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Jerusalem is one of the most sacred cities in the world.
It is the cradle of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions.
Less than one km from the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount and Via Dolorosa...
lies the Arab neighbourhood of Silwan.
In today's story we will see how life so close to these sacred places...
can become a nightmare to its residents.
This is Fahri Abu Diab, giving us a tour in his neighbour's house.
This was their bedroom, the kitchen, the living room, their daughter's room.
They weren't even allowed to fetch their kids' shoes when they were evicted.
Fahri's house is the next in line to be demolished.
This is my home. My home is my life.
I used to take care of the garden.
This was a little pool, I planted all the trees.
Since I got the eviction notice I don't want to do anything.
When can they demolish your house? -They can come any minute now.
The reason for the demolition dates from 3000 years ago.
Up the street from Fahri's house is the archaeological site City of David.
It is a beautiful place that explores ancient Jerusalem...
and dates back over 3000 years.
Archaeologists believe it was once home to King David...
the father of King Solomon, who built the first temple.
It is one of the most popular and most visited sites in Jerusalem.
In 2005 a plan was approved...
to expand the site and include a piece of land called The Orchard...
where it is believed King David used to stroll.
The plan did take into consideration...
the fact that The Orchard is also home to 100 of Silwan's families.
They say that City of David is the home of King David...
the king of the Jews 3000 years ago. So what?
So someone important to the Jews lived here. Should I be evicted for that?
People who live now are more important than ancient stones.
History belongs to all humanity.
If they want to do research they should include us as well.
I can trace back 12 generations of my own family...
who lived here.
I was born in this room. There used to be a fig tree next to the window.
My mother sat there when she went into labour. She gave birth to me here.
I will never move out of here.
I can still smell my mother here.
Every one of them can be kicked out of their home any minute now.
They can end up in the street. Everyone face eviction notices.
All the kids you see playing in the street will no longer be here.
They will end up living in the street.
What if instead of King David it was the prophet Muhammad?
No one is more important...
than my kids.
Religious people would never be against anyone.
They would have been on our side.
I'm sure neither Muhammad nor David...
nor Solomon, nor Abraham would agree to it.
They were all good people who want the best for me in this life and the next.
Not all archaeologists believe that the residents should be evicted.
The neighbourhood called The Orchard...
is not part of the archaeological site.
Even the Israel Antiquities Authority admits...
that the archaeological findings are in City of David, not in The Orchard.
No one expects to find antiquities there. There is not even a plan to dig there.
The only plan is to plant trees instead of the houses.
Do all the houses face eviction notices? -All of them.
According to Israeli law, most of the houses in Silwan were illegally built.
Since the 1967 war, in which Israel occupied this land...
hardly any Arabs were granted permission to build new homes...
or expand their current homes.
Sometimes even houses that were clearly built prior to 1967...
are declared illegal.
Look at the stone house over there.
You don't need to be an expert to see it is more than 100 years old.
In recent years Jewish settlers started moving into the neighbourhood...
causing friction within Silwan.
Do you see the settler's house over there?
It was built two years ago without a permit...
but because he is a Jewish settler it is OK.
The people of Silwan believe that the expansion of the archaeological site...
is just an excuse to kick them out of their homes...
and make room for more Jewish settlers to move in.
I don't believe any of it, I don't believe it's because of King David.
The real story is that they want to kick us out to take over our land.
If it wasn't King David they would say something else.
Jacob, or Solomon, or any other name.
It's all just an excuse to demolish my home and take over my land.
I was curious where Fahri's neighbour, who was evicted, lives now.
I lived in a normal house...
with a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, a garden.
How am I suppose to live in such a place?
In the winter the wind will blow it away and the rain will wash it all down.
The municipality of Jerusalem and the government want me to end up here.
I'd rather die under the ruins of my house than end up here.
If I had to live here I would die from frustration.
Losing my home means losing everything.
My home is everything to me.
I'd rather die than lose my house and dignity.