|
Israel Razes 88 Homes in Al-Quds to Build Park
 |
|
A
Palestinian, whose home is marked for demolition, holds his
family's original property deed issued in 1920.
|
OCCUPIED
JERUSALEM, June 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Israel is planning to
evict 1,000 Palestinians from Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) to
make way for what it calls an "archaeological park" devoted
to the Jewish history, a leading US newspaper reported Tuesday, June
7.
The
Los Angeles Times said 88 Palestinian
homes in the village of Silwan, on the steep slopes below the Old
City, received demolition notices from the Israeli authorities, in the
largest swath of demolition in the occupied holy city, under claims of
being illegally built.
Hashem
Jalajel, a Silwan Palestinian resident, was one of those who received
such a notice from the Jerusalem Municipality.
"I
can't read it," the 76-year-old patriarch said, passing the
Hebrew-language notice to one of his grandsons to read aloud.
"But I've memorized everything it says."
Jalajel
has lodged a complaint with an Israeli courts challenging the
demolition order.
"The
Israeli judge told us, 'You are not on trial here, but your house is,'
" said Ahmed, his eldest son, whose home is also targeted.
"Who ever heard of such a thing?"
Palestinians
see districts such as Silwan as key political battlegrounds in the
conflict with Israel over the future of the occupied holy city as they
form a shrinking corridor of access between the West Bank and Al-Aqsa
mosque, Islam's third-holiest shrine.
Israel
captured Al-Quds in 1967 and later annexed in a move not
internationally recognized drew condemnation and outrage from many
Muslim groups.
War
Declaration
Mohammed
Qadi, a 35-year-old Palestinian from an old Silwan family, said they
had tried to keep the news of the Israeli eviction orders from his
90-year-old grandmother.
An
acquaintance had let slip that their home was on the demolition list,
he said.
"She
said, 'Let them try, but I'll never leave this place,' " Qadi
added.
"That's
how we all feel — that this will happen, literally, over our dead
bodies."
Jamal
Zahalka, an Israeli Arab Knesset member, warned that moving ahead with
the Israeli demolition plans could trigger an explosion of violence.
"It's
a declaration of war," he said.
Archeological
Park
Israeli
municipal authorities say the area will be an archeological park
devoted to Jewish history and sites associated with the biblical King
David.
"This
area is the cradle from which the City of David sprang," said Uri
Shetrit, Jerusalem's director of planning, urban design and
architecture, who has spearheaded the demolition drive.
"Historically,
this valley was an open space, a green space full of archeological
treasures, and I consider it my professional duty to protect
them."
Shetrit
cited a 1974 zoning regulation declaring the area an open parkland in
which no building was permitted.
However,
Palestinian residents maintain that many of the targeted structures
predate the statute.
Some
of them still have original property deeds dating back to 1920.
Israeli
human rights groups believe the demolition plans only serve to deny
the Palestinians access to their future capital.
"It's
a very, very dangerous proposal," said Meir Margalit, a former
Jerusalem city councilman who is helping lead the opposition to the
Israeli demolition plans.
"In
addition to putting 1,000 people out of their homes, we believe the
aim, ultimately, is to deny Palestinians access to what will be their
capital. And that would undermine any future Mideast peace
solution."
A
protest tent was set up by the rights groups in Silwan where activists
gather daily, distributing maps and pamphlets and offering
neighborhood tours.
Margalit
hoped that a combination of Western diplomatic pressure and legal
strategy would derail the Israeli demolition plans.
Israeli
housing demolitions have increased in Al-Quds since the start in 2000
of the Palestinian Intifada, said the Israeli human rights group
B'tselem.
Al-Aqsa
Intifada erupted in the wake of the provocative visit of then Israeli
opposition leader Sharon to Al-Aqsa mosque.
In
October, 2004, a UN report accused Israel of severe human rights
violations against Palestinians, including "wanton"
destruction of infrastructure.
|
