Systematic oppression: Forced eviction

Palestinian home now occupied by Jewish
settlers, next to evictees' tent 

I was moved and angered by the plight of Palestinian families we met in the community of Sheikh Jarrah, near our hotel in East Jerusalem.  Originally driven from their homes in Haifa and Jaffa by Israel in 1948, the refugees accepted an offer from the United Nations and Jordan to resettle in Sheikh Jarrah in 1956. Organizations in Israel finally prevailed in protracted litigation to take their homes for Jewish settlements. 13 families were evicted, with soldiers breaking down some doors in a pre-dawn raid and forcing the elderly and screaming children into the street with their belongings. Jewish settlers moved in a half hour later. To add insult to injury, one homeowner had to pay about $25,000 for fines and costs, after all the legal fees. Several more families have received eviction orders. 

Cheska

We heard from Cheska of the Israeli Coalition against House Demolitions (ICAHD) that "East Jerusalem is an enclave with 200,000 [Israeli] settlers in it, which could not be an effective capital of Palestine."  The gated settler communities get full services, but the Palestinians get limited water, no refuse collection, no building permits, and do not have enough schools. Less than 10% of the municipal budget goes to Palestinian areas. Cheska says 75% of the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem are below the poverty line.

Separation wall in East Jerusalem

The separation wall that Israel calls a security fence divides Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem with few gates, adding to the systematic oppression. Cheska says Israel's strategy is to make life so miserable that Palestinians will leave "voluntarily." Planned settlement expansions would virtually sever the West Bank from east to west.

Jeff Halper, Director, ICAHD

Jeff Halper, director of ICAHD, told us that "the wall has nothing to do with security." He said Israel is trying to make the occupation permanent, and has destroyed 27,000 Palestinian homes since 1967--some three or four times! ICAHD has helped rebuild 186 homes as a symbol of political resistance. Jeff says the Palestinian Authority is responsible for only 70 "islands" in 40% of the territory, and there is no coherent  territory for a Palestinian state. He makes a coherent case that a two-state solution is impossible. Personally, however, I think Palestinians should no longer be denied their right to self-determination. We must convince world opinion--and especially the United States--that Israel must end the occupation in the interest of its own peace and security.

Earlier today, we visited Jerusalem's traditional pilgrimage sights, the Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock) and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. I was saddened by the un-Christian bickering and turf battles between the six denominations that share custody of the church.

IFPB Olive Harvest delegation in front of the Dome of the Rock