Ariga: November 1999

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November 1999
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Nov 30 1999

VISIT THE The Alternative Information Center which is now publishing its weekly newsletter online. The latest issue is at http://aic.netgate.net/magazine/991128/index.htm

Nov 30 1999

UPDATE ON DEMOLITION OF PALESTINIAN HOMES Yesterday morning the bulldozers were at it again - destroying houses at the village of El-Khader near Bethlehem, leaving homeless the brothers Ibrahim and Imad Sarafandi and their families. The destroyed houses are near the ever-expanding settlement of Efrat, where 1024 new housing units - for the exclusive use of Israeli settlers - are being erected... In East Jerusalem's Beit Hanina neighbourhood, a demolition was scheduled for this morning. It was put off -probably because peace-seeking Israelis found out about it in advance and spoiled "the element of surprise"... Meanwhile, a Barak adviser named Ruth Beyth has started sending out messages explaining that "demolitions are carried out only in rare and exceptional cases"... Please help keep the pressure on. Here is a list of government ministers and officials who should get as many protests as possible:

Nov 24 1999

ISRAELI AUTHORITIES DEMOLISH TWO HOUSES IN THE JERUSALEM VILLAGE OF ESSAWIEH 23 NOVEMBER 1999 Yesterday 23 November 1999, at approximately 9:00am, Israeli bulldozers backed by large number of soldiers and police officers entered the Essawieh village in East Jerusalem and demolished two houses. One house was owned by Ihab Nasser, 23 and the other owned by Hussein Khalil, 55. This is the second time that Nasser house has been demolished in two months. The first demolition took place on 16 October 1999 but the house was rebuilt again in defiance. According to an affidavit given by the victim's brother, Hasan, 25, armed occupation forces arrived at the house at about 9:00am. The soldiers and municipal officials were told that the family's lawyer was at the courthouse waiting to obtain a court order to cease the demolition but they did not heed. They went on with the demolition. The house, 60sq. meters was home to Nasser, his wife his elderly mother and his other three brothers. The house had cost 28, 000 NIS approx 7,000 USD to build. In another affidavit given by the second owner, Hussein Khalil, said that armed forces arrived at the house at about 09:30 am. The demolition lasted for a few minutes. Khalil added that it took him 12 years to complete the construction of his 240sq-meter house of two floors. The house was to shelter 16 family members. The national insurance agency had refused to allocate money for Kahlil who was injured in 1996 in an accident. The agency argued that Khalil's wife could work and support the family. She was asked to refer to the employment office to find her work. Nasser's house is one among 38 other houses facing the threat of demolition in the area deemed by the City Council as 'a green zone', an expression used by Israeli authorities to ban Arab construction in the city. According to information gathered by LAW's field researchers, the owners of the houses threatened with demolition have been paying the Arnona tax - a type of tax paid by house owners for occupying space in the city of Jerusalem. It is also unclear as to the reason why the City Council had agreed to collect Arnona tax money from the owners whose houses are threatened by demolition. LAW calls for the end to the Israeli policy of house demolition and to discriminatory building regulations in East Jerusalem. The action taken by the Israeli authorities shows a blatant disregard for international law. LAW requests the intervention of the international community to bring Israel to compliance with international agreements and to cease their policy of ethnic cleansing and the violations of Palestinian rights. LAW - the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment web site: http://www.lawsociety.org/

Nov 24 1999

MidEast Web at www.mideastweb.org reports:

There's a Map of Wye Memorandum Redeployments at http://www.mideastweb.org/mredeploy1.htm

News updates, including Settlers disband tent settlement under IDF pressure, Jordan Exiles Hamas Leaders, PHRMG:PNA uses torture, jails prisoners ordered released by courts, Israeli Labor Party Official: Admit 100,000 Refugees, Wye Redeployment Postponed, and churches protest mosque in Nazareth at http://www.mideastweb.org/mewnews.htm

Historical Document - Desparate straits of Jewish Defenders in 1948: http://www.mideastweb.org/Jeruint.htm

Do your bit for hunger - once a day, click on http://www.thehungersite.com/cgi-bin/donate.pl Each day, your visit to the hunger web site causes each advertising sponsor to contribute the equivalent of 1/4 cup of a staple food to the UN World Food Program.

