If You Only Knew Today... Issue 39 - Winter 2006 by Naim Ateek 1 p. 1 Justice for Jerusalem By Hind Khoury p. 4 The Planning Problem in East Jerusalem by Raffoul Rofa p. 5 In This Issue This In Jerusalem Residency Rights by Maya Johnston p. 7 Have a Good Day Issue 39 - Winter 2006 by Raja Shehadeh p. 8 Impairing Social Services in Jerusalem by Dyala Husseini p. 9 The Colonizing of East Jerusalem by Nazmi Al-Ju’beh p. 10 O JERUSALEM! The Walls of Jerusalem by Clarence Musgrave p. 12 The Impact of the Wall on Education in East Jerusalem by Agnes Hanania p. 14 The Wall Inside Jerusalem IF YOU ONLY by Kenneth Cragg p. 15 In Person ... KNEW TODAY ... Douglas Dicks p. 17 by Naim Ateek violence and bloodshed for many innocent power, blinded by a narrow interpretation people. of Jerusalem’s past history, and with Jerusalem remains the key to peace. impunity disregards the rights of others as Ultimately it is what happens to Jerusalem Therefore, there is a fundamental it slights international law. The tragedy that will determine whether a viable peace statement to which we must adhere. Peace of the Israeli government today is the fact is achieved or not. Unless the is only possible when the principle of that it does not know how to make peace. international community can build peace justice and fairness as expressed in It is good at making and winning wars, on a just foundation, it is difficult to international law is exercised. Left alone but it is bad at making peace. It cannot imagine a permanent resolution of the Israel cannot do this. It is already up to its even imagine peace without domination. conflict. It is important to say from the neck in this quagmire. It has lost the It has no vision of peace without exclusive outset that without the ability of the ability to discern the basic requirements sovereignty and control. It is obvious to international community to override the for peace and what is good for its own many people that Israel’s claim to policies of the government of Israel people. It has become drunk by its military Jerusalem is narcissistic and exclusive and towards Jerusalem and curb its illegal cannot embrace the Palestinians. The actions, peace will always be a mirage, and Psalmist said that he places Jerusalem disaster will always loom on the horizon. above his highest joy (Psalm 137:6). In If Israel continues to violate international other words, the only way forward is to law through its unilateral actions of set Jerusalem above our own narrow and “Judaizing” Jerusalem then the pain and exclusive selfish desires and consider what difficulties incurred in any future solution is appropriate for it and for all of its would be much greater. The international children. Any approach to Jerusalem that community must make it very explicit that stems from an egotistic nationalist desire without applying the principle of sharing is dangerous because it shuts out the other. the city by Palestinians and Israelis there is no hope for settling the conflict. Any With the benefit of historical hindsight proposition that gives an edge to Israeli one can say that Jerusalem has three rights over the rights of the Palestinians is children whom she adopted at different doomed to failure and the tragic price is intervals in her long history. Her motherly 2 Issue 39 - Winter 2006 love embraces all three without bias or has evolved and developed. This is the distinction. If any of them is negated or reality of Jerusalem today as many of us marginalized, Jerusalem suffers a tragic loss see it. This is the reality we need to address and its beauty is marred. Tragically, if we are serious about peace. We need to however, the three children have never stand against any of the three heirs that been able to share their equal patrimony. attempts to define Jerusalem in an ethnic Whenever one of them assumed and exclusive way. Ultimately Jerusalem sovereignty, he denied and suppressed his itself would repudiate and repel such an brothers’ rights. This is the way western attempt. It is doomed to fail. Christians behaved during the Byzantine and Crusader periods. This is the way A PROPHETIC Muslims behaved during their long rule PARADIGM FOR PEACE of the city, and this is the way Israel behaves today. Although all like to claim a higher Psalm 87 provides us with a prophetic morality when they governed the city, paradigm for Jerusalem that critiques history attests to the fact that none of them Israeli government policy for the city and practiced it. We must, therefore, begin by can guide our vision for the future of a general confession that all three have Jerusalem. This Psalm must have been sinned against each other and against their written by an inspired poet, a liberation mother city. Whenever in control, we all theologian who had a vision of Jerusalem acted with military arrogance, religious that embraced all of God’s children superiority, and prejudice against others. without excluding any of them. Biblical scholars believe that this Psalm was written Israel’s control of Jerusalem came with the after the Jewish Exile in the 6th century 1967 war. It, too, wanted to reclaim its B.C. The poet transcended any exclusive, rightful patrimony from which it had been has been doing to the whole land. In fact, narrow nationalist, or xenophobic denied. One would have expected the whereas today under international pressure theology of his day when he pictured God government of Israel, that claimed to be Israel is beginning to concede a small area as saying, democratic, to practice a higher morality of land on the West Bank for a Palestinian “I will include Egypt and Babylonia by making the city truly a city of peace. state, in its avarice, it is devouring when I list the nations that obey me; Instead it embarked on a course that would Jerusalem totally and completely. What the people of Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia ‘Judaize’ the city and make it exclusively Israel is doing to Jerusalem will never I will number among the inhabitants of its own. Instead of using modern produce peace. Through its own doing, Jerusalem. Of Zion it will be said that all technology for the benefit of creating a Israel is building its own future of pain nations belong there and that the Almighty Jerusalem that can be a paradigm of peace, and instability and inviting greater hatred, will make her strong. they embarked on implementing a policy violence and bloodshed. Israel refuses to The Lord will write a list of the peoples that is as exclusive and chauvinistic as other learn from Jerusalem’s history believing and include them all as citizens of conquerors have done before. Israel denied that it is capable of reversing that history Jerusalem.” (Psalm 87:4-6 GNB) most Christians and Muslims of the West and charting a new course that no one in Bank and Gaza Strip access to the City. the future can reverse. It is acting as if The Psalmist envisages Jerusalem as a city They cannot even go to worship in their Jerusalem still exists in a B.C. era, as if that includes among its inhabitants even holy places. Furthermore, it allowed a neither Christianity nor Islam has emerged the worst enemies of ancient Israel, Egypt number of extremist religious settlers, with as equal heirs. What Israel is doing today and Babylonia. (The latter was the unlimited funding at their disposal, to can only be a recipe for disaster. country that destroyed Jerusalem in 586 dispossess Palestinian Muslims and B.C.) It is a city that people of many Christians through bribery, deception, Jerusalem is the patrimony of its three different racial and ethnic backgrounds can distortion, threats, and the terrorization of children. Jerusalem did not stop evolving claim affiliation to, as though they were women and children, and to replace them after David conquered it a thousand years born in it. It is a city of peace that with Jewish settlers in the heart of the before Christ according to the biblical welcomes people as citizens. It is God who Muslim and Christian quarters of the city. record. Her motherly love embraced her grants them citizenship in the city. Such Israel has been designing and shaping three children and gave them roots in the words provide a refreshing vision of peace Jerusalem for the benefit of the Jewish city. If we seek a genuine peace, it is futile that comes out of the Hebrew tradition. community. What Israel has been doing to argue who of the three has a greater It is indeed tragic that such a vision has to Jerusalem is the same policy that Israel claim. We must accept the way history not impacted Israeli decision-makers. Issue 39 - Winter 2006 3

