Jerusalem / PNN – The Palestinian Jerusalem Affairs Ministry, reiterated that East Jerusalem remains under intense Israeli attack. Ahmed Ruidi of the Ministry said that the city of Jerusalem is under a fierce onslaught of political ethnic cleansing by Israeli forces. He said, “We are faced with a new policy in Jerusalem, which necessitates support on a national and international level.”

Ruidi spoke during yesterday’s press conference convened by Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood residents of East Jerusalem, about the Israeli decision to expel the Umm Kamal Al Kurd family from their home, and the plan to establish Israeli settlement construction on the ruins of 28 Palestinian homes.

The press conference was held in the Umm Kamal Al Kurd family home.

Ruidi added, “The Israeli intention is to expel 500 citizens from 28 families from the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in addition to expelling 1,500 Maqdasi citizens from 88 houses in the Silwan neighborhood, and there have been decisions to demolish 32 housing units in the 'Issawiya village. Fifty-five Palestinian families have been threatened with the demolition of their houses in the neighborhood of Al Ashquariyya in Beit Hanina, and there are 250 houses in the Mount of Olives that have also been threatened with demolition.” This comes in a long wake of Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes, structures and land in East Jerusalem, which is described as part and parcel to the “ethnic cleansing process” by numerous reports, officials and human rights organizations.

He noted that the Israeli government is cooperating with the settlement association in implementing the decisions to expel Palestinians from their homes and replace them with Jewish settlers. But the Israeli government is doing more than just that: it is encouraging new settlement construction and expansion in direct contravention to international law and the Road Map.

Hatem Abu Kamal, the lawyer for Umm Kamal Al Kurd, added, “The decision to expel the Umm Kamal Al Kurd household was accelerated simply because they are Palestinian.”

Ahmed Ruidi reviewed the movements of both the Ministry and President’s Office at a political level in order to prevent the expulsion from the Umm Kamal Al Kurd house, and held a meeting with the Palestinian government and the UNRWA, the United Nations Relief Works Agency.

He called for a popular movement, and stated, “The forces and actors, institutions and citizens need to rally around the families of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, with the important task of defending these houses and all the Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem.”

Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, said, “International law applies to Jerusalem, and consequently the world must bear the responsibility for what is happening in the Umm Kamal Al Kurd home.”

Dr. Zahalka added, “The issue is not one of home ownership or legalities, but the Israeli policy of Judaization. The situation in Sheikh Jarrah is an example of issues elsewhere, and it is necessary for the Palestinian Authority to pressure the European Union, the United Nations and UNRWA to stop the Israeli onslaught.”

In a speech to the committee of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, 'Amal Kassim commented on the existence of legal double standards between Palestinians and Israelis, and the policy of serving Israeli and Jewish interests at the expense of legal rights for Palestinians. She also denounced the Israeli Supreme Court's unjust decision to expel the legal residents of the Umm Kamal Al Kurd house, and described how it constitutes a dangerous precedence for the introduction of seizing other homes in Sheikh Jarrah.

Kassim appealed to the international community and human rights institutions to condemn the on-going policy of the Israeli Judaization of Jerusalem, and announced Sheikh Jarrah's categorical refusal of the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to expel the Al Kurd household.

A campaign of solidarity by various institutions, associations and national frameworks is underway at the house of Umm Kamal Al Kurd, throughout day and night, to prevent the expulsion of the family.

Thousands of Palestinians have been expelled from their homes throughout Jerusalem, but West Jerusalem was lost long ago. The current Israeli project in the overtaking is East Jerusalem. The United Nations issued a resolution stating that all Israeli “changing of facts on the ground” must immediately cease and desist. Instead of heeding the UN resolutions, the Israelis are increasing their efforts.

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