East Jerusalem`s "City of David" sparks tension

East Jerusalem`s Arab village of Silwan is known by Israelis as "The city of David" and is located just east of the wailing Wall. Palestinians and Israelis coexist within this village. Jerusalem, Israel. 4/12/2009.

The village has changed dramatically over the past years and is now home to hundreds of Jewish Israeli residents that bought houses from local Arabs or claimed the houses back through lawyers and court cases.
One organization that is very active in the village and is called "Elad". It is sponsored by wealthy Jews around the world that believe that Jews should live where they have been living for 2000 years, including Silwan, where the city of David once thrived.

I spoke with Elads spokesperson Udi Regounis who showed me a Black and White photo from 1870 of Silwan village. The photos show one main house and a few sheds, Udi says that even the one house in the photo is a famous Jewish house called "Beit Meyuchas".

I also spoke with the Abu Sneninas, a Palestinian family from Silwan that told me how two of their neighbours have lost their lives mysteriously after selling their homes to Jewish settlers. They are never going to sell their house to Jews even after being offered 15 milion dollars says Ziad Abu Snenina.

However, the Jewish presence is noticeable and clear with Israeli flags on every other house, private security guards and many archaeological digs.