could follow approximately the 1967 line. City must be considered null and void. AN INCLUSIVE VISION OF PEACE Certain adjustments might be necessary 5. Access to the holy places must be IN THE POLITICAL ARENA but it must be subject to the principle of protected and guaranteed for all people fairness and equality. of faith. Therefore, how can we translate an inclusive vision of peace into the political Religious Needs This vision carries within it the seeds for arena? I would like to present an outline peace because it seeks to establish it on the of a vision, the sort of approach that takes In order to satisfy the religious needs of basis of justice and fairness for all. The into consideration the basic principles of Jews, Muslims, and Christians, the city of Jerusalem has been conquered and justice, fairness, and equality for all the following guidelines need to be taken into re-conquered no less than 37 times in its people of the city. This is only an attempt consideration: long history. It has been subjected to stimulate people’s thinking regarding 1.The Old City within the walls continuously to the vicissitude of superior the future of the city. It can be the initial incorporates the major holy sites for the military power with much violence and step in opening the way to a more three religious communities of the land. bloodshed. It is time to give it the status it ambitious vision of peace. Without any (The Christians have a number of sites deserves. It must never again be left to the shadow of a doubt, and in order for a outside the Old City, e.g. on the Mount whims of military power or the exclusive genuine peace to be achieved, it is of Olives but by and large the most possession of one state. Armed with important to satisfy the political and significant sites are within the walls.) international law, the international religious needs of both Palestinians and 2.The Old City must be declared as a community is capable today through Israelis in Jerusalem. special holy zone that is outside the reason and diplomacy to implement a direct jurisdiction of either Israel or solution for Jerusalem that satisfies the Political Needs Palestine. claims, rights, and dignity of all of its In this vision: 3.A special international charter must be inhabitants both politically and religiously. 1. East Jerusalem, outside the walled Old formulated by the United Nations for We only need the political will of the City, but including all the settlement the governance of the holy zone. It must international community and the active areas that Israel has confiscated from include political and religious support and commitment of the major Palestinians and annexed into representatives from inside Palestine and powers to make this work. If the Jerusalem, becomes the recognized Israel as well as the international international community of nations is truly capital of the Palestinian state. Israelis community. serious about the establishment of a just who choose to live in the Palestinian 4.All shady Israeli expansions into the and permanent peace in this region of the capital of Jerusalem must know that Muslim, Armenian, and Christian world, it can do it. Time is of the essence. they are living in Palestine with all the Quarters since 1967 giving Israel an edge responsibilities that that entails. over the other inhabitants of the Old The Rev Naim Ateek is Director of Sabeel 2. In order to satisfy the political needs of Israel, West Jerusalem becomes the recognized capital of Israel. Palestinians who live in that area are responsible to Israel. 3. Jerusalemites, whether Israelis or Palestinians, can reside in any part of the city but their citizenship remains intact. 4. Jerusalem outside the walled Old City becomes two capitals for two sovereign and independent states, Israel and Palestine. It must, however, remain an open city for all of its inhabitants and for all the people of the land. Within its designated boundaries it is the capital for either Palestine or Israel. A democratic rule must apply equally for all its citizens whether in the east or west. Such a vision does not favor one side over the other. The lines between east and west 4 Issue 39 - Winter 2006 JUSTICE FOR JERUSALEM

By Hind Khoury includes the revocation of Israeli residency As the Palestinian Authority Minister for rights. Palestinian Jerusalemites are Israeli Jerusalem Affairs, I regularly witness the There is a sad irony surrounding the city of “residents” and not citizens. They only have suffocation of my people. Almost daily, Jerusalem. The Holy City is central to all the right to remain in the city if they can average citizens queue at my office, seeking three of the monotheistic religions - all of prove that Jerusalem is their “center of life”. help for any number of injustices - a which extol the need for justice - and yet Those who do not live in the city for a period demolished home, an exorbitant municipal the city is rife with severe injustice. of seven years can lose their residency rights tax bill, an imprisoned son, a revoked identity

-to date, more than 6,500 non-Jewish card. With limited resources and operating For more than 38 years, the Palestinian

Jerusalemites have lost their right to live in under occupation itself, the Palestinian Christians and Muslims of Occupied East their own city. Recently however, it appears Authority does what it can for these Jerusalem have been victimized by an Israeli ,, embattled Jerusalemites. As I meet with these strategy to claim as much Palestinian land average citizens, when I look into the tired as possible with as few Palestinians as and weary face of a widowed grandmother possible. This strategy is most dramatically clutching a tax bill or into the eyes of a evidenced by the construction of Israel’s Wall Jerusalem is sacred to helpless young father holding his son and around East Jerusalem. The Wall’s route wondering how he will provide for his family, extends well beyond Jerusalem’s Israeli- all three of the world’s I wonder how it is possible that the defined municipal borders and is being used monotheistic religions conscience of the world has been so dormant. by Israel to redefine and expand Jerusalem’s and it cannot be the borders. While the Wall effectively annexes The stories of the injustice in Jerusalem are Palestinian land, entire Palestinian monopoly not new. The world cannot claim ignorance communities are left in ghettos, often with of just one. of the matter. From Israeli human rights a single road or tunnel as their only means ,, organizations to US State Department of accessing other Palestinian areas. More reports, the plight of Christians and Muslims than 100,000 Palestinians with Jerusalem that the Israeli government has reduced the in Jerusalem is well documented, and though residency rights will be effectively cut off seven-year period to only two, making it routinely condemned, permitted to from the Holy City, forced to access schools, easier for Palestinians to be forced continue. Take, for example, President Bush’s hospitals and even families through Israeli permanently out of the city. recent statements that Israel should take no military “gates”. action prejudicing the status of Jerusalem. It happened to my son. Studying in the A fine policy but yet to be enforced. While criticism of Israel’s Wall in Occupied United States and absent from Jerusalem for East Jerusalem has focused largely on the two years and one month, he returned to Jerusalem is sacred to all three of the world’s immediate effects of land confiscations, discover that his Israeli driver’s license and monotheistic religions and it cannot be the home demolitions and the isolation of medical insurance had been cancelled -the monopoly of just one. The responsibility for Jerusalem from the rest of Occupied first indications that his residency rights were preserving a pluralistic Jerusalem is a shared Palestinian Territory, the most devastating already in the process of being revoked. responsibility. Governments have a impact of the Wall’s construction is the responsibility to enforce their own policies collapse of East Jerusalem as a Palestinian In the meantime, Israel continues to build and in so doing would undermine extremists commercial, religious, medical and illegal Israeli colonies in and around East who believe international abandonment educational center. As doctors and teachers Jerusalem where more than half of Israel’s justifies violence. Companies and are denied access to the city, Jerusalem’s 410,000 settlers reside. Israel’s goals in East shareholders have a responsibility to adopt health care and educational institutions will Jerusalem are clear: maximize the number trading policies that hold Israel accountable collapse. As Muslims and Christians from of Jews, minimize the number of Christians for its human rights violation. Churches the West Bank are denied access to their holy and Muslims, grab as much occupied land have an obligation to put their faith in sites, Jerusalem’s mosques will serve fewer as possible and ultimately make it impossible practice. And individuals, too, have a people and its churches will become for East Jerusalem to serve as a capital of a responsibility to take whatever action they museums. East Jerusalem will become future Palestinian state. However, without can in accordance with their own simply another Arab ghetto within Israel. Jerusalem as the shared capital, there is no commitment to justice. two-state solution. In addition to the Wall, Israel’s strategy for the Christians and Muslims of the Holy City Ms Hind Khoury is Minister of State for Jerusalem Affairs Issue 39 - Winter 2006 5 THE PLANNING PROBLEM IN EAST JERUSALEM by Raffoul Rofa grown by 33 percent, from around 60,000 land in East Jerusalem from the total in the year 1967. This growth results from amount of land annexed in 1967 (70,500 Since its occupation of East Jerusalem in natural birth, expansion of city borders, dunams). This land was used for the 1967, Israel has used the planning laws as and population movement. building of Jewish housing to the one of the means of limiting the number detriment of the Palestinian population of of Palestinians in Jerusalem. Thus, after the B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Centre Jerusalem even though most of this Six Day War the Jordanian planning law for Human Rights in the Occupied expropriated land is privately owned by of 1966 was annulled. This left a legal Territories, referred to this discriminatory Palestinians. vacuum in East Jerusalem which hampered policy as follows:“The planning problem legal building. Eventually the Israeli in East Jerusalem is tightly connected with B’Tselem refers to this discriminatory planning laws were implemented in east the Israeli policy of limiting the number policy as follows: “In June 1967, Israel Jerusalem and they are used until the of Palestinians in the city in the early annexed 70,500 dunams [4 dunams = 1 present day. 1980s; the Jerusalem Municipality began acre] of East Jerusalem and the West Bank to prepare outline plans for all the and incorporated them within Jerusalem’s In the 1980s, the Jerusalem municipality, Palestinian neighborhoods. Most of the borders. From this annexed territory, Israel keeping in mind the need to limit the plans are complete, and others are in the has expropriated about one-third of the number of Palestinians in Jerusalem, process of planning and approval. The annexed territory - 24,000 dunams - most designated vast areas of land in the most conspicuous feature of these outline of it privately-owned Arab property. Israel Palestinian neighbourhoods as “green plans is the vast amount (some 40 percent) used this expropriated land for residential land” otherwise known as open space land. of area that is designated as “open construction. By the end of 2001, 46,978 This meant that building was and is landscape areas,” on which building is housing units had been built for Jews on prohibited on this land that also prevented forbidden. In the plans that were approved this land, but not one unit for Palestinians, Palestinians from building or maintaining prior to the end of 1999, only some 5,100 who constitute one-third of the city’s their homes in the old city of Jerusalem. dunams (constituting 11 percent of the population”. Ironically, in many cases the municipality land in East Jerusalem, after the sends orders at the same time to house expropriation of 24,000 dunams The results of this deliberate policy of owners to maintain their homes or they mentioned above) were available for discrimination in the planning laws have will be criminally liable under the construction for the Palestinian been many. To mention a few: congestion municipality rules and regulations. In population. As is the case with the in the Palestinian neighbourhoods of addition the Israeli planning laws prevent demarcation plans existing in the West Jerusalem to the extent that slums have Palestinians from introducing any Bank, construction is allowed primarily in been built as in Shufat refugee camp; many alterations to the buildings or any kind of built-up areas”. people are living in cramped, damp and construction. If they do, they will be liable unhealthy dwellings as is the case in the under the planning laws. It must be kept In addition to imposing restrictive Old City of Jerusalem; the emergence of in mind that the Palestinian population planning policies and laws in East the phenomena of “illegal building” in the of East Jerusalem, within its present Jerusalem, Israel has expropriated about Palestinian neighbourhoods of Jerusalem. borders, is roughly around 200,000 having 24,000 dunams (1 dunam = 1/4 acre) of B’Tselem explained it thus: “The 6 Issue 39 - Winter 2006 consequences of this policy are evident in Palestinian neighborhoods. For example, Demolition of houses in East Jerusalem, 2004-2005, B’Tselem data at the end of 2002, housing density in Arab neighborhoods was almost twice that of Year Houses Number of people who lost their home Jewish neighborhoods, 11.9 square meters 2004 96 356 per person compared to 23.8 square meters 2005 until 31 July 55 179 per person. Total 151 535

