The political background has been set on the first day of workshop, the days what followed demonstrated in rock and concrete the outcomes of years of political conflict.
Old Town
Beautiful place. We were shown The Dome of The Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque! We were allowed inside due to the influence of a local historian and researcher Yusuf Natsheh! And it has to be noted only Jerusalemites Muslims are allowed in. I guess it goes to show how important it is for IPCC to show us the treasures of Muslim culture, to note some elements of Khoran and to locate them in this place. This cultural note has is a political and territorial footnotes. But as soon as left the Muslim Quarter out historian left us to a guidance of IPCC staff. Basel Quttaineh's family resides in the old town for hundreds of years. Bus Basel when he showed us into The Holy Selpurcher Church was the first time visitor there as well! Extraordinary lack of interest in other culture and religion which he is not in a conflict with. I it the proximity of the other that makes them not look at each other?
The Dome of The Rock:
Silwan
Silwan is an area of the most forceful political 'fight to reside' confect between Palestinians and Israelis. It is in East Jerusalem just south of the walls of the Old Town and it has for centuries been a Palestinian neighbourhood. However it is in the Kidron Valley where historically King David has chosen make his kingdom at the footsteps of Temple Mont (now the location of The dome of the rock). Over the past decades this argument has been used in Jewish claims of this land. Number of archaeological sites have been designated and upon completion of research those areas remains under Municipal Jurisdiction. Similarly the parks at the bottom for he valley are under Municipal governance. Once Palestinian family looses possession of the land in Silwan it has no chances of getting those right back. Instead new Israeli households are being set up. Large police forces are patrolling the area making sure safe passage of abut 350 people among Palestinian population of 55000 people! Palestinians face huge difficulties of expansion with almost every planning application being rejected. They build anyway. In past 10 years over 300 people have been rendered homeless as a result illegal house demolitions. At the same time illegal housing becomes legal again if an Israeli family moves in. So we were told. Even if the fact we were presented with are only one sided they represent a strong tension and determination from both sides. Land and its ownership here is everything!
Silwan:
No comments:
Post a Comment