Protest the Abu-Dis Wall in Jerusalem
Saturday, October 12th
For the last two months the Ta'ayush Jerusalem committee together
with residents and activists from East Jerusalem has met to discuss
how we can launch together a series of activities and protests against
the occupation and the ongoing discrimination in East Jerusalem.
Our first action is a planned protest against the "New Berlin Wall"
which isolates Abu dis, Sawchera and Al-Azariah from the rest of Jerusalem.
Join us and the residents of Abu dis, Sawchera and Al Azraiah for a joint
demonstration on Saturday, October 12th, at 11:00,
in front of the Abu Dis wall.
Our main slogans will be:
Demolish the wall of Abu Dis
Build trust not walls
End the occupation in Al-Quds
Freedom and indenpedence, security and peace for both nations
Free passage to education, health and employment
Free accsess to the holy sites- Freedom of religious worship
Only Real Peace ends violence
Background:
Three months ago the state of Israel constructed a wall which isolates
60,000 Palestinian residents (the majority of whom have Israeli residency)
from the city of Jerusalem. It isolates them from their working environment,
hospitals, pharmacies, schools, holy places and family relatives. Before the
wall was built, cars were allowed to pass through the checkpoints. The way
to Al Mukasad hospital then took only 5 minutes by car, whereas today the
way to the hospital takes more then 40 minutes. Those who do not have the
Jerusalem residency, have to drive 40 km to reach the hospitals of Ramalla
(passing several checkpoints on their way). Many of the students at Al Quds
University, which is located in Abu Dis, cannot reach their university. In
our last meeting we were told about a funeral that could not take place in
the family cemetery, as it is located on the other side of the wall. The
bereaved family ended up burying their loved one elsewhere. In short, the
wall creates more everyday absurd situations. The army declares that the
purpose of the wall to ensure security to the residents of West Jerusalem,
while it's implications are aggravation of the everyday life of the citizens
of East Jerusalem. Instead of security there is an ongoing frustration and
despair. This wall is another symbol of the arbitrary cruelty of the
occupation.