The existing situation has forced many Demolition of houses and other structures 1999-2003, official data Palestinians to build homes without first obtaining a building permit. The Jerusalem Year East Jerusalem East Jerusalem Total Municipality enforces the building laws on Demolitions by the Demolitions by the Palestinians much more stringently than Jerusalem Municipality Interior Ministry on the Jewish population, even though the 1999 17 14 31 number of violations is much higher in the 2000 9 7 16 Jewish neighborhoods”. 2001 32 9 41 2002 36 9 45 The Jerusalem municipality in its capacity as the local planning committee and the 2003 63 33 96 Ministry of the Interior in its capacity as Total 157 72 229 the district planning committee tend to enforce the building laws much more Demolition of houses 1987-1998 strictly in the Palestinian neighbourhoods than they do in the Jewish ones. Year West Bank East Jerusalem Total 1987 103 No Data 103 Hence you find that indictments are 1988 393 30 423 brought in the Municipal Court of 1989 No Data No Data 347 Jerusalem against Palestinians from East 1990 No Data No Data 102 Jerusalem under sections 145 which 1991 No Data No Data 227 specifies that no one shall start to build a building without first acquiring a building 1992 148 12 160 permit. The question that imposes itself 1993 63 48 111 here is: how will an ordinary Palestinian 1994 120 29 149 who owns his own private land, which is 1995 43 25 68 now specified as green land by the 1996 140 17 157 municipality be able to acquire a permit? 1997 233 16 249 1998 150 30 180 The outcome of the trials in the vast majority of cases is well known: a large fine Total 1393+ 207+ 2,276 accompanied with a demolition order postponed for normally one and a half and a suspended prison term is imposed In conclusion the planning issue in East years, and a suspended term of which is activated in case a second Jerusalem is not a simple one. Politics play imprisonment should the defendant build contempt case is brought. a major role in this matter and the law is without a permit again. Matters do not used to implement Israel’s political goals. stop here. Should the defendant fail to Here it must be said that in certain The result is that the Palestinians, acquire a building permit during the one situations an administrative demolition especially in East Jerusalem, are paying a and a half year term, his home can be order can be issued against a building very high price both literally in the form demolished by the municipality or, as is under section 238(a) of the planning law of high fines and homes demolished, and the case in many situations, another under which the building concerned could metaphorically in the sense that they are indictment is brought against him for be demolished within 24 hours of the date living in many cases in cramped and contempt of court under section 210 of of the order if the owner does not lodge sometimes unhealthy conditions. the planning laws where another fine is an objection in the municipal court. imposed on him, the demolition order is normally postponed for six more months, Rafoul Rofa is an Advocate with the Society of St. Ives in Jerusalem. Issue 39 - Winter 2006 7 JERUSALEM RESIDENCY RIGHTS by Maya Johnston is also, however, unstable. As it is normally the traditional ties between the two areas, given to people upon their request, Israel ties which included marriage. Yet, these In 2002, Israel banned family unification views residency as a courtesy which may ties clashed with Israel’s aim to establish between Israelis and their spouses from the be extended or withheld at its discretion. and maintain a clear Jewish majority in Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). By law, the Interior Ministry is authorized the city, an ambition shared by all Israeli The ban was initially presented as a to revoke residency under certain governments since 1967. While Israel security issue, but Israeli officials have since circumstances, an authority often exercised made efforts to tip the demographic openly admitted that it was part of the against Palestinian Jerusalemites. balance in favour of Jerusalem’s Jewish government’s effort to maintain a Jewish Additionally, residents are entitled to any population, the Palestinian population majority in the country. attached benefits only inasmuch as Israel continued to grow, partly by marrying continues to recognize their status. residents of the OPT. To achieve its aim, Due to its blatant racial motivations, the Israel needed to discourage such ban received public attention in Israel and intermarriage and limit the number of abroad. Though well intentioned, this people who became residents through it. attention has also served to obfuscate Making the family unification process reality. Wishing to explain the severity of non-viable served this purpose. the ban’s implications, journalists and human rights activists have proclaimed Until 1994, Israel did not allow women that Palestinians would no longer be residents to sponsor their husbands. Israel able to legally live in Israel with their pinned this discriminatory practice on the spouses. Yet for many of those claim that Palestinian wives traditionally affected by the ban, particularly move in with their husbands and not vice Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, versa. For Israel’s purposes this was doubly this was true long before it was useful, since at that time, children legally implemented. The real change the inherited their father’s status. Forbidding ban made was turning family women to sponsor their husbands meant unification from near impossible to their children would not be recognized absolutely impossible. as residents either.

