CMEP asks U.S. to Stop Home Demolitions in Jerusalem 

I’m not asking for your advocacy call on this matter, but do want you to know of the troubling situation in Jerusalem and CMEP’s request to the State Department. The letter is also being faxed to other key people at the State Department, Elliott Abrams at the National Security Council, U.S. Amb. Daniel Kurtzer in Tel Aviv, the Embassy of Israel and the PLO Mission in DC.  Following the letter is an editorial from the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz.  We are now finalizing a letter from the heads of CMEP churches and agencies to President Bush.  Stay tuned for guidance on how you can bring it to the attention of your members of Congress. 

June 7, 2005  (On Churches for Middle East Peace letterhead)

C. David Welch

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

United States Department of State

Dear Secretary Welch,

Churches for Middle East Peace urges the intervention of the U.S. government to prevent the demolition of 90 Arab homes in Jerusalem’s Silwan quarter. The historic nature of the location, just south of the Old City walls in the area known as King’s Valley, compounds the potential impact of this action. At this time, when hope for the road map peace plan is essential, such an action by the Jerusalem Municipality would be extremely destructive. 

Yesterday, June 6, the date when the capture of east Jerusalem by the Israeli military in 1967 is marked, there were news reports of confrontations on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound. We are worried that the escalation of violence that began in the Old City on September 2000 might be repeated. 

We agree with President Bush that the government of Israel has obligations not to take actions that would prejudge negotiated agreements on the status of Jerusalem as well as other final status issues. In addition to the demolition of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, Churches for Middle East Peace has objected to the routing of Israel’s separation barrier in and near Jerusalem and the building of settlements on West Bank land adjoining Jerusalem. A viable Palestinian state, that will be recognized as legitimate by its people and Arab neighbors, requires the territorial contiguity of East Jerusalem with the West Bank as well as a credible sovereign presence in Jerusalem.

CMEP Board members joined me in meeting with your deputy Elizabeth Dibble on May 11. We appreciated the opportunity to hear her perspective, identify commonly held concerns and to offer our support.  Similarly, previous meetings with Secretary William Burns and Ambassador David Satterfield were helpful in our work of guiding advocacy by our institutions and their members. I will send a letter requesting an appointment with you in the near future.

Thank you for your consideration of our request that the United States convince Israel to cancel the plan to demolish homes in Silwan.

Sincerely,

Corinne Whitlatch

Executive Director

Haaretz Editorial

Political destruction

Ha'aretz -- Tuesday - June 7, 2005

The Jerusalem Municipality plans to demolish approximately 90 Arab homes that were built without permits in Silwan (Kfar Hashiloah), south of the Old City's walls. The homes constitute an entire neighborhood - known in Arabic as al-Bustan, in Hebrew as Emek Hamelech, and in English as King's Valley - that is home to some 1,000 residents. The story first broke in Haaretz a week ago, and Deputy Interior Minister Ruhama Avraham said in response that while razing the homes may indeed lead to unrest in East Jerusalem, "The government has no intention of capitulating to law-breakers."

The government's policies regarding law-breakers in the field of construction could serve as the subject of lengthy discussions - for example, the construction of the illegal outposts that has gone on all the while, and still is, just three months after Talia Sasson filed her report. But the issue now is, first and foremost, the powder keg that will ignite in East Jerusalem, and also beyond the borders of the city in all likelihood - because everything that is done in Jerusalem reverberates loudly in the media and the political arena, and significantly affects Israel's relations with the Palestinians.

The plan to demolish these homes in particular is no coincidence. They lie on the outskirts of ancient Jerusalem - the City of David - which serves as a focus for takeovers by settlers from the Elad (the Hebrew acronym for "to the City of David") association. For years, the settlers have tried, with great success, to acquire Arab assets in the area and create a Jewish neighborhood there. According to building plans, the land is slated for the establishment of an urban, archaeological park with the ancient sites of the City of David at its center.

The Palestinians see this as part of a broader Israeli plan to get the Arabs out of the city, with some even terming it "a small transfer." They are holding protest actions at the site and trying to drum up international support.

The Jerusalem city engineer has explained that Mayor Uri Lupolianski is aware of the demolition plans, and supports them - not only because the aim is to establish a national park on the site, but also in light of the danger the Arab residents will face if the neighborhood is flooded by the waters of the Kidron stream during very rainy seasons.

Some of the facts are in dispute. Some homes in the neighborhood were built before 1967, and probably went through the approval processes of the Jordanian municipality. Others were built some seven or more years ago, and come under the statute of limitations; in other words, they cannot be demolished even if they were built without permits and their owners can only be charged with practicing illegal building.

Lupolianski's position is not cut and dried either. A few days ago, he hinted that he would consider the matter and make more specific decisions with regard to which of the homes, if any, will be razed.

The issue is, first and foremost, a political one. A decision by the mayor to demolish homes would undoubtedly cause a major uproar and constitute an obstacle in the face of the attempts to renew the peace process. This is the principal consideration that the mayor must take into account.

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