Israel marks launch of Jewish center in Jerusalem

By Said Ibicioglu

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel on Wednesday marked the launch of a new Jewish heritage center in Jerusalem.

The center, which will cost over $1 million, will be housed in an old Yemenite synagogue that will soon be renovated. The synagogue is located in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem.

A ceremony marking the launch was attended by Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin and Culture Minister Miri Regev. Former Arkansas governor and U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was also present.

According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the director of the center, Jawad Siyam, and Committee Head of Batn al-Hawa neighborhood Zuhayr ar-Racabi were arrested by Israeli police prior to the center’s launching ceremony.

The Palestinian Abu Nab family had been living in the old synagogue but were forced out in 2015 by Jewish settlers in cooperation with Ateret Cohanim, a group that works to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and East Jerusalem.