Emad Abu Khadija, a Palestinian resident in Jerusalem, has refused to sell his small cafe to Israeli authorities or settlers despite the huge financial offer amounting to around $US 31 million.<\/p>\n
The café is located on Bab al-Silsila Street, opposite a road leading to the Al-Buraq Wall, which Israel seized in 1967 and renamed "the Western Wall", and only 30 meters away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.<\/p>\n
"I inherited this café from my father and grandfather, who have owned it for 80 years," the 62-year-old father of two told The New Arab, adding that its stones were built of Roman-Byzantine stone and is more than 2,000 years old.<\/p>\n
Abu Khadija faces continuous provocative actions by the Israeli authorities to seize his cafe that includes sporadic arrests of him and his sons which closes the cafe for a long periods of time.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the Israeli authorities continue to impose taxes on Abu Khadija, which doubled his debts to the institutions of the various Israeli authorities.<\/p>\n
"Unfortunately, I live with constant anxiety for fear of losing my café," the elderly man said, emotion cracking his voice. " Every day, I sell tea, coffee, and juices in my shop, and earn about $US 40. But it is not enough to support my family or pay the taxes imposed on me."<\/p>\n
Abu Khadija concluded his comments by calling on the international and Arab community to stand by Palestinians in Jerusalem and not to leave them alone in their struggle against Israel's attempts to empty the Old City of its original inhabitants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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