Cries of a 'economic transfer' during Land Day march
Hundreds of Jaffa, Lod and Ramla residents, Arab officials and peace activists mark 32nd Land Day anniversary on background of housing conflict. Some 500 families liable to lose homes over building dispute with authorities
The rally was organized by the National Council for Protection of Housing Rights, on the background of the tension that arose recently between the authorities and some 500 families living in the area that may lose their homes over the dispute.
The authorities have issued warrants for the evacuation and destruction of the homes, claiming infringement of building regulations. In addition, Amidar and Halamish, two large Israeli housing companies, claimed recently that the families had lost their right to continue living there, as the homes belonged to the residents' parents.
Arab leaders march (Photo: Elad Rubinstein)
These claims sparked cries of an "economic transfer" taking place in the area during the last few months. Some of the residents claimed that it was impossible for them to become the legal owners of the homes in question.
Various representatives of the Arab parties participated in the ceremony, including Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the northern faction of the Islamic movement in Israel, and Hadash chairman, MK Mohammad Barakeh.
"One-sixth of the Arab residents of Jaffa could be evicted, and when you add to that the difficult socio-econimic situation they are in, because Jaffa has become a realty project, we're talking about a back door transfer," Barakeh told Ynet.
'Don't play with the Arab population'
In his speech, Sheikh Salah conveyed a message to the Israeli establishment: "We are here and we won't live. We will either live on this land or die on this land. We will not let you touch our lands or the holy places."
He pointed a finger at MK Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) and the right-wing rabbis, saying that "all your rulings belong in the trashcan. We are not afraid of you. We will continue to live here."
PLO flags at rally (Photo: Elad Rubinstein)
Shawki Khatib, chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, said that the Israeli establishment was trying to despair the Arabs.
"We won't despair and the message at the start of the Land Day, in Jaffa of all places, is to tell the residents: We are with you, you are not alone."
Khatib turned to the government, saying that "a transfer is not carried out through the market forces. Don’t play with the Arab population through the supply and demand principle."
Cemetery sold
Another issue worrying the residents is the court's decision to approve the sale of half of the only Muslim cemetery in the area, which was sold by a Muslim committee to a private investment company during the 1970's. The residents claim that the committee had been elected by the government and therefore did not represent them, in which case the sale should be declared void.
In response the residents decided that all dead should now be buried in the portion of the cemetery that had been sold, in order to make the clearing of graves from the property more difficult.
Various Israeli peace activists also took part in the ceremony. Deputy Chairman of the Jaffa Arabs Union, Omar Siksik, also termed the conflict a "transfer".
"We have no problem living in Israel," Siksik said, "but only if there is mutual respect. We will do everything in our power to stop the racist policy in Jaffa. We have no other place (to live). This is where our homes, our schools, and our mosques are."
Reuven Aberjil, one of the left-wing activists who took part in the demonstration, said, "They don’t want blacks in Tel Aviv. The mayor wants a white Tel Aviv. We must take the law into our own hands. If there is no order here, there is no democracy."
Balad chairman, MK Jamal Zahalka, said that "Jaffa and Palestine are like a bride and groom. Jaffa will remain the bride. We won't allow another Nakba."
Anat Shalev and Avi Cohen contributed to this report
