When Tom
Watson, Luke Akehurst, Warren Morgan or any other creature of Labour’s Right talks about ‘anti-Semitism’
you can be sure that they aren’t talking about anti-Jewish racism but defending
Israel’s colonial racism by making counter accusations of racism as a means of
throwing sand in peoples’ eyes.
Watson, Luke Akehurst, Warren Morgan or any other creature of Labour’s Right talks about ‘anti-Semitism’
you can be sure that they aren’t talking about anti-Jewish racism but defending
Israel’s colonial racism by making counter accusations of racism as a means of
throwing sand in peoples’ eyes.
 |
| Palestinian Bedouin children playing at the Tyre School, Khan al-Ahmar, the only robust structure in the village (it is made of rubber tyres).The school has 170 students, of which 85 are girls, and is run by 15 teachers. The students come from five different Bedouin communities in the surrounding area. It is partially funded by EU governments. It has many classrooms, a small football field made with turf, and a playground. Photo uncredited. |
Israel’s
racism, in Judaifying an area, is no different to the Nazis ‘deJewifying’ areas of Jews. It is indefensible politically or morally.
The only response is to ratchet up the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign. We know that this is the weapon that the Israeli
state most hates because they have set up a $50m+ dirty tricks fund under the
Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan.
racism, in Judaifying an area, is no different to the Nazis ‘deJewifying’ areas of Jews. It is indefensible politically or morally.
The only response is to ratchet up the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign. We know that this is the weapon that the Israeli
state most hates because they have set up a $50m+ dirty tricks fund under the
Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan.
Everywhere
BDS is under attack because it is held to be ‘anti-Semitic’. In America states such as Kansas are
demanding of those who do business with the state that they declare they have nothing
to do with BDS. In Texas people are being refused aid as a result of the recent hurricane unless they agree to sign a piece of paper saying they oppose the Boycott of Israel. Apart from
this being an outrageous infringement on the right to free speech under the First
Amendment this shows the lengths that Israel’s Apartheid Lobby will go to force people to support their state.
BDS is under attack because it is held to be ‘anti-Semitic’. In America states such as Kansas are
demanding of those who do business with the state that they declare they have nothing
to do with BDS. In Texas people are being refused aid as a result of the recent hurricane unless they agree to sign a piece of paper saying they oppose the Boycott of Israel. Apart from
this being an outrageous infringement on the right to free speech under the First
Amendment this shows the lengths that Israel’s Apartheid Lobby will go to force people to support their state.
It is
therefore good to see the American Civil Liberties Union taking legal action
against the State of Kansas in order to stop it penalising people who exercise
their right to engage in BDS actions.
therefore good to see the American Civil Liberties Union taking legal action
against the State of Kansas in order to stop it penalising people who exercise
their right to engage in BDS actions.
In this
country we see those apostles of anti-racism – the Daily Mail/Express/Telegraph
et al in the forefront of labelling solidarity with the Palestinians as ‘anti-Semitic’. Their hypocrisy is belied by their own racist
record when it comes to discrimination against every other group bar Zionists.
country we see those apostles of anti-racism – the Daily Mail/Express/Telegraph
et al in the forefront of labelling solidarity with the Palestinians as ‘anti-Semitic’. Their hypocrisy is belied by their own racist
record when it comes to discrimination against every other group bar Zionists.
Tony
Greenstein
Greenstein
Israel
asks court to approve forcible transfer of entire Bedouin community
By The Palestine Monitor
September 26, 2017
September 26, 2017
The Israeli government has asked the Supreme Court to approve plans to
demolish an entire Palestinian Bedouin community. The government said the
demolition should take place by mid-2018.
demolish an entire Palestinian Bedouin community. The government said the
demolition should take place by mid-2018.
