Israel’s Supreme Court has announced that an appeal by Palestinian families facing forced expulsion from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem will be heard on July 20. This announcement followed the comment on Monday, June 7, by Israel’s Attorney-General, Avichay Mendelbit, that he will not be intervening in the case, prompting anger from the Palestinian families and an appeal to the high court.
Sami Irshaid, a lawyer for Palestinian families facing expulsion told reporters that the appeal has been presented to the court in the names of the Eskafi, Qasim, Al-Jaouni, and Al-Kurd families. Approximately 550 Palestinians face imminent expulsion from Sheikh Jarrah.
Demonstrators rally in solidarity with Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem, last Friday, June 4. Among the demonstrators was Hadash MK Ofer Cassif. The placards in Arabic read “End the Occupation.” (Photo: Activestills)
Mohammed Al-Kurd, a Palestinian activist from Sheikh Jarrah whose family faces expulsion from their home, said on Twitter that Mendelbit’s decision was “yet another void attempt to frame our expulsions as a ‘property dispute.'” Peace Now accused the attorney-general of engaging in “a cynical attempt to evade responsibility.”
Israeli police arrested Al-Kurd and his twin sister Mona on Sunday, June 6, apparently in retribution for their coverage on social media of the pending Sheikh Jarrah expulsions and 12 year long protest campaign which, as a result, has now gone viral globally and spawned tremendous public support for the Palestinian residents of the neighborhood who stand to lose their homes. The brother and sister activists were released only hours after their detention, unfazed by the authorities’ latest attempt to intimidate them.
Since April 13, in addition to arrests, Israel’s police have injured dozens of persons, among them several journalists, surrounding the protests in Sheikh Jarrah. Security forces currently surround the area.
Today: More Solidarity Demonstrations against Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing of East Jerusalem
More demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem threatened with eviction orders will be held today, Friday, June 11. An anti-occupation coalition will hold a march, “The Peace Rally,” from central West Jerusalem to Sheikh Jarrah starting at 14:30. Among the coalition members are Hadash, Peace Now, Standing Together, Breaking the Silence and Free Jerusalem.
The High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel will hold its own protest at Sheikh Jarrah starting at 15:00.
Facebook page of today’s “Peace Rally” (Hebrew & Arabic): https://fb.me/e/139wHau3X
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