Israeli court's compromise would avoid Palestinian evictions

Israel’s Supreme Court has floated a compromise that would prevent the evictions of dozens of Palestinian residents in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Supreme Court on Monday floated a compromise that would prevent the evictions of dozens of Palestinians in the east Jerusalem of Sheikh Jarrah, where attempts by Jewish settlers to expel them from their homes helped spark an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants in May. The cases examined Monday involve four Palestinian families numbering a total of about 70 people. Lower Israeli courts have approved the evictions of the four families. They ruled that their houses were built on land owned by Jews before Israel was established in 1948. But weighing a last-ditch appeal from the residents, the court suggested a compromise that would give them “protected” status.