the Farhan Family in Sheikh Jarrah wins their case to stay home, a Success Story!

walking in Sheikh Jarrah Quarter

Sheikh Jarrah Tour July 30, 2011

CJS G. Director Huda Al Imam led a diverse group on a focused tour of the Sheikh Jarrah Neighborhood.  The walking tour started at Hind Al Husseini College.   Major sites visited during the tour were “Dar Al Tifl al-Arabi, The Orient House, Al Zawyieh Al Jarrahieh, Em-Kamel Kurd’s house, Issaf Nashashibi Culture Centre and the Shepherd Hotel demolished site”.   G. Director Huda Al Imam managed to get the group inside of The Orient House, were she also covered the fact that it was considered the Center for peace & briefed the group on Faisal Al Hussein’s’ life & accomplishments.  The tour also visited Mr. Ahmad Farhan’s house, the most recent success story in winning the case against the Sheikh Jarrah eviction activities.  The group was welcomed by Issaf Nashashibi Culture Centre’s staff & enjoyed the Contemporary Art workshop made possible by Contemporary Artists Club – Jerusalem.  After which the tour continued to its last destination being the Shepherd Hotel demolished site, covering its history & future settlement plans.

Hammam al Ayn challenges to restore....

HI talking to EU Parliementarians

Google Palestine

On Campus...

al Quds University President Sari Nusseibeh meets 'Learn Arabic in Jerusalem, summer students on campus

vue de ' Bab al Malek Faisal, al Aqsa Mosque'

Visiting my great grandfather's tomb, Yousef al Saddeeq al Imam

1st attempt failed

from Jaffa Gate to Damascus Gate

le quotidien, from and to Jerusalem

مأمن الله

مأمن الله

Palestine Monitor on Mamilla


AFP on Mamilla Israel approves work on controversial museum
Agence France Presse.   [News Story].      13/07/2011.            
JERUSALEM, July 13, 2011 (AFP) - Israel has approved the start of work on a controversial Museum of Tolerance that will be built on the site of an old Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
The project, organised by the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Centre, was the subject of a lengthy legal battle, with Palestinians and some Israeli supporters arguing the museum would desecrate the burial site.
Israel's courts rejected the argument, saying the site was deconsecrated decades ago, and the project has received planning approval from local authorities despite the protests.
On Tuesday, the interior ministry's district planning committee gave the final go-ahead for work to begin on digging the foundations for the museum, interior ministry spokeswoman Efrat Orbach told AFP.
"The permit was officially approved long ago, yesterday what was approved was only the first step towards the building itself," she said.
"Yesterday it was the first step towards building, which means that they have the permission to start digging. From yesterday they can start digging for that project. But the project itself was already approved about 10 years ago."
Palestinians and Arab-Israelis, including some whose ancestors were buried at the Mamun Allah cemetery in Jerusalem, have expressed outrage at plans to build a museum dedicated to tolerance on a former burial site.
But Israel's Supreme Court in 2008 ruled that the site was no longer a burial ground, pointing out no objections were lodged in 1960 when the municipality put a parking lot over part of the graveyard.
Lawyers for the project's promoters, backed by Jerusalem city authorities, have offered to transfer any graves to a section of the graveyard that will not be affected by the construction, but Muslim leaders rejected the suggestion.

Huda al-Imam, director of the Centre for Jerusalem Studies and a leading campaigner against the museum's construction, said activists would continue to push for the project's cancellation.
"We are trying as much as possible to do this with efforts not only on the United Nations level but also on the Israeli court level, on the international court level," she told AFP.
"We're trying also to put some pressure on certain Arab leaders, such as Jordan King Abdullah to try to intervene and see whether it is possible to put some pressure on the Israeli side."
Imam said the cemetery represents "Palestinian cultural heritage and it is supposed to be a protected place or site."
"They should respect human heritage and human dignity and not build this museum of tolerance on a Palestinian cultural site and try to delete our identity."
It was not clear when ground would be broken on the project. Plans unveiled in 2010 call for a six-storey structure with three floors above ground and three below, at an estimated cost of $100 million.

The new design was created by an Israeli architecture firm after famed architect Frank Gehry pulled out of the project last year.

14 Juillet a Jerusalem, Liberte Egalite Fraternite pour les Palestiniens

Apaisant et sublime Mass, the starting festivity at St Anne's church at the entrance of Lions Gate leading to the VIA DOLOROSA...this year the time, towards sun set, seemed more approriate than precedent years; the food 'tres moyen' pour la France; Warm acceuill by Dalal, meaningful speech and excellent 3 minute video to watch.

Arabic Language and Culture

 

A diverse young group of 75 students booked their flights some months ago,  from Australia, Africa, Europe, Canada, Korea, UK, US, Latin America and other continents to arrive and to be present on Monday 11th of July in the Old City to learn Arabic in Jerusalem.

