freepalestine
19th January 2011, 14:38
Squeezing Silwan
C. Silver
Arrest of young Palestinian of Silwan, Activestills.org April 30, 2010
Palestine Monitor, January 18, 2011
Recent arrests in the conflicted East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan is part of a program of political intimidation, CSilver reports.
The East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan has been the target of Israeli political intimidation. Since the end of December 2010, several prominent community leaders have been arrested and investigated in what members of the Wadi Hilwah Information Center are calling an attempt to quell activism in the cohesive East Jerusalem neighborhood.
"In 2010 we saw an increase in the arrest of children and minors, eviction orders and house demolitions. In the start of 2011, we are seeing a very clear targeting of activists here—the local leaders, who are working for empowerment are being targeted," stated Muna Hasan, a coordinator at the Wadi Hilwah Information Center.
Silwan is a highly politically organized village in East Jerusalem struggling with the continual encroachment of Jewish settlers who seek to live in what is thought to be the ancient city of King David.
Residents in Silwan have successfully implemented two community centers that provide a range of services. The Maada Community Center was established in 2005 to provide culturally enriching classes for the children of Silwan in music, art, theatre, language, and other subjects.
Maada was created to supplement the education of and provide for the dearth of after school programs for the children of Silwan. As such, Maada has become a significant and effective resource for the community.
Founded in 2009, The Wadi Hilweh Information Center is an educational and political center that provides a centralized source of information on settlement and Israeli activities and developments.
On January 4, Jawad Siyam, co-founder and Director of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center and Maada Community Center, was arrested by the Jerusalem police at the Maada Center. Siyam was arrested after being accused by another man of physical assault.
According to Hasan, the Israeli authorities have wanted to shut down the Center since it opened. Two days after the Wadi Hilweh Center opened its doors in July 2009, the Jerusalem Municipality issued a demolition order for the usual reason: the makeshift office was built without a permit.
"It is very good for them to now have this charge against him, it gives them an excuse to lock him up," Hasan stated.
Siyam reported that during his interrogation the police asked him very little about the accusation of physical assault and focused primarily on his political activity.
After Siyam’s arrest, his family was interrogated and his 15-year-old nephew, Yasan, was taken in for questioning
At present, Siyam, the integral community leader, is under house arrest, making him unable to participate in protests and monitor clashes that are a nightly occurrence in Silwan.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center serves a crucial role in the community, as it has lessened the isolation and fragmentation of individuals living there. Hasan explained that before the Wadi Hilweh Information Center began providing political information about events in the village, such as building of the Jewish archaeological site, the City of David, and home demolitions, the Palestinian residents did not understand the context of what was happening:
"Before, Palestinians didn’t know that they were working on excavations for ELAD, who are trying to Judaize the city. Now Palestinians know; they stopped working because they know; they are more aware of how Israelis are taking the land."
Other prominent activists and leaders have been targeted by Israeli authorities as well. On 26 December, Adnan Ghaith, a member of al-Bustan Popular Committee and the secretary-general of Fatah in Silwan, was expelled from Jerusalem for a four-month period of time. In an unprecedented invocation of the Emergency Law from the British Mandate, Ghaith was determined to be a threat to the public order.
In addition, another al-Bustan Popular Committee member and community activist, Fakhri Abu Diab and his family were investigated by Israeli authorities. Diab’s son, a teenager, was detained and let out on 2,500 NIS bail and placed under house arrest.
And in Beit Hanina, vocal activist Zuhair Rajaby is was placed under house arrest earlier this year.
Hasan explained why the Israeli authorities are focusing their repressive tactics on Silwan, "The pressure and focus is on Silwan—there are house demolitions everywhere, but the most happen in Silwan; children are arrested everywhere, but the most are from Silwan. We have the highest unemployment rate, the lowest education and the highest dropout rate in Silwan—but the people here are aware of what is going on. They want to close the Wadi Hilweh Information Center because they want to stop awareness."
While targeting political leaders and activists suggests a particularly disturbing new trend in political repression, Hasan explained why she is confident that these new tactics will not successfully intimidate Silwan.
"When the Center is under attack more people come to volunteer, when the Israelis do what they do, they create more resistance because Silwan is targeted and the community is involved, that why they say it’s an ongoing intifada here, we have clashes on a daily basis."
There is a constant police and military presence in Silwan: the main road from Old City of Jerusalem is blocked off to traffic and armored jeeps line the road.
Hasan continued to say, "But the Wadi Hilwah information Center is more than Jawad, and our work will continue even without him."
