Watch recording of ICAHD UK Webinar - Evictions, Demolitions, & Displacement in Sheikh Jarrah & Silwan: Victims of Israeli oppression & their resistance - Wed 25 August
Photo: OCHA – demolition in Silwan
With Reem Hammad from Sheikh Jarrah and Amani Mousa Odeh from Silwan. Jeff Halper will will talk about critical Israelis who stand in solidarity with the Palestinians, including in the courts
Israeli governmental authorities, in collusion with the Israeli courts, press on at speed in displacing Palestinians from their rightful homes across the West Bank and East Jerusalem so that they can be replaced with a Jewish population – a process defined as settler colonialism. This webinar focussed on East Jerusalem. In total at least 30,000 Palestinian families hold demolition orders in their hands and daily they awake wondering when the bulldozers arrive and their home is demolished. In addition, other Palestinians face eviction so settlers can take over their home.
At present nearly 100 buildings, home to about 1500 people in the Al-Bustan area of Silwan, located just below the Dung Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, are slated for demolition by Israeli authorities to make way for an archaeological park named City of David. North of Damacus Gate is the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah where 28 Palestinian families are resisting displacement.
This webinar allows the international community to hear from Palestinians on the front line facing either demolition or eviction from their home in these communities where tension continues to rise. Hear what it is like to daily be confronted with extreme settler harassment and Israeli army and police brutality. The webinar alsos include the latest news on how some Israeli lawyers are pressing for a new legal opinion that could change the fate of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan eviction cases.
The webinar ends with actions that the international community can take to demonstrate solidarity.
The internet connection for Reem and Amani who spoke from East Jerusalem was not stable however their messages were powerful.
View a recording of the webinar here.