JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s state prosecutor rebuked Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat for not evacuating Jews living in an illegal building in eastern Jerusalem.
State Prosecutor Moshe Lador chided Barkat in a letter Thursday, saying that "Israel is a law-abiding country, and in lawful countries court orders must be carried out."
The Supreme Court on four occasions in the last year has ordered the Jerusalem Municipality to evacuate Beit Yonatan in the Arab eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
Eight Jewish families are living in the building, which was erected without a permit more than five years ago.