:: Article nr. 74061 sent on 19-jan-2011 06:54 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=74061
C. Silver
Arrest of young Palestinian of Silwan, Activestills.org April 30, 2010
Palestine Monitor, January 18, 2011
Recent arrests in the conflicted East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan is part of a program of political intimidation, CSilver reports.
The East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan has been the target of Israeli political intimidation. Since the end of December 2010, several prominent community leaders have been arrested and investigated in what members of the Wadi Hilwah Information Center are calling an attempt to quell activism in the cohesive East Jerusalem neighborhood.
"In 2010 we saw an increase in the arrest of children and minors, eviction orders and house demolitions. In the start of 2011, we are seeing a very clear targeting of activists here—the local leaders, who are working for empowerment are being targeted," stated Muna Hasan, a coordinator at the Wadi Hilwah Information Center.
Silwan is a highly politically organized village in East Jerusalem struggling with the continual encroachment of Jewish settlers who seek to live in what is thought to be the ancient city of King David.
Residents in Silwan have successfully implemented two community centers that provide a range of services. The Maada Community Center was established in 2005 to provide culturally enriching classes for the children of Silwan in music, art, theatre, language, and other subjects.
Maada was created to supplement the education of and provide for the dearth of after school programs for the children of Silwan. As such, Maada has become a significant and effective resource for the community.
Founded in 2009, The Wadi Hilweh Information Center is an educational and political center that provides a centralized source of information on settlement and Israeli activities and developments.
On January 4, Jawad Siyam, co-founder and Director of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center and Maada Community Center, was arrested by the Jerusalem police at the Maada Center. Siyam was arrested after being accused by another man of physical assault.
According to Hasan, the Israeli authorities have wanted to shut down the Center since it opened. Two days after the Wadi Hilweh Center opened its doors in July 2009, the Jerusalem Municipality issued a demolition order for the usual reason: the makeshift office was built without a permit.
"It is very good for them to now have this charge against him, it gives them an excuse to lock him up," Hasan stated.
Siyam reported that during his interrogation the police asked him very little about the accusation of physical assault and focused primarily on his political activity.
After Siyam’s arrest, his family was interrogated and his 15-year-old nephew, Yasan, was taken in for questioning
At present, Siyam, the integral community leader, is under house arrest, making him unable to participate in protests and monitor clashes that are a nightly occurrence in Silwan.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center serves a crucial role in the community, as it has lessened the isolation and fragmentation of individuals living there. Hasan explained that before the Wadi Hilweh Information Center began providing political information about events in the village, such as building of the Jewish archaeological site, the City of David, and home demolitions, the Palestinian residents did not understand the context of what was happening:
"Before, Palestinians didn’t know that they were working on excavations for ELAD, who are trying to Judaize the city. Now Palestinians know; they stopped working because they know; they are more aware of how Israelis are taking the land."
Other prominent activists and leaders have been targeted by Israeli authorities as well. On 26 December, Adnan Ghaith, a member of al-Bustan Popular Committee and the secretary-general of Fatah in Silwan, was expelled from Jerusalem for a four-month period of time. In an unprecedented invocation of the Emergency Law from the British Mandate, Ghaith was determined to be a threat to the public order.
In addition, another al-Bustan Popular Committee member and community activist, Fakhri Abu Diab and his family were investigated by Israeli authorities. Diab’s son, a teenager, was detained and let out on 2,500 NIS bail and placed under house arrest.
And in Beit Hanina, vocal activist Zuhair Rajaby is was placed under house arrest earlier this year.
Hasan explained why the Israeli authorities are focusing their repressive tactics on Silwan, "The pressure and focus is on Silwan—there are house demolitions everywhere, but the most happen in Silwan; children are arrested everywhere, but the most are from Silwan. We have the highest unemployment rate, the lowest education and the highest dropout rate in Silwan—but the people here are aware of what is going on. They want to close the Wadi Hilweh Information Center because they want to stop awareness."
While targeting political leaders and activists suggests a particularly disturbing new trend in political repression, Hasan explained why she is confident that these new tactics will not successfully intimidate Silwan.
"When the Center is under attack more people come to volunteer, when the Israelis do what they do, they create more resistance because Silwan is targeted and the community is involved, that why they say it’s an ongoing intifada here, we have clashes on a daily basis."
There is a constant police and military presence in Silwan: the main road from Old City of Jerusalem is blocked off to traffic and armored jeeps line the road.
Hasan continued to say, "But the Wadi Hilwah information Center is more than Jawad, and our work will continue even without him."
:: Article nr. 74061 sent on 19-jan-2011 06:54 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=74061