A letter to the Judea and Samaria Civil Administration ›

Jahalin Summer camp

Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann wants to clarify two questions concerning the Jahalin especially the ones who live in Chan El Achmar. In order to prevent a disaster.  A letter was written to the Civil Administration Ombudsman.  

A letter to the Judea and Samaria Civil Administration ombudsman, Bar Akoka

For many years Rabbis for Human Rights has worked to help the Jahalin people in different areas as: education, health, humanitarian aid and with turning to the authorities that are responsible for their situation and rights.

for many years we accompanied them in legal steps that their lawyer, Shlomo Leker took, and we were also mediators between him and the tribe’s people. We also worked with international organizations that are concerned with the fate of these poor people who are still considered refugees.

Less then a week ago the access of Chan El Achmar residents between Mishor Adumim and Kfar Adumim was blocked on both sides of the community: from and main Jerusalem Jericho road and also from the dirt track near the gas station that the people of Kfar Adumim manage. The residents of Chan El Achmar were only left with one access which is not finished and not paved under the main road (through a tunnel that connects the two sides of the road).

The school of Chan El Achmar serves 85 children. The families live there without electricity, water or sanitation services. Due to the lack of infrastructure, the people do not have even minimum living conditions. This is against the Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty and the well known Jewish value of people’s dignity and also against our commitment in our Declaration of  Independence. The continuing blockade on Chan El Achmar adds a new urgent and moral humanitarian element and in this situation there is a real life threatening situation. A threatening situation that is against the well known Jewish value of saving a life, was created. Therefore we ask how will an ambulance reach to Chan El Achmar in a time of need? What will the Civil Administration do in order to change the situation of the blockade and when?

Future plans

What are the Civil Administration’s plans for the Jahalin Bedouin who are living in other places in the area? Is it true that there are plans to transfer them to a permanent settlement? Why the Civil Administration does not relate to the residents’ desire to return to the Negev, a place they ran away or were evicted from.

Why the residents cannot remain in the area they lived in before the occupation of 67? Is there in the plan – if there is one – a thought to transfer them to the area of the Abu-Dis garbage dump despite the danger to their health and ignoring the criticism of the Ministry of Environment to continue operating this site (by the Jerusalem municipality?)

I will be happy to meet and learn more on these issues. I would be thankful if we could discuss the possibility of  helping to find a proper solution for the residents, that we, as a State, are responsible for. The continuation of the existing situation is according to Judaism Chilul Hashem.

Sincerely yours,

Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann, Director of the Department for Human Rights in the Territories.

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A summary of the predicted eviction

We received reports that the government is planning a massive eviction of the Bedouins between Jerusalem and Jericho and also planning to demolish the school we built from tiers and mud. This school was for the children of Chan El Achmar a dream come true .

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