Here's An Invitation to Hope Flowers School From Hussein Issa, Director of the Hope Flowers school dedicated to peace education: Warm greetings from the Hope Flowers School (in El-Khader, Bethlehem). On Dec. 11, 1999 we are planning to have an agricultural day at our school. Some Israeli students and teachers will come to join our students and teachers to plant the school garden. so, we are inviting all of the school friends to come and join us in this activity. and you will be so thankful if you can support us with some trees. your coming will be a great support for us. Looking forward to seeing you at our school.
Hussein Issa amalzh@hally.net, Director
All of the above came from MidEast Web for Coexistence(R.A.), a non-profit organization founded by Israelis and Palestinians to promote dialog and peace education and registered in Israel to allow us to collect funds for this purpose. Contact: Mideastweb@mideastweb.org for more information.

Nov 24 1999

The latest issue (No. 91, November 1999) has just been posted at THE OTHER ISRAEL

Nov 22 1999

To All Friends of Peace and Justice, After several years of struggle against Israel's policy of massive demolitions of Palestinian homes on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, we -- Israelis, Palestinians and our supporters abroad -- thought we had turned the corner. The Israel Committee Against House demolitions succeeded in making house demolitions an international issue. (Interior Minister Sharansky, the human rights "hero" who ironically turned into the greatest antagonist of human rights in the Israeli government, recently complained that he cannot demolish a Palestinian house anymore without it becoming an international event.) And we steadily reduced the numbers of demolitions from 249 in 1997 to 175 in 1998 and "only" 74 so far this year -- although each demolished home represents the destruction of a family's entire world.

We had high hopes when the Barak "peace government" came into office in June, though no change of demolition policy has ever been announced. While there have been no demolitions on the West Bank for the past couple months (since August), the government continues to issue hundreds of demolition orders, to haul before the courts and sentence to heavy fines tens of families who have built "illegally" because they are denied permits, and to send its brutal "field inspectors" to harass residents. In the meantime, the Israeli government continues to expropriate thousands of acres of West Bank land, uproot thousands of olive and fruit trees for their massive "by-pass roads" connecting settlements, and frantically expanding the settlements themselves. The reality "on the ground" does not in any way conform to a "peace process."

And now the war against the Palestinian people has moved in full force to Jerusalem, where houses in the eastern part of the city are being demolished at an ever increasing rate -- two last week, one today (of the Muhammad Jabari family of Jabal Mukaber), two more scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) in Issawiyeh, another two for Wednesday in Silwan. (Jewish homes in the western part of the city are NEVER demolished, even though 70% of the building violations occur there.) Here a cynical and cruel game is played out between the Municipality of Mayor Ehud Olmert and the Interior Ministry of Natan Sharansky. Where the city has agreed to a moratorium of house demolitions (in Beit Hanina, for example), the Interior Ministry demolishes, as it did last week. Where the Interior Minister indicates it might not demolish (as it did when Ministers Sharansky, Ramon and Beilin agreed to set up a committee to review the demolision issue, promising that houses would not be demolished in the meantime), then the Muncipality demolishes.

