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Israeli ethnic cleansing - Scots witness brutal 'business as usual'
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
After less than 24 hours of their Scottish delegation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories seven Scots from Edinburgh and Glasgow heard first-hand how Israeli police and soldiers forced their way into the homes of the Hanoun and al-Ghawi families, beating children, one son had his leg broken. The furniture and family possessions were loaded into trucks and Israeli police are demanding payment in order for them to be returned.
These actions by the Israeli state authorities were carried out in order to make way for Jewish Israeli settlers who under police protection moved into the Palestinian families homes within the hour. Eleven internationals, many from the International Solidarity Movement, who have been living in solidarity with the Palestinian families were arrested during the eviction.
The Israeli Alternative Information Centre reports that “the Hanoun and al-Ghawi families have been battling the Israeli legal system at every level since 1972 for the right to remain in their homes, which originally were provided to them by UNRRWA. The families are all registered refugees, having initially fled from Mandate Palestine, including West Jerusalem, in 1948, leaving behind their land and other property. The Israeli courts have repeatedly ruled in favour of groups of settlers laying claim to land and property in occupied East Jerusalem, often on questionable grounds, at the same time as Palestinian refugees are unable to regain possession of property left behind in 1948.”
Sofiah MacLeod of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, reporting from the site of the eviction, said “there has been a lot made about Obama’s push against settlement expansion by Israel but the evictions, beating and violations of human rights take place every day. The settlement building and displacement of Palestinian families can only continue because Obama and the EU continue to turn a blind eye and take no action to protect Palestinians.”
Supporters of the Palestinian families visited Sheikh Jarrah today, including members of the anti-Zionist orthodox Jewish community Neturei Karta.
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The seven Scots will be meeting Palestinian and Israeli activists struggling against Israeli occupation and aggression. They will be available to give a report-back from their visit to meetings from September.
They are maintaining a blog during the visit http://delegation2009.scottishpsc.org.uk/
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