kurd family confronted Smotrich when he tried to storm their home. The New Arab, Wednesday (23/6/2021).
Israeli police then intervened and forced Smotrich and other Israeli extremists who accompanied him to leave the area.
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The al-Kurd family have been in the global spotlight for their vocal opposition to attempts by Israeli settlers to take over their home and other homes in the Sheikh Jarrah area. Earlier this month Israel arrested Mohammed and Mona al-Kurd before releasing them hours later.
They are among dozens of families in Sheikh Jarrah who are facing eviction from their homes after Israeli settlers claimed they were built on land belonging to Jews before Israel’s creation in 1948.
The settlers’ claims have been vehemently rejected by Palestinians as well as human rights groups and while Israel allows Jews to claim Palestinian property on this basis, Israel refuses to allow Palestinians to be forcibly displaced from their homes. in 1948 and their descendants to reclaim their property in what is now Israel.
Smotrich, who has a history of racist incitement against Palestinians, managed to meet with Israeli settlers who had taken over part of the al-Kurd family home before being ordered to leave by Israeli police.
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