Al-Bustan (East Jerusalem)

[1] The area is the subject of a controversial proposed Israeli development project that envisions demolishing the existing houses and creating a national park, while constructing new four-story apartment buildings around it into which the current residents would be relocated.

[2] Further demolition plans were postponed due to international outcry, with Mayor Uri Lupolianski declaring that residents would be able to seek retroactive approval for their homes.

[2] As of 2014, approximately 1,000 people lived in this new neighborhood, with its residents lacking official recognition and left contending with demolition orders by local authorities and unable to extend homes, lay infrastructure or build public facilities.

[2] UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk said of the plan that "international law does not allow Israel to bulldoze Palestinian homes to make space for the mayor’s project to build a garden, or anything else.

"[8] In 2017, however, all 100 structures in Al-Bustan were facing the threat of demolition to make way for this development,[7] though the still involved accommodating existing residents in new housing to be constructed along the edges of the park.

"[13] On June 8, 2021 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israeli authorities to stop demolitions of Palestinian properties in occupied East Jerusalem.