"Israeli" law a path for settlers into east al-Quds

Source: AFP, 4-4-2006
JERUSALEM (AL-QUDS), - Ten days before he and 28 relatives were evicted from their east Jerusalem homes, Riyad Ghozlan received a bill for 245,000 dollars in back rent from the "real" Jewish (Zionist) owners and a court order to leave.
"They came for us on Wednesday morning, saying you have 30 minutes to get out. About 80 people turned up and they took all our possessions. They threw us out, closed the doors and changed the locks," he says.
The Palestinian family`s three houses in Silwan, just outside the Old City`s walls, were acquired by land acquisition organisation the Jewish National Fund in 1923 and then transferred to settler association Elad.
Elad, an ultra-nationalist, religious group, openly advocates the "Judaization" of east Jerusalem. When contacted by AFP, a spokesman said "Elad is not going to give any details about stuff we`re doing around Silwan."
The Ghozlan family has fought eviction in court for 18 years and lived in the house for 40. Now staying with relatives elsewhere, the family is unsure if there are any legal options left.
On Sunday, a group of 30 protestors -- Palestinians, left-wing "Israelis" and international activists, watched over by police and soldiers -- gathered outside the buildings, waving placards reading "This was our home" and "No to transfers".
Similar transfers of property are occurring throughout east Jerusalem, occupied and then annexed by "Israel" in 1967. Settlers backed by wealthy donors often offer vast sums to the poorest Arab residents before turning to the law.
Elan Frenkel from Arab-Jewish group Taayush says the government is involved in a plan "to transfer Palestinians out of Jerusalem (al-Quds) so "Israel" can annex their property without Palestinian inhabitants."
The house, built by Riyad`s father Ibrahim in 1966, now houses security guards pending the arrival of settlers, who prefer to call Silwan the "City of David".
"I`m here to protest the legal process of land confiscation and it`s being done in my name," says Jewish American protestor Josh Friedman.
"I don`t think it`s right to privilege one ethnic group over another, it`s morally indefensible. And this is happening all over the place, around east Jerusalem and the West Bank."
The Ghozlan family`s name is still written in Arabic on the doorbell. Inside, guards film and photograph those taking part in the demonstration, including members of the Ghozlan family.
"They`ve changed the locks and put bars on the windows and I can`t go home," says Riyad`s brother, Ahmed.
"Israeli" peace organisation Rabbis For Human Rights points to the fact that "Israel" gave the family a certificate for having saved Jews during bloody riots in 1929.
"We often decry the fact that so few people have lifted a finger to help Jews through thousands of years of oppression and here we have a family that saved Jews from the massacres in 1929," says Rabbi Arik Ascherman.
"I`m sure the family would gladly return their certificate in exchange for the house.
"Is this how we treat people who try to help us?"
There were clashes in the neighbourhood in 2004 when around 40 settlers were installed there. Today, settler homes are easy to spot, with their "Israeli" flags, tall fences and guards.
But, Ascherman says, whatever the legality, "not many "Israelis" want all property returned to the owners of 1920 or 1948" when many Arabs were forced from or fled their homes which were subsequently appropriated by "Israelis".
"That`s not a wise precedent," he says.