PHOTO ESSAY ~~ THE UNTOLD STORY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING
Silwan: The Untold Story
Silwan is home to 50,000 Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem, just south of the old city. Since 1967, no building permits have been approved in the neighbourhood. As families expanded over the years, residents were forced to build without permits making their homes illegal and vulnerable to demolition.
Complicating the situation, the ancient remains of the City of David lie below the heart of the neighbourhood. In the 1990's ELAD, a private settler organisation, took over management and promotion of the site. Since then, they have closed off public areas and been accused of invasive archaeology. Recently the Planning and Building Committee of Jerusalem approved a plan to demolish 22 Palestinian homes to make way for Israeli settlement growth as well as the construction of a tourist centre, the King's Garden which will include restaurant and boutiques.
Rebecca Fudala visited the neighbourhood.
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- Silwan, in East Jerusalem
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- Entrance to the City of David.
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- On the left is the City of David and to the right the smaller neighbourhood of Al-Bustan which lies in the valley of Silwan.
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- Security cameras outside of Israeli settler homes.
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- ELAD, a private settler organisation whose personal statement states to "strengthen the Jewish connection to Jerusalem." Above is ELAD's heavily guarded tourist site and home to Jewish settlers.
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- This archaeological site has been closed off from the pubic. The digging here has caused serious damage to the homes of the 25 Palestinians living next to the site: floors sinking, ceilings collapsing, and major cracks in walls and floors. In addition, most of the digging happens between 7pm and 7am.
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- The edge of Silwan borders ancient ruins and tombs where some of the Palestinian homes have been built.
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- This seven-story building, Beit Yehonatan, is home to ten Jewish families and illegal even under Israeli law. Still, it is protected by armed guards and security cameras at the expense of the government.
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- A lack of educational resources and community centres force children to travel long distance to reach schools in other parts of the city. There is only one high school serving the needs of all the Silwan residents.
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- In frequent night raids, Israeli soldiers enter the narrow walkways of the neighbourhood and invade homes with male children between the ages of 10-16. Boys are taken to undisclosed locations, accused of throwing stones or worse, and terrified into signing false confessions
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- Umm Yusef lives in the targeted Al- Bustan block with her husband and six children. Like so many others here, she has no Israeli permit for her home.
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- Umm Yusef's home.
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- A recently demolished home.
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- There is a strong military presence in Silwan due to frequent clashes between settlers and residents.
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- There is some hope. On Friday June 25, hundreds of Israelis joined with Palestinians and internationals to show their support for the families of Silwan. With continued solidarity and media exposure, the Jerusalem Municipality may be slowed or even prevented from taking over this Palestinian neighbourhood.
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