The international community harshly criticized the Israeli government this weekend when 53 Palestinians were evicted from their housing in East Jerusalem. Early Sunday morning, Israeli security forces clad in riot gear, stormed the houses of two Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah district near the Old City, removing the residents at gunpoint. According to U.N. witnesses, Israeli settlers moved into the buildings almost immediately.
The evictions come after a long battle in Israeli courts over property rights to the land. Until 1967, East Jerusalem fell under Jordanian control and houses were built in East Jerusalem by the United Nations for refugees. One of the evicted Palestinians, Nasser Ghawi, has lived in and owned the building for 53 years.
Jewish organizations claim ownership of the property based upon Ottoman property deeds that are still being challenged for authenticity in Israeli courts. Israel annexation of East Jerusalem and the current right-winged government claims of sovereignty over the land created the basis for its legal attack. The location of Mr. Ghawi’s building also lies near a suspected Jewish, religious site. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the land was owned by Jewish families and eviction orders were issues.
During the eviction, police cordoned off the street, preventing journalists and monitors from reaching the site. The UN’s special Middle East coordinator, Robert Serry responded to the events, “I deplore today's totally unacceptable actions by Israel.” The British Consulate released a statement calling the situation “appalling,” and that, “Their actions are incompatible with Israel's desire for peace.”
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has previously warned Israel against evacuating the Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah during her trip in March. A State Department spokesperson said the actions “in East Jerusalem constitute violations of Israel's obligations under U.S.-backed ‘road map’ peace plan.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, three protestors have been arrested today in demonstrations over the evictions.
Possibility of Indictment Looming for Israeli FM Lieberman
On Sunday, the Israeli police recommended indictment against Foreign Minister Avagor Lieberman on charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering, according to the Washington Post. An indictment of Lieberman will have to come from the Justice Ministry and the Attorney General.
In a statement released to the press, he said:
For 13 years the police have been persecuting me and as my political power and the power of Yisrael Beiteinu grow, the attempts to remove me from public activity worsen. There was no real reason to begin the investigation, and if the suspicions were founded the investigation would not have taken over a decade.Under Israeli law, if indicted, he will have to resign his position in the Netanyahu government.
Lieberman has faced investigation since before he became the foreign minister. He founded and leads the party Yisrael Beitenu, an ultra-nationalist party in the Knesset and is a West Bank settler.
HEADLINES
Israeli settlements hurting peace process with Palestinians, UN says (Xinhua)
Israel loosens Gaza blockade to allow rebuilding (Christian Science Monitor)
Video: Inside Story - Fatah conference (Al Jazeera)
Fatah commits to Israel peace talks in party draft (AP)
Gunman kills two at gay center in Israel (Los Angeles Times)
Hamas Chief Outlines Terms for Talks on Arab-Israeli Peace (Wall Street Journal)
Palestine and the Palestinians
U.S.-trained Palestinian security forces reluctant to face down Fatah 'thugs' (World Tribune)
Palestinians seek end to trade dependence on Israel (Reuters)
Palestinian Shippers seek ways to boost Palestinian trade through Aqaba Port (Port2Port)
Fatah set for West Bank conference (Al Jazeera)
Top PLO member dies in Jordan (Gulf News)
Report: Fatah to propose updated platform (Ynet)
Israel
Israel opens West Bank road to Palestinian traffic (Washington Post)
Israel Opens 13 Criminal Probes Into Gaza Offensive (Bloomberg)
7 people arrested in Israel for U.S. tax scam: report (Xinhua)
'700 swine flu deaths this winter' (Jerusalem Post)
Israel to free asylum seekers from prison (JTA)
Rivlin: Arabs integral part of Israel (Jerusalem Post)
Poll: 77% of 'Soviet' olim support Arab transfer (Ynet)
Arab MKs to US: Stop Israel from building nuclear plant in Negev (Ynet)
PM 'regrets' outcome of disengagement (Jerusalem Post)
Knesset approves 'Mofaz bill' (Ynet)
Israel studying report on leaving northern Ghajar (Daily Star)
The Neighbors
Lebanese man gets life sentence for Israel spying (Ynet)
Egypt to try 26 people held over terror plot (Gulf News)
'Israel must withdraw from Arab land': Saudi official (Gulf News)
Saudi man arrested over TV boasts (Gulf News)
Egypt police kill African migrant at Israel border (Reuters)
Turkish minister highlights need for regional peace and stability (Daily Star)
Hezbollah arms cache violated U.N. embargo - U.S. (Reuters)
US Foreign Policy
U.S. to Push Peace in Middle East Media Campaign (New York Times)
US Republican congressmen on six-day Israel trip (AFP)
Neocons To Obama: Hello, Mr. Softy (CBS)
International Relations/Law
Al Qaeda's Zawahri says wipe Israel from the map (Hindustan Times)
MIDDLE EAST: U.N. report finds many problems in Arab world (LA Times)
Iran leader approves Ahmadinejad presidency (Gulf News)
UN Runs Record Funding Shortfall (Voice of America)
Arts and Activism
Leonard Cohen's Israel concert sells out in a day (AP)
Minnesota Peace Activists Jailed in Israel (Huffington Post)
Misc.
Texan says God sent him to seek oil in Israel (AFP)
Commentary
Cantor: U.S. Weighs Iran Sanctions if Talks Are Rejected (New York Times)
Eldar: Netanyahu is fleeing the challenge (Ha'aretz)
Dancing With Damascus (Wall Street Journal)
Friedman: Free marriage counseling (NY Times)
Freedman: Breaking Israel's spell (The Guardian)
Abrams: Why Israel is nervous (Wall Street Journal)
Barghouti and Shniad: United for freedom and Universal justice (Counterpunch)
Qumisyeh: On the Fatah convention and on Palestine (Ma'an News)
Avnery: A Jeremiad (Maan News)
Holmes: Is Palestine inching toward statehood? (Huffington Post)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
