Tuesday, March 26, 2:30 PM EDT
Home Demolitions in Walaja and East Jerusalem
Under the cover of the war in Gaza, Israeli authorities have increased demolitions of homes in the Palestinian neighborhood of Walaja, part of which is within the Jerusalem municipality. In the past few weeks, ten homes have been demolished, leaving families unhoused in the dead of winter. Meanwhile, the government has approved permits to continue expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.
But Walaja's case is particularly devastating: though many homes fall within the Jerusalem municipality, the city has refused to provide a zoning plan for this community, justifying its home demolitions under the guise of "a lack of permits" for these structures. Though the community is in the process of getting approval for a zoning plan it funded itself, demolitions have continued.
Join us on March 26, as we hear from a resident of Walaja, Hassan Abu Tin, who helps direct the planning committee of Walaja working to get approvals for a zoning plan for the community, Annie Kantar from the Friends of Walaja, and Aviv Tatarsky from Ir Amim about home demolitions and displacement in East Jerusalem, and particularly in the village of Walaja.
The conversation will highlight the struggle the residents of Walaja are facing and ways we can come alongside them in support.