The Centre for Jerusalem Studies of al Quds University launched
its Arabic Language School for the 2011 Summer season.. Six classes of spoken Arabic and modern standard (fussha,) are open for beginners, intermediates and advanced levels. several are students preparing dissertations and thesis in the topic of Palestine and Jerusalem.

  'its hot summer day, but a refreshing one with all of you here, having chosen to come to Jerusalem to learn Arabic".

i expressed in my welcome note and orientation.

I introduced the Centre:  where Academia meets Culture;
the place: Khan Tankaz, Hammam al Ayn 14thC Mamluk site; the working team:  Amira, Samira, Ayman and Mohammad;

CJS team, with speical thanks to Lana who's been working along the clock processing applications, placement, accommodation"...


The neighbourhood: in Tareeq al Wad, at the entrance of Souq
al Qattanine leading to al Aqsa Mosque. Today a marginalized tough spot of the Moslem Quarter. Surrounded with Jewish colonizers on the top roofs and deep underneath;

"The city today is ironically one of the safest in the region, actually in the world, the spirit is that of a police city loaded with pointed machine guns and cameras zooming-in the youth and their movements...

A typical Palestinian breakfast: ka'ek, falafel, zaatar, hoummos, foul with olives and tea with mint

made a quite fulfilling interval, between morning and afternoon classes. 

The Schedule is set for Arabic quite intensive classes, seminars and tours to religious and historic monuments, souqs, bazars, the Old City wall ramparts, the mosaic of communities in the different neighbourhoods, witnessing human violations, a contemporary quotidien practice on inhabitants;
the Annexation Wall will be visited along our way to al Quds University campus. There we will learn about stories of prisoners at Abu Jihad Museum, the Math museum, faculties, students, cafes
and gardens with mural of callligraphy and poetry and more: 
'a success story where a culture of education is being built against all odds"

On campus, we shall hopefully meet with the author of  'Once upon a country' and 'What's a Palestinian State worth ?', the President of al Quds University Prof Sari Nusseibeh,
stay tuned......

7 minutes from Ramallah to Jerusalem

Voila, dear Petra,
i am writing the story, as you suggested, last night.

Petra and I spontaniously decided we should go Suad Massi concert in Ramallah. 
The concert was sold out,  we knew it was almost impossible to get tickets since we made a few calls, in vein. But we thought we should give it a try. Yallah!
On the way along Sheikh Jarrah, Shu'fat, Beit Hanina, al Ram. We were quite curious whether we would find last minute tickets. We did not think of the other possibility for example,
to miss the concert because of  'the checkpoint'.

Despite the fact that we left Jerusalem at 7, it was already 7.30
and we were in the middle of a long  Q of cars along the Walllllllllllll of al Ram.
Israel, yesterday decided to close the checkpoint.

The Iron Gate in the WALL was open for a few cars to pass, very very slowy, under control.

"I remembered Fouad telling me, the other day that the checkpoint is becoming
absolutely terrible to pass through, and every day, not only thursdays, as it used to
be the case.

Qalandia, before Israel occupied the rest of Palestine in 67, used to be the Jerusalem airport
and i remember that my father used fly Middle East Airlines to Beirut.
The Gate of the military terminal was open for cars to take a D-tour to reach Qalandia
from the other side of the checkpoint.
This 'trajet' took one hour, and we are talking about 20 meters distance.

its 8 oclock, still in the car,  1st, neutral, 2nd gear, 1st, stop, yellow ford transits passing us
right, left and centre, the sun sets on this disastrous Qalandia checpoint. 

"When Joel and i first met, dear Petra, we spent many hours talking on the phone; Joel lived in Ramallah;
all of a sudden he would say, ok, bye, 'j' arrive", i am coming. He would take his car and within
7 minutes be in front of my home in Sheikh Jarrah."

Still on Qalandia checkpoint,  "c'est bon, jai trois tickets pour Suad Massi'; i got texto by Amelie!
yes ! wonderful....but ? are we going to make it ?

by the time we arrived having taken all short cuts of Ramallah's new streets and extended new neighbourhoods, the lights of Ramallah Cultural Palace with the lights on top of the hill where
the tomb of Mahmoud Darwish lies, "ya Rawi ihkee hkayaat" Suad singing, her voice of 'haneen'
nostalgia and words for freedom.
We made it!
and were seated on the very second row, in front of all those who told us, sorry, its sold out,
Patrick, Philip .....and other sponsors of the concert.  we laughed !

its true that Suad Massi with her blue jeans on, carrying her guitar, pure and beautiful, created a night of magic energy in the skies of Palestine and the hearts of Palestinians.

but, every time i come and go to Ramallah and spend horrible hours of stress on the checkpoint
 i tell myself,  "never again"!
you go for fun and end up exhausted, frustrated and with no energy left to enjoy;
especially no patience to recross.
Yes because its two way control !

