The Jerusalem Municipality demolished Al-Ayed Restaurant on Sunday morning. The restaurant was located at 2 HaNevi’im Street, on the edge of Musrara, near Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem. It had operated there without a building permit for decades. During the demolition, clashes broke out between security forces from the Jerusalem District Police and Border Police and local residents who gathered at the site and tried to prevent the demolition.
According to Palestinian sources, municipal teams, accompanied by heavy engineering equipment, arrived at the site on Sunday morning and began the demolition work. In the busy area, which is crowded for much of the day, many residents and onlookers gathered and interfered with the municipal teams’ work. The crowd was pushed away by police security forces, with the use of force. According to Palestinian reports, a young resident of Isawiya was arrested and a pregnant woman was lightly injured.
Why was Al-Ayed Restaurant a familiar meeting point in East Jerusalem?
Al-Ayed Restaurant opened in the early 1980s, replacing an old food stand that had operated there. It was a family business that expanded over the years without receiving the required building permits. The place was open 24/7 and became a regular meeting point in the area. The popular restaurant mainly served local residents, Palestinian visitors, families and tourists.
The restaurant was known mainly for its shawarma, grilled dishes and hummus, as well as its reasonable prices. Tourists often noted the traditional and authentic East Jerusalem atmosphere and the view of the Old City walls, though it was neither a luxury restaurant nor an iconic site.
In Palestinian media, the demolition was covered as another step aimed at “Judaizing” East Jerusalem and pushing the Palestinian presence out of the area.
