Empty donors’ plaques hint to long-term planning and grand ambitions on the part of Elad, which declares itself committed to connect Jews with Jerusalem through “archaeological excavation, tourism development, educational programming and residential revitalization”. The last undertaking, already embodied by several Jewish houses proudly flying the Israeli flag over Silwan, is seen by many as a covert attempt to Judaize Silwan and create a continuos Jewish presence around the Old City of Jerusalem.
Photo by: Activestills.org | Demonstration against house evictions, Silwan, East Jerusalem. 25.11.2011
The JNF and its Israeli affiliate KKL-JNF do very important environmental and ecological work. That work must not be tarnished by JNF-led evictions of Palestinian families. Updates on information, media, campaigns and calls to action.
1. The Sumarin Family in Silwan (and the Campaign to Stop the Eviction).
What you can do
1. Like this facebook page.
2. Share/Recommend that your friends like this facebook page.
3. Send an email to the JNF, using RHR’s latest campaign letter as a template, demanding that they cancel the eviction entirely:
4. Write an op-ed about the issue.
5. Stay updated via this facebook page. December 18th is fast approaching.
Background
Further case background
- “The Eviction of One Palestinian Family Might Cause the Next Political Crisis over East Jerusalm,” by Hagit Ofran
- “The JNF: Planting Trees or Uprooting Families?” by Moriel Rothman
- “Despite Denials, JNF to Continue Eviction Effort of J’lem Palestinians,” by Noam Sheizaf
Campaign
Rabbis for Human Rights, Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, the Solidarity Movement and the Jewish Alliance for Change’s parellel campaigns calling on the JNF and KKL-JNF to cancel the eviction of the Sumarin family.
Where this case stands
Following the campaign, including thousands of letters sent, a public demonstration in Silwan lead by Solidarity and dozens of op-eds and blogs written about the issues, the KKL-JNF/Himanutah agreed to freeze the eviction stating that “additional time would be granted to resolve the issue.”
Soon after, following parallel legal pressure by the family’s lawyer, Adv. Muhammad Dahleh, the Israeli court mandated a freeze of the eviction, granting the KKL-JNF until December 18th to “respond” (ie. to choose that it indeed does want to evict the Sumarin family).
What you can do
1. Like this facebook page.
2. Share/Recommend that your friends like this facebook page.
3. Send an email to the JNF, using RHR’s latest campaign letter as a template, demanding that they cancel the eviction entirely:
4. Write an op-ed about the issue.
5. Stay updated via this facebook page. December 18th is fast approaching.
The Independence Tractate
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