Jerusalem court freezes eviction of Palestinian family in Sheikh Jarrah

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court freezes the eviction of the Salem family in Sheikh Jarrah as it considers their appeal. They were set to be evicted beginning March 1.

The scheduled Salem eviction was a major cause of tension in the flashpoint East Jerusalem neighborhood in recent weeks. Palestinians have protested, leading to clashes with police and right-wing Jewish Israelis.

The evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah were a key factor in the rising tensions in Jerusalem that helped spark last May’s war between Israel and Hamas.

The Salem family must deposit NIS 25,000 with the court as collateral, the judge says. He orders those seeking to evict the Salems — including the current homeowner, Jerusalem city councilmember Yonatan Yosef — to submit their response to their appeal. The timeline for the proceedings remains unclear.