The ISM and Sheikh Jarrah

Update #2: The ISM and Sheikh Jarrah
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010

I hope February finds you healthy and warm, if a little sun-deprived. Winters here are surprisingly chilly, and I'm writing with a cup of tea and space heater close at hand.

I'm currently wrapping up my first week working with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). I'm pretty sure this is one of the most direct ways a person can involve themselves in the politics of Israel/Palestine, and it's a steep learning curve. I've spent three nights sleeping on a sidewalk, listened to the life story of an 85-year-old Palestinian grandmother facing her second eviction, filmed the demolition of the tent I had been living in, and learned to distinguish between four different kinds of police. There are a number of stories and observations I'd like to share about the week, but it seems necessary to begin with some background information.

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM)

Borrowing from the website: "Founded by a small group of activists in August, 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international protection and a voice with which to nonviolently resist an overwhelming military occupation force." The ISM is Palestinian-led, meaning that it provides an international presence when requested.

Currently in the West Bank, the ISM:

• Attends weekly protest demonstrations about the illegal apartheid wall. (http://electronicintifada.net/bytopic/apartheidwall.shtml)
• Documents and hopefully reduces settler violence in several villages.
• Maintains a constant presence (including night watch) in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
• Partners with local leadership to provide a presence in many other situations such as olive tree planting and documentation of human rights violations.

ISMers in Gaza accompany farmers who face intimidation and shooting from the Israeli military, as well as many projects similar to those mentioned above.

For more information about the ISM, and to read news updates about our work, check out palsolidarity.org

Sheikh Jarrah

Some background:
• In 1948, Israeli forces expelled over 750,000 Palestinians from areas that became Israel. These Palestinians fled across the new border into Gaza, the West Bank, or other Arab states. Refugee camps established in the following years still house most of these people, known as “1948 refugees.” The Lemon Tree, by Sandy Tolan, provides an excellent idea of the implications of this expulsion.
• Borders established after the 1948 war divided Jerusalem into West and East (Israel and Jordanian-controlled West Bank, respectively). For a map of 1949 borders, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/israel_and_palestinians/key_maps/5.stm
• In 1956, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the Jordanian government built 28 houses for 1948 refugees in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The refugee families, from West Jerusalem and Haifa, traded their ration cards (refugee status) for the promise of legal ownership in 1959. Ownership was never granted.
• The Six-Day war of 1967 places East Jerusalem within Israel: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/israel_and_palestinians/key_maps/3.stm
• Eviction orders for all 28 families were issued in 1972 by Israeli courts based on falsified land deeds provided by Zionist settler organizations.
• The legal battle, now in its 38th year, has failed to prevent the evictions of four families.

Currently:
• 60 residents of 4 houses have been displaced, including 20 children.
• In August 2009, the Hanoun and Gawi families were evicted from their homes. Settlers currently reside in the houses. The Gawi family has maintained a tent outside of their home since August, which ISM has staffs and provides night watch for. This tent has been demolished Israeli police twelve times in the past 5 months.
• In December 2009, the al-Kurd family was evicted from the front half of their home. Settlers now occupy this half, and the al-Kurd family maintains a tent in the front walkway, which also has a constant international presence.

For more background about Sheikh Jarrah, check out any relevant article on palsolidarity.org and scroll down to the “background" and “legal” sections.

What's it like to live in a tent in front of a settler-occupied house?

Stay tuned...I'm trying to break it down into digestible pieces (both for writing and reading) so expect several more updates in the coming days.

There is admittedly not much I miss about the U.S. right now, but friends and family are at the top of the list. I really hope everyone is doing well, and it's great to hear from people.

Salaam.