We abroad are used to believing that Eretz Yisrael is now almost totally desolate, a desert that is not sowed....But in truth that is not the case. |
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URGENT: MOSQUE DEMOLITION IN NEGEVClick this link to go to the usual front page for Save the Negev, or click here to go to the index. ISRAEL DEMOLISHED THE MOSQUE ON FRIDAY DEC 26 AT 5 AM, rachman lits'lan... Wadi Na'am, Israel Here's a quick update on the status of the mosque at Wadi Na'am. As many of you know, the mosque, located in the unrecognized* Bedouin village of Wadi Na'am, built by local Bedouins as well as Christian, Muslim, and Jewish volunteers from Israel, the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Africa over the last four months along ecological principles, mostly out of straw bale and mud, received a potential demolition order in August, and then a demolition action order last week (Nov. 17). BUSTAN and the RCUV were able to mobilize, at very short notice, a significant number of Jewish and Arab Israeli activists as well as international volunteers to spend several nights and days at the mosque to provide it some measure of protection. On Thursday morning, policemen appeared, signaling the beginning of the demolition process. We will never know exactly why, but the demolition did not proceed. Whether it was the many letters and faxes that were sent to the authorities, the presence of the activists, or the presence of the press, the demolition did not go through! This is a victory, and an indication that if we continue to organize and bring attention to this practice that it becomes harder to carry it out. It also buys Mahmoud Jarbeau, the builder of the mosque, more time to pursue legal options to save it. This does not mean that we have won, however. There is a high probability that the Israeli government will return next week, probably in the very early morning hours with no notice, and carry out the demolition at a time when there are not witnesses to document and protest. What you can do: – If you can volunteer to spend nights in the mosque, please email greencenter@bustan.org . – Please continue to send letters and faxes of protest to the authorities! There are 80,000 Bedouin Arabs currently living in 45 unrecognized villages in Israel that lack basic infrastructure, health care, electricity, and water access. For more information about the mosque, please see this article from August 2008 and this web page. [For everyone:] Please fax or call the following officials to protest the demolition: Itzhak HaKohen, the Minister of Religious Service Fax: 02 6706157. izchakec@knesset.gov.il Meir Shitrit, the Minister of Interior Fax: 02 6408920. mshitrit@knesset.gov.il Zeev Boim, the Minster of Housing and Construction, and Minister responsible for the Israeli Land Authority, and the Bedouin Minority. Fax: 02-6496062. zaevb@knesset.gov.il For press inquiries: Mahmod Jarbeau at 057-466-2331 (Hebrew, Arabic) —resident of Wadi Na'am, served nine years in the Israeli military, director of the mosque project Ra'ed Al Mickawi 052-371-1801 (Hebrew, Arabic, English)—Director of BUSTAN Dr. Yeela Livnat Ra'anan 054-748-7005 (English, Hebrew)—Regional Council of Unrecognized Villages This press release was forwarded by Devorah Brous, the founder and former director of BUSTAN. Here are her [edited] words about the demolition: An eco-built mosque (the first in Israel) is slated for demolition in the unrecognized village of Wadi el Na'am. This village is one of the worst places I've ever seen on earth - surrounded 360 degrees by heavy military and industrial infrastructure; many of the citizens living there are sick, they receive no services and are 'on hold' to be relocated to a government-planned town for the past few years with no date in sight. This move requires them to relinquish all land claims, and many Bedouin are resisting by waging a non-violent struggle. The Jews and Arabs that built this mosque are Israelis from BUSTAN, international volunteers, and a diverse mix of families from the village. We're trying to stave off the demolition - it is inhumane and it seriously undermines work that many Jewish and Arab NGO's are doing to build civil society in this dry, heavily contaminated, and extremely under-resourced part of the country. BUSTAN calls for the Israeli government to negotiate with Bedouin leadership. Please forward to this appeal to your lists and HELP in any way you can, to stop the pending demolition. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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