Angela Godfrey, an Israeli peace activist and member of EAPPI’s local reference group, took us on a bus tour around Jerusalem and then to a Bedouin Community
Using United Nations maps produced
by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs she showed us the
places where Israel has created illegal cities, know as settlements or
colonies. The settlements and land
confiscation is illegal according to UN resolutions and the Geneva
Convention. Israel changed boundaries
and created several types of zones with many restrictions. It makes life very difficult for those living
in this region.
You can get a fact sheet with
a wonderful map at www.ochaopt.org. The name of the page is, Bedouin
Relocation: Threat of Displacement in
the Jerusalem Periphery, September 2011.
The threatened Bedouin
communities, most of whom are already refugees, pursue a traditional life-style
of herding and have suffered a serious decline in living conditions for several
years.
Around 2300 Bedouin reside in
20 communities in the hills to the east of Jerusalem. More than 80 percent of them are
refugees.
The communities have lost access to much of the
land due to settlement expansion. Most
have demolition orders pending. None has
access to the electric network. Only
half are allowed connection to the water.
We spent part of our afternoon at a Bedouin village. They showed us hospitality, served us tea as we sat in their tent and listened to their story.
The men of the village built a school because of the dangers of their children traveling so far for the schools. This school was built using old tires and dirt.
Over 200 families were relocated from the area in the 1990, some by force. Of these, 85 percent report that have had to abandon their traditional livelihoods. Meanwhile, more than 500000 Israeli civilians have moved into the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
According to international
law Palestinian communities should be allowed to make a free and informed
decision about their place of residence.
International law prohibits the force transfer of civilians, regardless
of the motive or means used, unless temporarily required for their own security
or military necessity.
The intentional destruction
or confiscation of private civilian property, including homes, as well as the
transfer of settlers into occupied territory, is similarly prohibited.
As an Occupying power, under
law Israel has an obligation to protect the Palestinian civilian population and
to administer the territory for the benefit of that population. Any voluntary move or transfer of civilians
must meet international standards, including relating to a free informed choice.
It is so sad to see
violations of law daily by the Israeli occupiers. Palestinians have been devastated, not benefited.
Over 2/3 of the Bedouin are children.
I was sad saying good bye.