After the 1967 war, Israel illegally annexed As any benefits attached to residency the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, rely on the continued recognition of (until then controlled by Jordan) and the status, when residents of Jerusalem thousands of acres of West Bank land applied for family unification, they first nearby. The municipal borders of Israeli had to prove that they were not just controlled Jerusalem were expanded to registered as residents of the city, but include these annexed territories and their actively living, working, receiving medical original Palestinian population was given In the case of Jerusalem’s Palestinian treatment and educating their children in the status of permanent residents in Israel. residents this status is a double absurdity. it. To prove this, they were to submit a First, they never moved to Israel nor long list of documents, some of which were Permanent residency is normally reserved expressed a wish to live there, but rather difficult or impossible to get. The for non-Jewish immigrants who had found themselves under Israeli control. alternative, an affidavit signed by a lawyer, chosen to come to Israel and requested to Second, while their status does afford them was often too costly. make their homes there. Residency offers freedoms denied to the rest of the OPT some benefits, including freedom of population, it also legitimatizes an artificial This process is called the “center of life test” movement inside Israel (a right denied separation between these two populations. and failing it meant denial of the residents of the OPT), access to the Israeli application. The couple would then face social insurance system, and the right to Israel’s legal separation of Jerusalem from one of three choices. The family could sponsor spouses for family unification. It the rest of the OPT did little to change break up with the non-resident spouse 8 Issue 39 - Winter 2006 leaving Jerusalem. To keep the family intact that spouse could remain in the city as an “illegal alien”, constantly fearing arrest and expulsion back to the OPT; or the Jerusalemite spouse could leave his/her rightful home and move to the OPT, thereby risking losing his/her residency. HAVE A Passing the test did not necessarily mean the end of the road either. As of 1996, rather than immediately being recognized as permanent residents, approved GOOD DAY applicants were entered into a two stage interim phase, officially for 5 years, but in by Raja Shehadeh Israeli military occupation of the city; practice for much longer. First, they most residential houses were graced with received special licenses, valid for a year, “Have a good day,” said an unusually gardens. You could see a lot of greenery. which allowed them to legally enter Israel well- behaved Israeli soldier at the The Mount of Olives was true to its while they remained residents of the OPT. Checkpoint to Jerusalem after name, an olive orchard in the middle of Then, they were given temporary returning my papers. I did not the holy city. Now you cannot stop to residency, which, unlike permanent answer. “Have a splendid day,” he said admire the vista from this point. You residency must be renewed annually. with an impish smile. I still held my cannot hear the silence of the city. Above lips sealed. With a heavy heart I had you runs the bridge built to shorten the Permanent residency was to follow the decided that as long as the soldiers distance between Jerusalem and the interim phase, but no one could be certain are blocking the entrance to our city Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim. that they would make it to the end. Yearly I will not return their greetings. Below are four-lane highways with fast renewal of either status was subject to moving traffic going to the exclusively passing another center of life test. If the Before the restriction on travel Jewish suburbs. One of them cuts along couple failed, the non-resident spouse between Ramallah and Jerusalem in the old border between the eastern and would lose their status and the family would the early nineties anyone could travel western sectors of the city dooming the face the cruel choices mentioned above. with their car between the two cities possibility of any real merger between which were beginning to be the two parts. Other roads lead to the When the 2002 ban was imposed, the connected by buildings along the 10 exclusively Jewish suburbs that, almost entire process came to a halt. This meant mile meandering road. It was a immediately after the Israeli take-over that the interim phases became permanent. pleasant fifteen minute drive. One of the Eastern sector, crept and clamped All who had received one of the two could see the hills on either side. To each of the once pastoral Arab villages temporary grades were destined to remain the west were the lusher hills topped chocking the life out of them. in that status, constantly having to prove by Nebi Samuel with its mosque and that they live in Jerusalem, constantly at ancient tomb attractively perched in No green areas can now be seen to the risk of losing it. the distant hill. To the east were the left or right. Ahead, the building the dry pale hills that went all the way Jordanians had planned for a hospital is The ban on family unification was down to the Dead Sea. After the now the Israeli police headquarters. formalized in the Citizenship law of 2003. modest village of Beit Hanina you got Further down, the Israeli government Amendments made to the law, touted as a to the more posh neighborhood of has moved in some of its ministries and relaxation of the ban, did nothing to Shufat beyond which began the public offices to further confirm, in case change the fact that at present no descent to Jerusalem, the city which anyone had doubts, that the eastern Arab Palestinian can become a resident of Israel. was always bathed with that special side of the city occupied through a Yet, as this paper has attempted to light, caused by the mingling of the belligerent action belongs to Israel demonstrate, this is not a completely new humid air from the sea to the west “forever.” Along to the east the Hebrew reality. The ban simply sealed off an with the dry desert air from the east. University has built fortress-like opening Israel has always worked to make buildings. Between the hill to the east as narrow as possible. From this vantage point you looked and the valley reaching down to the down at an almost pastoral city Sheikh Jarrah quarter are new Jewish Maya Johnston is a Researcher at HaMoked, surrounding the walled Old City. neighborhoods. Amidst these thick and Center for the Defence of the Individual. High rises were prohibited before the ugly clusters of roads and cramped Issue 39 - Winter 2006 9

Impairing Social Services in Jerusalem buildings you can hardly glimpse the by Dyala Husseini children. Students whose schools happen sparkle of the golden Dome of the to be on the other side of the wall often Rock serenely resting on the small hill Whenever I sit with people from outside reach their schools exhausted and unable in the heart of the Old City. the Middle East, two of the questions I to concentrate on their studies - this is a am asked are: “what do you think of the main reason why school drop-out rates The Old City which had been the heart wall around Jerusalem and its impact on have multiplied significantly during the of Jerusalem is now divided once again your work; how do you deal with the settler past two years. between the fiercely protected settlers issue and what impact does this issue in who have re-built their expanded particular have on your work at Burj?” The Burj Al-Luq Luq Social Centre is built quarter after demolishing large sections on over two acres of land inside the Old of the old Arab neighborhoods. Those Burj Al-Luq Luq (meaning “tower of the City of Jerusalem. This elevated plot of who have clung to their homes around storks”) Social Centre is a community land overlooks the grounds of the Al Aqsa the area of the Dome now live with center that renders different kinds of Mosque, the Mount of Olives, and the rest the terror of their homes collapsing. services to the Palestinian inhabitants of of the Old City. It is the largest piece of Large scale excavations are taking place the Old City of Jerusalem. It targets most open space in the Old City and it belongs to locate the foundations of the ancient of the members of the surrounding to two well known Palestinian families. In presence of the Jewish temple causing community, children, youth and adults. 1991, a struggle broke out over this piece continuous tremors. Some say a new It offers sports such as soccer, basketball, of land as Jewish settlers tried to annex it touristy underground city is being volleyball and has a fitness area for body with a plan to build 200 housing units on prepared below those areas where the building and group exercises. It also has a the grounds. To protect the land, the Arabs continue to live. In one case a kindergarten, a library, a hairdressing and inhabitants of the Old City took turns woman who was showering fell skin care facility. guarding it by camping on it for weeks through the collapsed floor. Touring until finally the Israeli army, realizing this the Old City used to be an enriching, The Wall around Jerusalem separated the land was not going to be so easy to happy experience now it is a series of facilities from its lifeline and the rest of its confiscate, allowed the Palestinians to rendezvous with heavily guarded natural extension with the Palestinian land. build. Straight away, the area was declared unpleasant Israeli soldiers. Around Several of the Burj’s employees come from a social, sport and community centre and every corner observation cameras different areas around Jerusalem, even construction commenced soon after. record one’s every move. those living in the suburbs of Jerusalem have been separated from the main city Since then the Burj flourished and was full If a city can be compared to a human by this Wall. Most of the time employees of activities for youth and families. body Jerusalem’s arteries are now reach work late and are exhausted from However, the threat of Jewish settlers never blocked with the heavy clusters of standing in long lines to enter Jerusalem. stopped; they appear on the land regularly Jewish settlements. Money and greed To avoid this, many have had to abandon and threaten to take over the land and have conspired to turn a once attractive their homes in the suburbs and either rent expand their settlements. They are always unpretentious city to an ailing apartments inside the Wall (which are accompanied by Israeli soldiers. A few metropolis whose heart cannot beat significantly more expensive) or live in the years later the settlers were able to gain because of clogged arteries. The eternal already over-crowded houses of relatives control over some of the grounds under holy city staggers on without a heart. living within the Wall. The impact of the pretense that the land needed to be accessing Jerusalem as a result of this Wall excavated and that the Israeli archeology Raja Shehadeh is an attorney has also greatly affected the lives of department will be working there. A few and a human rights activist 10 IssueIssue 39 -38 Winter - Fall 20052006 diggings have been made; nothing of value has been uncovered.