Although presented as a technical matter of planning, permits and law enforcement, the demolition of Palestinian houses is in fact a purely political act. It derives from the government's open and declared policy of maintaining a 72%-28% demographic majority of Jews over Palestinians in Jerusalem. Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are confined to highly circumscribed parts of "East Jerusalem." This area of 70 sq.km. (70,000 dunams or 17,600 acres) constitutes two-thirds of Jerusalem's total urban area. Yet since 1967, 35% of the land comprising East Jerusalem has been expropriated for Israeli neighborhoods, roads and other facilities, while another 54% is forbidden for Palestinian construction (for such reasons as security, zoned "green spaces," and new Jewish neighborhoods). That leaves only 11% of East Jerusalem is available for Palestinian housing and other needs -- only 3.5% of the city's total urban space for almost 200,000 people. And a building permit for a Palestinian costs upwards of $10,000. Under these conditions Palestinian residents of the city cannot take out permits, and are therefore forced to build "illegally." A city that must demolish tens of homes a year -- and then only of a particular community -- cannot defend its policies on legal or planning grounds.

It is time to say "Enough!" No more political demolitions on the West Bank, in East Jerusalem or in Gaza (where 70 demolitions orders were issued by Israeli authorities against the Khan Yunis refugee camp only a month ago). Your protest is crucial, urgent -- and effective. Click here for addresses to send your protests to

Nov 22 1999

HELP PEACE TEAM SELL TOMATOES FOR AN OPEN MARKET To help Israel implement the Sharm El Sheikh Memorandum, the Christian Peacemaker Teams will sell tomatoes in the HASBAHE market in Hebron's Old City on Friday, November 26th at 9 a.m. The Memorandum states that the market will open not later than November 1, 1999. Earlier signed agreements in 1995 and in 1997 also called for it to re-open. The market was shut down following the 1994 massacre in the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque. It remains closed because it is near the entrance to the Avraham Avinu settlement. For more information, contact CPTer Bourke Kennedy at 052-316-162 & 050-397-506 CPT Hebron has maintained a violence reduction presence in Hebron since June of 1995 at the invitation of the Hebron Municipality. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an initiative among Mennonite and Brethren congregations, and Friends meetings who support violence reduction Teams around the world.

November 5 1999

From: Michael Chertok of the Schools Online Project
I just got back from Israel yesterday. The work we've been doing there has been wonderful. Two separate groups of 30 Arab and Jewish Israeli teachers and students worked and lived together over a week, learning Internet skills and forming a real community. Both groups have made plans to work on several collaborative projects during the school year, including meeting again in person. In addition, we did a similar professional development workshop for 20 Palestinian teachers from Gaza and the West Bank, defying U.S. State Department warnings for Americans to stay away from Ramallah.
Each school will be given equipment to sustain the project. Local businesses have donated resources for ISP charges for those schools that cannot afford the connection. Ora Schnabel, a teacher from Israel, stated, "I have been participating in the first workshop for Israeli and Arab teachers and the most wonderful thing is happening. In fact, I still find it hard to believe. The group of teachers and students is becoming more cohesive every day, the atmosphere is great, and we have been learning a lot and have already started planning our projects."
Ameer and Itai, two students participating in the first workshop, were so inspired that they channeled their ambitions to create a website including pictures of the participants. You can see their work at:
http://www.fortunecity.com/campus/springbank/739/
Personally, I found it a transforming experience to speak with Jewish and Arab Israelis and West Bank Palestinians about their views about the peace process--and to actually see the facts on the ground of two parallel realities of the Arab and Jewish communities in the West Bank. The complexities of making peace work are daunting, but the hope and possibility for bridging this gap is very much alive!

November 4 1999

4.11.95 The fourth anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Please spend a couple of minutes reading his Last Speech -- an Israeli Gettysburg address of sorts, summing up the dangers of violence and the promise of peace. Or read Ariga: Uri Avnery on the real Yitzhak Rabin

October 26 1999

The closure of a seaport owned by the brother of Syrian President Hafez Assad evidences a continuing power struggle in Damascus. The continuation of this power struggle has upset the Israeli-Syrian peace process more than was previously apparent. Growing instability in and around Syria could not only scuttle the peace process, but could potentially spill across the border. See the full report at a Stratfor Middle East Report