This would be the first time an entire Palestinian community has been
demolished since 1967. Khan al-Ahmar, home to 173 people, is located in Area C
– the 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli control. The Israeli
government considers the community’s presence there illegal, and has issued
demolition orders for all of its structures earlier this year.
demolished since 1967. Khan al-Ahmar, home to 173 people, is located in Area C
– the 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli control. The Israeli
government considers the community’s presence there illegal, and has issued
demolition orders for all of its structures earlier this year.
The village is home to one of 20 Jahalin Bedouin communities at risk of
expulsion due to Israeli settlement expansion in this area, strategically
located between East Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim, the West Bank’s largest
settlement. Known as E1, an Israeli construction plan for this area has been
frozen since 2009, following international outrage. The communities are made up
of 2,300 Palestine refugees who were originally displaced by Israel in the
1950s.
expulsion due to Israeli settlement expansion in this area, strategically
located between East Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim, the West Bank’s largest
settlement. Known as E1, an Israeli construction plan for this area has been
frozen since 2009, following international outrage. The communities are made up
of 2,300 Palestine refugees who were originally displaced by Israel in the
1950s.
Plans for this area, critics have argued, are aimed at linking Ma’ale
Adumim to Jerusalem, therefore breaking the territorial contiguity of a
prospective Palestinian state – and jeopardising the feasibility of a two-state
solution.
Adumim to Jerusalem, therefore breaking the territorial contiguity of a
prospective Palestinian state – and jeopardising the feasibility of a two-state
solution.
 |
| A Palestinian woman inspects the debris after Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of her home in the Bedouin village of Khan Al-Ahmar, February 2017. Photo by Hamza Shalash/Apaimages |
Abu Khamis, the mukhtar of Khan al-Ahmar, knows that his community has
become a symbol of the Palestinian struggle to remain in their lands.
become a symbol of the Palestinian struggle to remain in their lands.
“There’s
proof this community has been here since 1967. We are only the first piece of
the puzzle in the bigger picture,” Abu Khamis told Palestine Monitor. “If they relocate this community, they will
relocate all other communities in the area,” he said, adding that he
believes international pressure can help postpone the transfer – a strategy
that has worked over the years, while leaving the community in a constant state
of insecurity.
proof this community has been here since 1967. We are only the first piece of
the puzzle in the bigger picture,” Abu Khamis told Palestine Monitor. “If they relocate this community, they will
relocate all other communities in the area,” he said, adding that he
believes international pressure can help postpone the transfer – a strategy
that has worked over the years, while leaving the community in a constant state
of insecurity.
Residents of the nearby settlement of Kfar Adumim, together with the
pro-settler organisation Regavim, have been filing petitions to evict the
residents of Khan al-Ahmar and demolish its primary school – which serves 174
pupils from the village and five neighbouring communities – since 2009.
Regavim, which is involved in other high-profile demolition cases in the West
Bank, such as the village of Susyia in the South Hebron Hills, declares its
mission to be “ensur[ing] responsible, legal, accountable & environmentally
friendly use of Israel’s national lands and the return of the rule of law to
all areas”, as stated on its website. The fourth and last petition was filed in
2016.
pro-settler organisation Regavim, have been filing petitions to evict the
residents of Khan al-Ahmar and demolish its primary school – which serves 174
pupils from the village and five neighbouring communities – since 2009.
Regavim, which is involved in other high-profile demolition cases in the West
Bank, such as the village of Susyia in the South Hebron Hills, declares its
mission to be “ensur[ing] responsible, legal, accountable & environmentally
friendly use of Israel’s national lands and the return of the rule of law to
all areas”, as stated on its website. The fourth and last petition was filed in
2016.
Unlike on previous occasions, the community’s lawyer, Shlomo Lecker, is
concerned that this time the court will accept the State’s answer when asked to
provide an alternative for residents. Israel plans to relocate them to lands
near the Palestinian town of Abu Dis, in an area known as Jabal West.
concerned that this time the court will accept the State’s answer when asked to
provide an alternative for residents. Israel plans to relocate them to lands
near the Palestinian town of Abu Dis, in an area known as Jabal West.