Early this past summer, to our surprise, a press release was published in the newspapers in Jerusalem that this piece of land, about half an acre, was to be developed into a Jewish settlement with 28 units of housing plus a synagogue. What this translates into for us is that the Israeli government’s original plan of turning this entire plot of land, including our community center, into yet another illegal settlement had begun. All Palestinian institutions have started to THE COLONIZING mobilize and show solidarity with our center by increasing the level of activity on our grounds. OF EAST JERUSALEM Letters and complaints were sent to all European and American THE FINAL TOUCHES OF A LONG PROCESS embassies and other foreign and diplomatic missions in the area. by Nazmi Al-Ju’beh current Apartheid Wall around Jerusalem is Burj Al-Luq Luq Centre is now another step in redefining the border of the under great pressure of an city to exclude around 80,000 Palestinians and “occupation within an The Israeli policy towards Jerusalem was to complete the separation between the West occupation.” Several of our never a secret, but it was never as obvious as Bankers and their political, cultural, economic donors are afraid to invest in it now. The successive Israeli governments and and religious center: Jerusalem. as they see the Israeli machine all the Zionist parties in Israel agree upon the of illegal land confiscation to be slogan that “United Jerusalem is the Capital The second strategy was to worsen the much more powerful than our of Israel”. They also agree that achieving such conditions and to increase the “push factors” community center, and that an aim is impossible with the existing on the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, so they without warning, compensation demographic facts in the city. Therefore, three would leave the city. Under this strategy, we or any legal recourse, Israel will different and parallel strategies were can see the discrimination policies of the occupy the land and extend their approved, hence it is not acceptable to have municipality, the restriction on constructing settlement. Most of the more than one third of the total population Palestinian houses in Jerusalem, house- surrounding community has of the city as non-Jewish (Goyim). demolishing policy, confiscating the residency begun to depend heavily on the rights of Palestinian Jerusalemites, closing up activities of the Burj and what it The first strategy was the continuous Palestinian institutions, increasing the tax offers of educational and social redefinition of the city border according to burden, and disconnecting the city from its services. Solidarity with this the Israeli needs. After 1967 the needs were hinterland and the rest of the West Bank. cause and awareness of our to expand the city border to include East unjust situation is essential. The Jerusalem and a large area of the West Bank The third strategy, which is of special focus future of our children and youth to ensure maximum land for settlement here, was and still is to intensify the depend on this. construction and secure their expansion in colonization policy in East Jerusalem in order the future. About 66% of the current to create facts on the ground that will be used Dyala Husseini Jerusalem municipal border was seized after to determine the future of the city. This strategy of Burj Al-Luq Luq 1967 from the territory of East Jerusalem and is to be understood in parallel with the previous the West Bank. The construction of the two strategies and in a comprehensive

Issue 39 - Winter 2006 11 framework. The colonization of East ,, from its southern regions with a series of Jerusalem aims to fulfill the following settlements in the Etzion Bloc. In the Israeli targets: East, the ring consists of the group of 1. To create a Jewish majority in Arab East settlements of the Adumim Bloc. These Jerusalem so facts on ground The third stage is to settlements have been linked together and (irreversible in their character) will have close up all the gates will be connected to the Eastern Ring major impact in determining the future Road. The tunnel connecting this bloc of of the city. of the city and to settlements with Route No.1, which 2. To isolate East Jerusalem from its convert East separates/connects East and West hinterland as well as from the rest of Jerusalem into a Jerusalem and passes under Al-Masharif the West Bank, to annex it totally to slum. The features of Mountain (Mount Scopus), has been the Israeli market, and to convert it into completed. In the North the eastern being dependent on Israeli social this stage are two settlement bloc (Ma’aleh Adumim) is services. rings of settlements connected to the Binyamin Settlement 3. To disconnect East Jerusalem demo- Bloc (northeast of Jerusalem) and is part graphically, economically and of the northern ring. However, it is not geographically from the rest of the West ,, possible for Israel to complete the circle Bank, and to use the “Jerusalem Block” properties in the Jewish Quarter (about between these two blocs because of the as a barrier stopping the geographic 87% of the Jewish Quarter properties are Arab areas that lie between Jerusalem and integrity and continuity of the West not Jewish) and other neighboring Ramallah. That is why these two Bank, thereby dividing it into two quarters to create an extended Jewish settlement blocs were constructed. The isolated islands. Quarter. This stage continued after the eastern bypass road links these settlements 4. To underline the relationship of the Likud party won the elections 1977, to each other. This road is currently being Jewish people to Jerusalem vis-a-vis raising the slogan “the right of the Jewish connected with the eastern ring road and minimizing it, as far as possible, to the people to settle everywhere in Jerusalem” the northern ring road. These settlements Palestinian people. and led to expansion of the settlement were successful in preventing the activity to the Muslim and Christian development of El-Bireh City eastwards. If we accredit the Israeli official statistics, Quarters. Today, besides the Jewish Hizma, too, has been strangled between about 240000 Israeli settlers are already Quarter there are about 85 buildings the outer and inner rings. The Binyamin settling in Arab Jerusalem. This number under settler control throughout the Old Bloc is being connected with the ‘Atarot is equal to the number of Palestinians City, as well as a very ambitious plan to Industrial Area by the highway separating living in Jerusalem. The growth expand further. The recent activity can be al-Ram and Qalandia. ‘Atarot is now percentage of Palestinian Jerusalemites witnessed in the northeastern corner of connected to the Tel Aviv highway and had exceeded the Israeli expectations and the city wall at Burj al-Luqluq (see the Western Ring Road that passes west led to crises for the city planners. Hence, “Impairing Social Services”) where the of Beit Hanina and Shu’fat. It is also the percentage of Palestinians in so-called intention is to build about 30 apartments connected to the Givon Bloc (the “United Jerusalem” had this year exceeded and a synagogue in that very culturally and settlements north-west of Jerusalem). This 34%, leading to a new master plan demographically sensitive area. project will be able to expand quickly (Jerusalem 2020), a piece of racism par The second stage can be summarized as because of its link to West Jerusalem excellence. The master plan aims to reduce securing most of the open fields around through the western ring road and the the number of Palestinians in Jerusalem the city for constructing settlements; a growing city of Modi’in. Work is already and to increase the number of Israelis in major part of this land was declared green underway to expand the settlements in the same city by changing its borders to areas, which means, in fact, a reserve area this area westwards along the Jerusalem- fit this need. for settlements and their expansion. Tel Aviv Northern Highway.

The Settlement activity in Jerusalem went The third stage is under completion; to • The Inner Ring: Most of the settlements through different stages: The first stage close up all the gates of the city and to in this ring are located within the which targeted the Old City began convert East Jerusalem into a slum. The municipal borders and are largely aimed immediately after occupying the city (June features of this stage are two rings of at preventing the expansion of Arab 1967), bulldozing the Maghribi Quarter settlements: Jerusalem, ensuring that it will not in order to create the Plaza in front of the develop, and imposing a de facto “Wailing Wall”. This stage continued later • The Outer Ring: In the South this plan demographic situation that guarantees a on by the confiscation of non-Jewish began by isolating the Bethlehem area greater number of Israelis not only in 12 Issue 39 - Winter 2006

“unified Jerusalem,” but also in Arab construction will be enhanced when the Jerusalem. In the South the inner ring eastern ring road project is completed. consists of the settlements of Gilo, Giv’at The settlement will be directly located T H E Hamtus, Har Homa and Eastern Talpiot. on the road’s edge, which will directly