PALESTINIAN HOUSE PROVOCATIVELY DEMOLISHED
On the first day in years that some Gazans could travel to the West Bank - there was unfortunately also a flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian tensions. We ask your to act in one concrete case.
A Palestinian house was again demolished in the neighbourhood of Beit Hanina, East Jerusalem. This would have been a bad piece of news under all circumstances - and some particular circumstances make it even worse.
Like most Arab neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem, the inhabitants of Beit Hanina have no real option of building legally - since the issuing of building permits requires a municipal zoning plan, and for the Arab neighbourhoods no such plans exist. Perforce, since they have to live somewhere, the Palestinians built illegally.
In the beginning of this year, the inhabitants of Beit Hanina thought that they had achieved something: they signed an agreement with the Jerusalem municipality which promised to issue the long-awaited zoning plan in the near future, and until it is issued to refrain from demolishing existing houses; for their part,the inhabitants undertook not to build any more houses illegally, and await the moment when they could get official permits.
Israeli peace activists have been involved in getting this agreement signed, and it was hoped that it will provide both a reasonable solution for the inhabitants of this particular neighbourhood and a precedent for other places. However, the Ministry of the Interior had been from the start hostile to the agreement, making clear its intention to continue demolishing houses which had been "pardoned" by the municipality - and precisely this happened this morning.
Interior Ministry demolition teams destroyed a house which was built ten years ago, which had been accepted as part of the agreement with the municipality, and whose inhabitants just last week paid the years long accumulated municipal tax in the sum of 8000 Shekels (about $2000), in recognition of their home's new status.
Last night, the Interior Ministry's intention to destroy the house became known to Meir Margalit, Jerusalem Town Councillor for the Meretz Party. Throughout the night and the morning, Margalit and several other activists made enormous efforts to stave off the demolititions - but the Interior Ministry officials proved implacable. Appeals by foreign diplomats were also fruitless. The demolition was carried out. A member of the Beit Hanina neighbourhood committee, carrying documents showing the house to be explicitly included in the inhabitants' agreement with the municipality, was blocked by police and not allowed to approach the scene of the demolition.
It seems that the orders to carry out the demolition came directly from the Interior Ministry's director-general Avi Ma'oz - who happens to be a settler, a leader of the El'ad religious-nationalst settler association which forcibly took over Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem's Silwan village.
Councillor Meir Margalit was present during the demolition. After it was over, he heard the people of Beit Hanina - people whom he knows well, many of whom had dared to hope for a more calm future - shouting angry and bitter slogans.
We ask you to express your strong protest to Prime Minister Ehud Barak rohm@pmo.gov.il and/or pm@pmo.gov.il as well as to Interior Minister Nathan Sharanski sar@moin.gov.il
You can use the following text or make your own.
For direct contact with Meir Margalit: ph +972-51-345503 or +972-2-6764948.
---------- sample letter
I am appalled and shocked at the news of another demolition of a Palestinian home on October 25 at Beit Hanina Neighbourhood in East Jerusalem.
This demolition is all the more reprehensible coming after the Jerusalem Municipality came to an afreement with this neighborhood and specifically promised to refrain from demolition. Such a provocative demolition destroys all confidence and hope. A government which wants its wish to end the 100 years of conflict to be taken seriously, should reverse it, and make sure that those responsible will pay.
Sent in by The Other Israel, the newsletter of the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace

October 24 1999

From: LGreenInc@aol.com
Re: Compassionate Listening Project Dear Friends, I am happy to announce the completion of Children of Abraham - a powerful and beautiful film about the Compassionate Listening Project. This documentary introduces the Compassionate Listening reconciliation model, and humanizes each Israeli and Palestinian portrayed. The film delivers a compelling message that conflict can be transformed through the simple act of listening. Children of Abraham is now available for purchase. Also, if you live in North America, chances are you can host a screening in your community with one of our past participants or an advisory board member. Just click on this host a screening link to our website to see who's available in your area to show the film and discuss their experience with the project. Children of Abraham is being received enthusiastically (and with tears) at conferences, Synagogues, and public and private screenings across N. America. Starting in the year 2000, you'll also see it in Jewish Film Festivals. If you are in Israel, you're welcome to attend the November 18th screening at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute at 5:00 pm. Please consider purchasing Children of Abraham for your local synagogue, mosque, church, university, peace center or your own video library. The film is a perfect vehicle to foster dialogue, and to explore Compassionate Listening as a tool for peacemaking.

