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Occupation magazine - Jerusalem

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A "Unified Jerusalem"? Reality gives a different picture




rachel@ir-amim.org.il
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May 21, 2020

Dear Friends,

Last night, we held an incredible event in light of Jerusalem Day– the day
marking the 53rd anniversary of the Israeli occupation and annexation of
East Jerusalem in 1967. While some celebrate it as the day for the
“reunification” of Jerusalem, the everyday reality in the city is starkly
different. Our event focused on the current situation in Jerusalem and the
anticipated effects of further annexation of the “Greater Jerusalem area”
according to US President Donald Trump’s Peace Plan. Engaging with over 100
participants, our speakers Aviv Tatarsky (Ir Amim Senior Field Researcher)
and Mahmoud Mouna (a local Palestinian East Jerusalemite active in the
cultural scene in Jerusalem) fielded questions on an assortment of topics.
While Aviv explained the ramifications on-the-ground of these annexation
plans of the Jerusalem area, Mahmoud shared about the collective and
individual Palestinian experiences of the current situation in East
Jerusalem and the fears and hopes they have for the future.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined, and for those who couldn’t, we
highly recommend watching the recording of this enlightening discussion here
[starting at 01:30].

Several participants who took part in our event, An Annexed Jerusalem:
Settlements, Society & Separation
Today, on Jerusalem Day itself, nationalistic revelers typically celebrate a
“unified Jerusalem” by marching through the Muslim Quarter in the thousands,
with many engaging in acts of incitement and violence against the
Palestinian residents who are forced to remain behind police barricades or
in their homes. Ir Amim has been a vocal opponent of the Jerusalem Day Flag
Parade, submitting petitions to the Supreme Court and initiating public
campaign events to pressure organizers to reroute the march from the Muslim
Quarter. This year, due to restrictions to prevent a new outbreak of the
coronavirus, the Flag Parade took a different form where they surrounded the
Old City and did not pass through the Muslim Quarter. This change in
protocol proves that these nationalistic revelers can, in fact, mark
Jerusalem Day without the heightened tensions that their presence in the
Muslim Quarter causes each year. For the residents of the Muslim Quarter,
this was a great relief as they were able to prepare for the final holy days
of Ramadan without facing harassment from the Parade.

There are many in Jerusalem who choose to celebrate the city`s diversity in
an alternative fashion. through mutual respect and understanding. In both
East and West Jerusalem, hundreds of residents refuse to accept the notion
of “it’s either us or them”. Among them are those who have stood in
solidarity with Issawiya, take part in shared cultural events, and actively
engage with change-makers within the cityt. There are many in Jerusalem who
are happy to meet the other side and recognize the rights of all residents
in this city to lead their lives with peace and dignity.

The Jerusalem Day Flag Parade in a previous year.
Tomorrow, Muslim residents in Jerusalem will celebrate Eid al-Fitr as a
Ramadan different from any other comes to a close; one where al-Aqsa mosque
was shuttered and large Iftar celebrations were exchanged for small family
affairs.

We wish to those observing Eid al-Fitr light, joy, and strength and with all
the challenges facing us in this coming year, may we continue to strive
towards peace and equality for all.

Ir Amim Staff
Links to the latest articles in this section

United Nations Conference: `The impact of Israeli settlement policies on the Palestinian population in Jerusalem
No pasarán! Confront the racist "March of the Flags" in Jerusalem!
Israeli club calls off match with Barcelona over Jerusalem