“It’s a symbolic
act to please the right-wing,” Lecker said, speaking at a meeting with
representatives of NGOs and diplomatic missions last week.
act to please the right-wing,” Lecker said, speaking at a meeting with
representatives of NGOs and diplomatic missions last week.
 |
| The appearance of Bedouin villages, now often built from scrap materials, is, like Khan al-Ahmar L, often of a makeshift and ramshackle camp. Like other Palestinians, Bedouin cannot get permits to build more substantial homes. |
Rights groups have opposed these plans.
“While the government argues that
the residents of Khan al-Ahmar will receive alternative housing, they will in
fact be evacuated against their will for the benefit of settlers, and placed
above the garbage dump in Abu Dis,” said a statement from Israeli
anti-settlement NGO Peace Now after the government submitted its answer to the
Supreme Court on the settlers’ petition on Monday. “This type of forceful evacuation of protected persons constitutes a
severe violation of international humanitarian law.”
the residents of Khan al-Ahmar will receive alternative housing, they will in
fact be evacuated against their will for the benefit of settlers, and placed
above the garbage dump in Abu Dis,” said a statement from Israeli
anti-settlement NGO Peace Now after the government submitted its answer to the
Supreme Court on the settlers’ petition on Monday. “This type of forceful evacuation of protected persons constitutes a
severe violation of international humanitarian law.”
“It appears
that the forceful displacement of the residents of Khan al-Ahmar is a form of
“compensation” for his right wing supporters for the upcoming evacuation of the
Illegal outpost of Derech Ha’Avot, following a High Court ruling,” the
statement added.
that the forceful displacement of the residents of Khan al-Ahmar is a form of
“compensation” for his right wing supporters for the upcoming evacuation of the
Illegal outpost of Derech Ha’Avot, following a High Court ruling,” the
statement added.
B’Tselem said Israel was asking the High Court for “permission to commit a war crime.” Hagai El-Ad, B’Tselem’s executive
director, said:
director, said:
“No sanctimonious language about a
‘planning, proprietary and realistic’ alternate, or ‘time to prepare’ can erase
the disgrace or hide the facts: the destruction of Khan al-Ahmar means the
forcible transfer of protected persons, and forcible transfer is a war crime.”
‘planning, proprietary and realistic’ alternate, or ‘time to prepare’ can erase
the disgrace or hide the facts: the destruction of Khan al-Ahmar means the
forcible transfer of protected persons, and forcible transfer is a war crime.”
Abu Khamis told Palestine Monitor that voluntarily moving to the
proposed location is not an option, and that the community will continue to
fight to stay.
proposed location is not an option, and that the community will continue to
fight to stay.
 |
| Learning to read and write, to paint and to play: what will happen to these children’s education if yet another Bedouin village is demolished? |
Meanwhile, children at the “tyre school” nearby are taking a break and
playing outside the class-rooms. The school, which stands out as the only real
building in the village with its painted mud walls – the rest are makeshift
structures made of wood and corrugated iron – provides a safe space for
children to play as well as study in this isolated desert community. Despite
its location just off a highway a few kilometres from Jerusalem, the only road
that leads to the village is an unpaved, winding track.
playing outside the class-rooms. The school, which stands out as the only real
building in the village with its painted mud walls – the rest are makeshift
structures made of wood and corrugated iron – provides a safe space for
children to play as well as study in this isolated desert community. Despite
its location just off a highway a few kilometres from Jerusalem, the only road
that leads to the village is an unpaved, winding track.
“Students
here, some of them from nearby villages, know the school is at risk,” said
Halimeh Zahalka, the school’s headteacher. “They keep asking their teachers
whether they will continue coming to the area if the school is demolished.”
here, some of them from nearby villages, know the school is at risk,” said
Halimeh Zahalka, the school’s headteacher. “They keep asking their teachers
whether they will continue coming to the area if the school is demolished.”
Posted in Blog