"Children of Abraham compellingly documents the profound possibilities within a society in which friends and enemies alike attune themselves to the voice of the other. It should serve as an urgent reminder of how badly we transgress and how much we forfeit when we dismiss the power of listening as too simple. This is not a promotion of a naive quick fix, but rather a call to the wrenching but essential heroism that Jewish tradition says inheres in making one's enemy into one's friend."

- Rabbi Gordon Tucker Children of Abraham features:

Fatima al-Assad, Palestinian refugee and High School Teacher, Kalandia Refugee Camp;
Dr. Haidar Abdul Shafi, Founding member, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Director, Palestinian Red Crescent Society (the Palestinian Red Cross), Gaza City;
Maen Ereikat, Orient House, East Jerusalem;
Rabbi Menachem Froman, Founder, Gush Emunim (Israeli Settlers' Movement) and Religious Advisor to the Knesset;
Amos Gvirtz, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Kibbutz Shefayim;
Eve Harrow, Israeli Resident and Town Council Representative, Efrat, West Bank;
Yossi Klein HaLevi, Journalist, The Jerusalem Report;
Dr. Iyad Sarraj, Director, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and Director, Palestinian Independent Commission on Human Rights;
Sheikh Ahmad Yassein, Spiritual Leader of HAMAS;
Yehezkel Landau, Administrative Director, Open House Peace Center, Ramle, Israel

To order Children of Abraham, go to the Children of Abraham website
Cost for U.S. residents:
VHS copies including shipping: $29.95
VHS- PAL copies (European format) w/ shipping: $34.95
Cost outside the U.S.: add $3.00 for shipping
Remember to include your mailing address. October 18 1999

From Len and Libby Traubman There is an inventive, delightful new way you can help get food to people in great need. On the Web, the United Nations "Hunger Site" lets you click on a button, and somewhere in the world a hungry person gets a meal to eat at no cost to you. How? The food is paid for by business sponsors of the Web site. All you do is go to the site and click. And, you're allowed one click -- one meal -- per day. So, visit the site . . . http://www.thehungersite.com . . . and pass the word!

October 16 1999

Gush Shalom Message of October 15 1999 THERE ARE NO LEGAL SETTLEMENTS For 32 years all Israeli governments - each in its turn - have surrendered to the settlers, and all of us are paying the price: today in money, tomorrow in blood. The time has come to stop the settlers, before they will succeed in their intention to bury the chances of peace. HE THAT BEGINS A GOOD DEED MUST FINISH IT

October 7 1999

ANTI-SETTLEMENT DEMONSTRATION Sunday, October 10, at 3.00 pm at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. Transportation from Tel-Aviv: 2.00 pm Arlozorov Railway Station. Gush Shalom is joining the call of Peace Now to demonstrate during the long-delayed meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Settlements. Come protest the expanding settlements, and remind Barak that his election slogan was Israel Wants Change - not settlements. It is an occasion to "stand up and be counted."

October 7 1999

CONFIDENCE-DESTROYING MEASURES Ma'aleh-Adumim settlement is being more then doubled.
Settlements, that were only yesterday considered illegal, are being legalized.
Har-Homah, far from the public eye, is being built-up at a pace unequalled by Netanyahu.
More building, more by-pass roads, more land confiscation.
That is not the way to build peace.
Gush Shalom Message for this week. For more on Gush Shalom visit their website at gush shalom

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