These settlements isolate Jerusalem from connect it to West Jerusalem and the Bethlehem area. This separation is Ma’aleh Adumim. As such, it will WALLS being completed ,, constitute a bridge through the closing the by Clarence Musgrave expansion of Har remaining opening Homa settlement and southeast of the As a child, I can remember singing with consolidated by its city. great gusto in Sunday School a song about linkage with the ring It will take two to someone called Joshua who fought a battle road. This settlement three years to Among the visible at Jericho, as a result of which some walls has contributed to complete this project, results of the Israeli came tumbling down. I had little real idea encircling the after which it will be policy after the what the story was about, but it was a good Bethlehem area completion of the story, not least because of the way in which between the outer and too late to discuss not Wall is that Arab the walls did not stop Joshua and his inner rings. The only Jerusalem as the Jerusalem will lose people. remaining gap in capital of a Palestinian all possibilities for south-east Jerusalem state, but it will also be development and Now that I have been living in Jerusalem is being separated by its residents will for a few years, I have had time to think the ring road and impossible to talk not have enough again about walls. In particular there are prepared for about a Palestinian housing. This will those walls which can be seen from St settlement so as to be state. lead to Andrew’s Scots Church, where I work. connected eastwards impoverishment, a Close by there are the famous walls built with the Qedar and ,, decline in the by the Sultan Suliman the Magnificent. Ma’aleh Adumim standard of living, In the distance, to the south-east, there is settlements by a bridge linked to Har and the confinement of its population the infamous wall being built by Prime Homa. In the North the geographical in narrow, closed areas. Furthermore, Minister Sharon. However, they are but continuity between the Old City and the isolating Jerusalem from its vital two of the many walls that have been built Arab quarters north of Jerusalem has been economic surroundings will aggravate to protect Jerusalem. What sort of a job disrupted by the settlements of French the social crisis and spur an increased did they do? Hill and Ramat Eshkol. This separation crime rate. All this will take place has been consolidated by the settlements alongside the escalated development of In the City of David, down by the side of of Rekhesh Shu’fat, Pisgat Zeev and Neve services and standard of living in West the Kidron Valley, there are the remains Ya’cov. Jerusalem and surrounding settlements. of what is called the Jebusite Wall dating The final result of this policy will be back to C18 BC. Modified and • Areas surrounding the Old City: Since the transformation of Arab Jerusalem strengthened 1,000 years later, it provided the completion of the outer rings, focus into a ghetto and slum area. It is very protection for the city for another 200 is now on several locations surrounding easy to envision the Israeli plans to years - and then came the Babylonians. the Old City. The Ras Al-’Amoud stymie the peace process and eliminate Old as it was, strong as it had been built, settlement is completed, and preparations the possibility for a solution to the it was unable to provide protection for the are under way to annex the neighboring Jerusalem problem, as has been City, and in 586 B.C. Jerusalem was police station which will be moved to demonstrated. It will take two to three captured. That Wall failed its test. For Ma’aleh Adumim. At the same time, and years to complete this project, after the Jewish people, the Babylonian Exile very rapidly, preparations are underway to which it will be too late to discuss not was the result. expand the settlement in Sheikh Jarrah. only Jerusalem as the capital of a A total of 200 housing units will be Palestinian state, but it will also be Around the city of Jerusalem that Jesus constructed in this settlement project. impossible to talk about a Palestinian knew walls were also built. The threat that state. time came from the West, in the The last location we know of is the Occupying Forces of the Roman Empire. Moscovitch settlement in the foothills of Nazmi Al-Ju’beh, an historian and In the final battles for Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Abu Dis. Prospects for this settlement’s archeologist, co-directs the Riwaq Center the Third Wall was breached, the Second for Architectural Conservation. Wall was unable to withstand the Roman Issue 39 - Winter 2006 13

address the fears of its builders and help them to overcome them. • The Wall creates hopelessness. We must confront the hopelessness, of the peoples on both sides of the Wall, and help them OF JERUSALEM to find ways of having hope. • The Wall leads to poverty, of body, mind attacks, and the destruction of Jerusalem are offering to them a Recipe for Safety and spirit. We must offer the resources to by Titus took place. The Walls designed which has failed in the past, and will turn people to enable them not only to feed to protect Jerusalem proved inadequate, inevitably into a Recipe for Disaster. The themselves and stay alive, but also to and a new Diaspora was the result. Wall offers little hope for the future to stimulate their minds and imaginations, those who see it as their Salvation. so that ways can be found to enable people The most recent conflict in Jerusalem was to think new thoughts and dream new in 1967. Behind the Walls, familiar to There is the Good News. Walls have dreams. people all over the world, the defenders always fallen. Will this Wall prove any • The Wall is a blight on humanity, and prepared. Outside the Walls, the attackers different from those of the past? It is represents a failure for the whole of the got ready. The result is known, and many unlikely that it will. So, what is denied to human family. We must help the world readers of Cornerstone will have been people now by the Wall, will in the future community to recognise its failure, and personally affected by it. The Gates were become available to them once again. The work with it to achieve solutions to the breached and the City captured. A new big problem is that there is no way of questions of Israel and Palestine. wave of displacement took place, different knowing when this will happen. So the • We must remember those strange words from previous ones in that it was caused Good News is tempered with caution. in the Gospel, that it was when Jesus died by Jewish forces and affected others, rather Expect the Wall to come down, but do not that the Curtain of the Temple was torn, a than being caused by Palestinians and expect it to come down tomorrow. barrier was broken and Reconciliation was affecting Jewish people. achieved. So what can be done, what needs to be And now we have another wall. Designed, done? The Rev. Clarence Musgrave is the minister according to its supporters, to protect the • The Wall is the product of fear. We must of Scots Memorial Church. people of Israel from attacks by Palestinians, it snakes its way across the land, colorless and lifeless, joining a long list of other walls designed to offer protection to those inside them.

No doubt, many of you will have seen the Iron Curtain, possibly the most recent example of a Wall built to divide peoples and to perpetuate the power of the builders. By 1990, it had joined the list of those Walls that had ultimately been futile.

So what do I dare to say about the current Wall that is dividing Jerusalem, that is depriving people of their lands and their livelihood, and that is disfiguring the city and country through which it passes?

There is the Bad News. From their own history, the Jewish people have ample examples of the failures of Walls to protect them. Will this Wall prove any different from those of the past? It is doubtful that it will. So the leaders of the Jewish people 14 Issue 39 - Winter 2006

THE IMPACT OF THE WALL ON EDUCATION IN EAST JERUSALEM by Agnes Hanania The Israelis are building the Wall all Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), through the West Bank, including the and Municipality (run by the Israeli As I pass through the checkpoints and envelope around Jerusalem. The Ministry of Education and the see the Wall that is surrounding number of Palestinians affected is large. Municipality of Jerusalem). According Jerusalem growing every day, I wonder, The Ministry of State for Jerusalem to the Palestinian Ministry of Education “Are we living in the twenty first Affairs has highlighted the impact of the and Higher Education (press release century?” Whether walking in the street Wall on the social structure of East September 15, 2005), “3403 students or in a public transport, or waiting at a Jerusalemites (Al Quds, October 7, and 33 schools are currently affected by checkpoint for one’s turn, any person 2005). During the past year, there have the barrier because their teachers are not cannot avoid hearing about the been several articles written on the able to reach their schools, and many hardships of those whose land was subject, general in nature or specific, of the students are also unable to reach confiscated so that the Wall could be focusing on either the economic, social, their own schools that happen to be on built, or the miseries of families who religious, educational or health aspects the other side of the Wall. The Wall had to be separated, some within and of the impact of the Wall on Palestinian that encircles the city of Jerusalem some outside the Wall. One cannot life. This article will focus on the impact deprives over 2000 students and 260 avoid seeing the bewildered, concerned of the Wall that is surrounding teachers from reaching their schools in and anxious faces of schoolchildren, Jerusalem from an educational the al-Ram and Dahia neighborhoods teachers, doctors and other medical perspective. The topics presented will alone, in addition to 6000 Jerusalem staff, as well as, other employees, deal with the impact of the wall students living outside who find businesspersons and ordinary citizens surrounding Jerusalem on education, themselves cut off from their schools who are crossing the checkpoints as they and specifically on schools and in the City”. The press release indicated look at the growing Wall. They do not Palestinian children and their right to that 2180 out of 5000 students of the know what their life is going to be like education. towns of Abu-Dis and Azariyeh, east of once the Wall is completed, which is Jerusalem, who attend schools in the expected to be within the coming The Wall is affecting students, teachers city will not have access to their schools months. They do not know to whom and other educational staff in the in Jerusalem. It stated further that from to complain (more than they have) education sector that is governed by that side of the city, “320 teachers about the gigantic Wall that is eating four supervising authorities, namely, (50%) in Palestinian run schools, and more and more of their properties and Government (run by the Palestinian 170 teachers (20%) in private affecting their family ties and the Ministry of Education and Higher Palestinian schools in Jerusalem will be normality of their daily lives. Education), Private, United Nations prevented from reaching their schools Issue 39 - Winter 2006 15

