OP ED: Israeli National Parks: A Strategy To Steal Land From Palestinians, Jerusalem
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- Published on Monday, 06 February 2012 14:07
By Edra Arb/ PNN
In order to make the prospect of East Jerusalem as a future Palestinian capital as unattainable as possible, one of the many Israeli strategies is to confiscate Palestinian land and property. One way of doing this is through the building of the separation wall that in 2007 resulted in the confiscation of land belonging to almost twenty per cent of Palestinian families living in Jerusalem.
Today Palestinians are allowed to build on just seven per cent of the area of Jerusalem. One of the most effective tools in the occupation of East Jerusalem today is the cooperation of the government with the settler led organization Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA). Private land belonging to Palestinians has been increasingly declared as Israeli national park land. The most recently effected land was the Mt Scopus National Park, Mount of Olives. Protesters are trying to prevent any further damage caused by this illegal action.
Every Friday since the confiscation of the Mt Scopus land there has been demonstrations against this. The protest is peaceful; it begins with prayers that follow a contribution of spades and pickaxes. Last Friday, the ground was prepared for planting, and now small olive trees have planted. This is a symbolic action; to show that they have not given up on their land yet and to replace some of the many olive trees that have been destroyed due to the construction of the national park.
The beginning of the confiscation of the area for the newest proposed national park has already had disastrous consequences for many families, and they know that it will also have a big impact on the whole Palestinian community in East Jerusalem. Just a month ago, this area was a thriving pastureland for Palestinian cattle, and home for a dozen Palestinian families. At the beginning of January and out of the blue, all households received eviction orders. They only had a few days before they had to leave their homes as their property was declared an Israeli "national park", and therefore not their property anymore. The Israeli bulldozers soon came, and their homes were demolished and destroyed. Only one house is still standing at the bottom of the slope.
"I was the only one who could afford a lawyer. When I tried the case in court, I was allowed to stay. The other ones though, they did not have the extra money, and did not have an option." Tafiq, the remaining resident of the Slopes of Mt Scopus.
Ra'id was one of those who could not afford a lawyer. He could not do anything to stop the stealing of his land and the demolition of his family's house, except for saving his most important belongings. He shows the spot where his house once stood. Some small personal belongings and the house's foundations still exist as proof of where he lived until a month ago. Property was not the only thing that was destroyed on Mt Scopus slopes. The natural beauty and environment of the area has been taken too.
Sheik Jarra Solidarity is one of the main organisers of the demonstrations of this national park. Along with Ra'id and Tafiq, an Israeli activist, Daniel Dukarevich, participates in the demonstrations. He works for Sheik Jarra Solidarity and is one of the main organisers of the event. I asked him what he thought about the chances of a fair future in Jerusalem, and for the prevention of this national park:
"What we are trying to do is gain time by slowing down these crimes until the International community realizes what is going on here. Without them Israel will probably continue to do whatever they want, but we are trying to moderate the damage."
When the tree planting is done, the crowd disperses. Next week they will see if the olive trees have gone already. Nature seems to be an ironic thing to promote in these "national parks" as all nature is usually destroyed, and the land made flat in preparation for future construction. At least Israel's pretence of caring for nature may gain residents more time. Through the newly planted olive trees there is hope, which continues to grow independently of how many times it is killed.