 Zyad who heard me say this, said "this is exactly what they want'!
"You should keep coming.
At least you can, but we cannot come to Jerusalem".

more on Ma'manillah

the visit which took place this morning on the cemetery brought over 30 people together. The group made up of Palestinian and International members of Jerusalem inhabitants today. Quite a few media correspondents representing al Quds newspaper, AFP, Spanish, Dutch and French radio and papers.

Asem Khalidi talked about the history of the place, when he visited the cemetery with his father back in the 40s. He talked about martyrs burried since the time of Salah Eddine, the Sahabeh and nobilities. The group walked along the grounds of the cemetery around the demolished tombs: some of the names are still on

broken gravestones, like the Kaloti; Jerusalem families Aweidah, Budeiri, Jaouni, al Khalidi, Nashashibi, Husseini, Nusseibeh al Khazraji related to the Kabakyeh tomb, at the entrance of the

cemetery.

Majdi Husseini, IT Administrator of the Centre for Jerusalem Studies found his great grandfather's grave. The Grave stone is beautifully desined with arabic islamic calligraphy. i asked him to post photo. Again, seeing him happy to find the tomb and that its still untouched amongst the few left. i thought perhaps its still possibel to find the tomb of my great grandfather Jamal Eddine

al Imam, in vein. its probably destroyed amongst the first series to build the Independence Park or the parking on Agron Street. The foundations of the Museum of Tolerance, planned to be built were hidden by silver barriers. Basem, a member mentioned that Israel has done a similar act building on 'maqbaret al istiqlal' the independence cemetery in Haifa.

Despite the denial by Peres, i think the Peres Peace Centre in Jaffa was constructed on part of the cemetery overlooking the mediterranean sea of al Ajami. "All of Israel is built on Palestinian

heritage" a member of the group, stated.  Saari, an Israeli member of the group suggested that we negotiate with Israel Jerusalem Municipality to change the content of the Museum; the reactions

were that its the principle which counts, not the content. How can a Museum in the name of Tolerance and Human Dignity be built on a cemetery ? How inhuman and intolerant  ? Tom mentioned that some members of the Wiesentahl family who are partners with the municipality in the building of the museum, are not very happy with the construction taking place on the cemetery. How much 

more can one take ? Israel is erasing a whole entity of heritage and identity, that of the Palestinians; its not a matter of deporting people, but deleting any scars, roots, culture and belonging.

Its hectic, and really exhausting for me to do this. I find myself wanting to revive the death!?

I dont usually visit my father's tomb which lies in al Sahira Gate Cemetery on Salah Eddine Street.

Today i find myself paying frequent visits to Ma'manillah Cemetery. Like my visits to Bakaa' where my father's beautiful house still lies with its lemon and askidenya trees in the garden, on the west side of the city in the Greek Colony. 

There is too much injustice !  

and we force this pressure on ourselves, a kind of passive resistance.

Tab wil hal ?  what's the solution ?

perhaps ba'eed al manal as we say in Arabic, meaning farfetched. Some of the group thought i was too optimistic when i said "i still believe that Palestinians most strategic allies are the Israeli people"
(that's what Sari Nusseibeh taught us in HASHD)
I would like to hope for Israelis to say "its time".

Let them grasp the 'Arab Spring' wind blowing in this part of the mediterranean. Let them stand for their rights and dignity and revolt against their apartheid jewish state, and finish with all  this.....shit.

one of a rare street happenings on the Street of Salah Eddine, Jerusalem

        

Imad Muna and his family celebrated today the Jubilee, marking 25 years since the opening of their family business:The Educational Bookshop, with quite a big crowd of journalists, writers, readers and others interested from the Palestinian and International communities living in Jerusalem;  Abu Imad, a graduate of al Rashidyeh School of Jerusalem, told me how he started this whole business. Very much expected, a programme of countless speeches,  governer Adnan Hisseini Abu Ghaleb, Albert Aghazarian, Zahira Kamal ....and many more, tolerable, because they were brief and accompanied by home made Palestinian pastries and tabbouleh.  Interesting event because it took place in the middle of the street of Salah Eddine,

which is more like a ghost town especially on Friday afternoon.

Along a few meters from the event, where Salah Eddine meets with Nablus Road in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, another happening took place....Guess what ?

the colonizers also known as 'jewish settlers' who occupied the houses of Palestinians since 2009, and live now in the neighbourhood they call today Shimon Hazedik got furious on the activists. There were some injuries.....these activitists consist of Palestinians Israelis (whats left of the left) with a few internationals/expats who are not yet on holidays, meet every Friday afternoon protesting the 'illegal presence' of these increasing settlers/occupyers,  in Sheikh Jarrah, the Eastern side of the city.

huda,

Jeusalem,  Friday 1 July 2011

Let's visit & preserve Mamilla Cemetery