in the city since they reside outside the small area of the playground that can THE WALL INSIDE infamous separation Wall”. With no longer accommodate 800 students. BETHLEHEM respect to college and university Hisham, a 15 years old student stated, By Kenneth Cragg students, the press release indicated also “we feel that we are in a small prison, that those affected by the Wall include, wherever we go we cannot laugh or They reared a wall in Bethlehem “1500 students in Al-Quds University, speak.” He said further that, “the school Four times the height of man, 1000 students in Bethlehem University is not as it used to be. We used to stay A concrete slabbed apothegm and 700 Birzeit University students”. after the school day to play football and And many leagues in span. volleyball, but now we try to avoid the It should be noted that schools in East risk of the army. We go to our homes It bifurcates the promised land Jerusalem supervised by the Israeli directly after school.” Suleiman, also Where truth was meant to dwell, Education Ministry and municipality 15 years old, stated, “we do not have Well-beloved in whose hand of Jerusalem have a shortage of an area where we can stand or play, we The arts of peace would spell. classrooms and do not meet the needs feel stressed and we are afraid from the How every man beneath his vine of children there. The classrooms that army that stand at the school gate And fig-tree’s kindly shade exist are overcrowded, and this has a daily[...]” (Al Quds, October 5, 2005) Might read Messiah’s gentle sign, negative impact on the quality of None making them afraid. education. Moreover, families of As the Wall around Jerusalem is being students holding Jerusalem identity completed, the hardships of students The folk who came through Manger Square cards, who cannot afford sending their and teachers are increasing. When Nativity to learn children to private schools, found that students’ basic right to education is Through much enduring now repair they have no alternative but to send being violated, when they see their Another lesson earn. their children to schools in the suburbs school property not protected, when of the City. With the Wall, these they see violence being used with them If shepherds now in fields should kneel schoolchildren will be outside the and when their complaints about their Down yon in Beit Sahour, boundaries of the City, and therefore human rights are not heard, educators Checkpoints must intervene to seal are at risk of losing their Jerusalem IDs. are finding more and more difficulties Their suspect movements more. This fact would aggravate the situation in passing on to students concepts such And if those Eastern Kings should come, of the education sector further as the as human rights. Their innocence unfurled, number of East Jerusalem’s Deep rumours of alarm would hum schoolchildren is growing every year. To It is sad that a city like Jerusalem, that As once in Herod’s world. face that, the parents’ committee of should be open to religions and cultures Silwan’s schools in East Jerusalem had of the world, is going to be closed by a This massive wall good faith decries a strike to protest against the wall. It is sad that when the world is And falsifies the scene, Municipality of Jerusalem for not talking about greater interaction among A sane security denies, implementing its commitment to solve cultures, we see families, relatives and Makes holiness obscene. the conditions of their schools and the friends here separated by a Wall. It is right of their children to education. sad that when countries of the world ‘Right to exist’ no will should flout, They stated that the classrooms are rejoice that a wall was brought down, If made the equal theme, overcrowded and they lacked space - no country is preventing one from But while the size remains in doubt their numbers are not adequate for the being built around one of the holiest All die in disesteem. number of students (Al Quds, cities in the world. It is sad when the The honest heart perceives what needs, September 4, 2005). world talks about building bridges Ensuring each survives among peoples and cultures, the talk In fee to what the other pleads- The shock was greatest for the students here is about a Wall separating peoples Our land, our State, our lives. of Anata Secondary School for Boys and cultures. I wish so much that the who returned after their weekend on effort and funding used to build the And thus the only worthy art Saturday to find that the Israeli army Wall would build Bridges instead. In one adversity had built a grey Wall, eight meters high To heed aright on either part in the middle of their school that Agnes Hanania is an assistant Professor The Lord’s controversy. isolated the football playground of the of Education and Psychology at Birzeit school from its volleyball playground. University Kenneth Cragg (retired), the Diocese The soldiers left the school with only a of Oxford, England 16 Issue 39 - Winter 2006

JOINT ADVOCACY INITIATIVE AND SABEEL invite you to participate in INTERNATIONAL CHURCH ACTION FOR PEACE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL And take part in the World Council of Churches International Advocacy Week 12 -19 March 2006 “Be not afraid, speak out and do not keep silence: I am with you.” (Acts 18:9) Program will include: • Launching of event with Patriarchs and Bishops of Churches in Jerusalem • International Planting Day with the Olive Tree Campaign • Candle March at the Separation Wall • Solidarity Visit with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron • Sabeel’s Contemporary Way of the Cross • Visits to Holy Sites in the Galilee, Bethlehem and Jerusalem • Witnessing the destruction in Jenin Refugee Camp and Nablus’ Old City • Settlement Tour with Israeli Committee Against House Demolition • Cultural Evening with Palestinian Youth (dinner and dancing) • Meetings with Church Related Organizations in Bethlehem and Jerusalem (Program subject to change)

Full local travel package: US$ 800 (Price includes hotel, all meals, tips, registration & transport based on double occupancy. Single supplement available for $180. Does not include airport transfer)

To register, contact JAI or Sabeel: Tel/Fax: (972) 2 628 2082 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

For prices on air travel, airport transfer, or additional nights please contact our local travel agent: GUIDING STAR Tel: (972) 2 627 3150 Fax: (972) 2 627 3147 Email: [email protected] Program supported by the Network of Christian Organizations in Jerusalem Issue 39 - Winter 2006 17

IN PERSON... me, seemed very small, yet it was both open following a series of suicide bombings in and accessible to Palestinians from all over 1996. Passing through the military the West Bank. They came to Jerusalem to checkpoints became more difficult. There shop, to visit, to study and to dine. The were also more roadblocks, and fewer exit city was full of Palestinian Arabs, each points from the West Bank cities into speaking the unique Arabic dialect of their Jerusalem. Many Palestinians also found own village or town. it strange that, even though talk of a mutual, historic reconciliation between In those days it was easy to catch a shared both Israelis and Palestinians was taxi from just opposite the Damascus Gate, supposedly taking place, the freedom of and travel all the way to Bethlehem, movement of most Palestinians was being Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho and to cities ever more stringently curtailed. beyond. The journeys were usually long, traveling along twisting and winding roads Mind you, the journey from Bethlehem to Douglas Dicks that wound in and out along the hills of Jerusalem is only about an eight-mile (13 the West Bank. There were no “by pass” kilometer) trip. By mid-1996, that short roads then on which to travel between one journey could take anywhere from 20 Jilted by Jerusalem city and the next. The landscape then was minutes to two hours, or even longer! dramatic and beautiful - rocky hills, terraces With more and more restrictions imposed Jerusalem is a city with which I have a love- of olives trees, fig trees, and pristine on the Palestinians of the West Bank, fewer hate relationship. I used to love walking in vineyards that were well tended. It was and fewer Palestinians had access to the Old City of Jerusalem, with all of the nothing like the landscape of today, where Jerusalem. “Security” became the scents and smells emanating from the Israeli settlements can now be seen overriding pretext, and permits, issued by market stalls. I loved walking the old, well- sprawling along most hilltops of the West the Israeli military were needed, yet worn stones of its streets. I loved the view Bank. unattainable, by the vast majority of those of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. And Palestinians living in the West Bank. I loved the chance encounters that one Ten years ago, I came back to Jerusalem, often had with people in the street, in the sharing in the optimism that many Following Israel’s re-invasion of the West shops and in the holy places. Palestinians, Israelis and internationals felt Bank cities beginning in March of 2002, and that the Oslo Accords, it was hoped, with a major military assault that Israel I’m not quite sure just when my love affair afforded them. Jerusalem had grown termed “Operation Defensive Shield”, with Jerusalem ended, but it is hard to dramatically over the years that I had been Jerusalem began to undergo a radical speak of Jerusalem in a positive manner away. transformation. Perhaps the most dramatic these days. Sadly, Jerusalem has also changes that have taken place in and become a city that I despise. Like many In 1995, I could catch a bus from around Jerusalem have occurred over the other people, I have grown weary of Bethlehem, where I made my home, into past three years alone! Israel’s erection of Jerusalem. Just over ten years ago, I came the heart of Arab East Jerusalem for a shekel the “security barrier” or wall began with a “back” to Jerusalem to begin work as a and a half - about 50 cents. The journey series of ditches and trenches, in April of mission worker for the Presbyterian would take about 20 to 30 minutes, 2002. These measures began to drastically Church (USA). I say, “back”, because I depending on how often the bus stopped change the physical landscape, and was no stranger to Jerusalem. to pick up or let off passengers. It’s true imposed yet ever-tighter travel restrictions that there was a checkpoint at the northern on tens of thousands of Palestinian Arabs, I first set foot in Jerusalem back in the entrance to Bethlehem, but in those days, not only from the West Bank itself, but summer of 1982, and following the Israeli the Israeli soldiers hardly took notice. They also for those living on the fringes of the invasion of Lebanon. Jerusalem was a would come onto the bus, check everyone’s municipal boundaries of Jerusalem itself. somber place then, and yet to me, it seemed ID cards, and soon we would be on our Today, Jerusalem is being cut off and a lively place at the same time ! I would way. From the bus station in Arab East isolated from other Palestinian cities in the return to Jerusalem over a period of three Jerusalem, it was a short ten-minute walk West Bank. Jerusalem is being hemmed consecutive summers, as a student of to my office. in and surrounded by the “security barrier” Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, immersing that Israel is constructing It is being myself in the studies of archaeology, Arabic, Over the years, however, Israel’s policy of divided once again, much like it was and the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. “collective punishment” of the Palestinian in1948, only today’s division of the city At that time, Jerusalem was a city that, to population was made harsher, especially does not stop at just the physical dissection. 18 Issue 39 - Winter 2006

