Following its 1967 occupation of Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel
evicted the Palestinians of the Moroccan or Mughrabi Quarter adjacent to the
Western (Wailing) Wall, deporting its 650 inhabitants out of the Old City.
Israel then proceeded to raze the entire area and according to the officer in
charge of the demolitions, several persons died following their refusal to
leave their homes.
The Mughrabi Quarter was established in 1193 by Saladin’s son,
al-Malik al-Afdal, as a waqf (charitable trust) dedicated to Moroccans
pilgrims to the Holy City.
Israel’s objective in razing the area was to open a large space for
Jewish worshippers coming to pray at the Western Wall.
Although the Mughrabi Quarter was historically part of the Muslim
Quarter of the Old City, the houses that survived the destruction were annexed
to the Jewish Quarter and taken over by settlers.
The home of the Abu Id family is one of only two houses that
survived the destruction and are still inhabited by their Palestinian owners.
The Abu Id family has deep roots, living in the area since the 13th
century, according to Ismail Abu Id.
However, the millenarian link of the Abu Id family to the Old City
of Jerusalem is questioned as settlers attempt to take over his house.
The Abu Id family lives isolated in the Old City of Jerusalem,
surrounded by settlers that want to take over their home.
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