Culturally, politically, economically, turned out for prayers. All were more spiritually, Jerusalem is fast becoming a radically fundamental in their approach to city that is gasping for air! Islam, religion, and perhaps the world, than rayer is a necessity. With any fellow-Muslims that they had ever out it we see only our Change is inevitable in the life of any city, experienced in their lives as citizens of the P point of view, our own I suppose, yet what is happening to city of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, in a recent righteousness, and ignore the Jerusalem is not taking place according to news article of the daily Ha’aretz (“The any natural scheme of things. Land” in Hebrew) newspaper, it was perspective of our enemies. Prayer In truth, Jerusalem is being deprived of revealed that the number of Israeli Jews breaks down those distinctions. the people that have made this city so leaving the city of Jerusalem was the highest To do violence to others, eyou unique. And for those “left behind” by since 1967! must make them enemies. Prayer, the unnatural events that are shaping on the other hand, makes enemies Jerusalem’s future, the quality of their lives Jerusalem was once a unique city, because into friends. When we have is becoming greatly diminished. of the character and diversity of its people. brought our enemies into our Sadly, it is fast becoming a city that is being At a social gathering in Bethlehem deprived of that uniqueness, diversity and hearts in prayer, it becomes most recently, I overheard a Palestinian multi-culturalism. Jilted by Jerusalem for difficult to maintain the hostility Christian gentleman speaking to a friend one reason or another, many of its necessary for violence. In bringing about leaving Jerusalem, and moving to inhabitants are choosing -or being forced- them close to us, prayer serves to California. I began my own conversation to live life elsewhere. With all three of these protect our enemies. Thus prayer with him, and soon he shared with me his faith communities experiencing some undermines the propaganda and reasons for wanting to leave. “For thirty- degree of loss of their citizenry, Jerusalem policies of governments designed five years I have tried to be a bridge remains a city whose remnant populations between us and them,” he stated. He was continue to exude a degree of religious to make us hate and fear our referring, of course, to the relationship haughtiness, cultivating attitudes and enemies. By softening our hearts between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews. attributes that indulge the “self”, and toward our adversaries, prayer can “But now, I’ve had it.” “Imagine”, he said. leaving little, if any, consideration for the become treasonous. Fervent “For hundreds of years, my family has lived “other”. The loss of its citizens would be a prayer for our enemies is a great in and been part of this city.” “Today, I death knell for any city! Yet for the vast obstacle to war and the feeling feel like a stranger in Jerusalem.” majority of Jerusalem’s residents - Muslims, that lead to it. A prominent Palestinian Muslim also Christians and Jews - who haven’t the ways related to me recently that, upon leaving and means nor perhaps the desire to give By Jim Wallis the Haram Al Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) up on Jerusalem, the future does not bode and the Dome of the Rock after Ramadan well. prayers one evening, his wife had commented to him that, within a matter We should never of a few years, they would not recognize Douglas Dicks is the Presbyterian Church forget that everything Jerusalem. She was referring to the (USA) Regional Liaison to Israel, Palestine, multitude of young men and women who and Jordan Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Sabeel salutes JEAN ZARU, Sabeel Vice-President and Clerk of the Ramallah Friends Meeting on her receiving of the following two Hungarian freedom prestigious awards: fighters did in • from the joint Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ Hungary was and Disciples of Christ in recognition of her lifelong commitment “illegal.” to non-violence between Palestinians and Israelis; • from the Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation the Non-violence Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for 2005. Congratulations, Jean! Issue 39 - Winter 2006 19

Sabeel’s First International Young Adults Conference TOGETHER FACING CHALLENGES ... FINDING HOPE For more information contact July 26 - August 6, 2006 | For ages 18-30 [email protected] Conference will include: Focus on: • Visits to Towns and Villages •Cultural evenings • Christian community • Sharing experiences and ideas •Volunteer experience • The political situation • Workshops and group discussions • Challenges confronting Christian young adults worldwide

SABEEL’S 6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE THE FORGOTTEN FAITHFUL THE CHALLENGES AND WITNESS OF PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS November 3-9, 2006 Program to include: • 2 nights in Jerusalem, 3 nights in Jericho, 2 nights in Nazareth • Visits with the Christian Communities in villages such as Taybeh, Jifna, Aboud, Birzeit, Ain Arik • Lectures and workshops with international and local speakers in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nazareth • Bible Studies with Kenneth Bailey • Visits to Christian Villages in the Galilee • Presentation of Sabeel’s Survey of Christian Community in Gaza, West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Israel • Informal Reception at Notre Dame, evening of Nov 2

Book your travel now with Shepherd’s Tours and Travel Co., Ltd: Tel: (+972) 2 628 4121 Fax: (+972) 2 628 0251 Email: [email protected] (Book your departure for late evening Nov 9, or watch for information about Post-conference options.) For more information contact [email protected] 20 IssueIssue 38 - 39Fall - 2005Winter 2006 Purpose StatementÉy Sabeel Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Sabeel Christians. Inspired by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, this liberation theology seeks to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, promote unity among them, and lead them Ecumenical Liberation to act for justice and love. Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, Theology Center non-violence, liberation, and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities. The word ‘Sabeel’ is Arabic for ‘the way’ and also a ‘channel’ or ‘spring’ of life-giving water. P.O.B. 49084 Jerusalem 91491 Sabeel also works to promote a more accurate international awareness regarding the identity, presence, and witness of Palestinian Christians as well as their contemporary concerns. It Tel: 972.2.532.7136 encourages individuals and groups from around the world to work for a just, comprehensive, Fax: 972.2.532.7137 and enduring peace informed by truth and empowered by prayer and action. Visit our website at: For more information on Friends of Sabeel groups in your area please contact our International representatives or the Sabeel Center in Jerusalem. www.sabeel.org E-Mail addresses: General E-mail [email protected]; Local Programs: [email protected]; Clergy Program: [email protected]; Friends of Sabeel: [email protected]; Youth Program: [email protected]; Media: [email protected]. Friends of Sabeel Friends of Sabeel Friends of Sabeel Sabeel- Nazareth Branch North America (FOS-NA) United Kingdom (FOS-UK) Scandinavia PO Box 8862 (U.S. and Canada) Jennifer Oldershaw Mats Thrufjell Nazareth 16300 Canon Richard Toll 9 College Green Filborna församling Israel PO Box 9186 Gloucester GL1 2LX Box 130 66 Tel: 972 (4) 602 0790 Portland, OR 97207 U.K. 250 13 Helsingborg Sweden E-mail: [email protected] USA Tel: +44 1452 311 101 Tel: +46 42 15 11 72 Tel: +1 503 653 6625 Email: [email protected] GSM: +46 70 372 60 85 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +46 42 16 09 57 www.fosna.org Friends of Sabeel Email: [email protected] Canadian FOS (CFOS) Ireland (FOS-IR) Website: www.sabeelskandinavien.org c/o The Rev. Robert Assaly The Rev. Ken Thompson Friends of Sabeel 2262 Braeside Ave. ARDSONAS’ Australia Inc. (FOS-AU) Ottawa, ON 12B Carrickbrack Road The Revd Dr. Greg Jenks K1H 7J7 Sutton, Dublin 13 Ireland PO Box 822 E-mail: [email protected] Tel/Fax 353 1 832 1152 Kenmore, QLD 4069Australis website: www.sabeel.ca E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +61 (0) 408 767 344 Email: [email protected] Website: www.faithfutures.org/sabeel