Israeli Violations of Human Rights in Jerusalem Escalated in December 2010

Center: Escalation in Israeli violations in Jerusalem

Published yesterday (updated) 01/01/2011 21:07

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) --

Israeli violations of human rights in Jerusalem escalated in December, particularly in the Silwan neighborhood, according to a study by a community center.

Throughout the month, 13 Palestinians were detained in Silwan including nine minors, according to a report released Saturday by the Wadi Hilwa Information Center.

Six of the minors were detained from their homes, and forces detained three from the streets. Four of the children told the center they were beaten and humiliated by Israeli interrogators and one said he was forced to sign papers in Hebrew without knowing their content.

Further, five Palestinian homes were demolished in Sur Bahir and Silwan and six families received demolition orders in Silwan and Ath-Thuri, the report said.

Israeli municipal council workers demolished two homes in Silwan and one in Sur Bahir. In the latter neighborhood, two families were forced to demolish their own homes.

Silwan witnessed several confrontations between local youths and Israeli forces, police officers and settlers in December. The center said at least eight Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated steel bullets and high-velocity tear-gas canisters, which Israeli forces say are riot dispersal mechanisms.

Among those injured were a cameraman and a five-year-old girl who was run over by an Israeli-plated car in Wadi Hilwa.

According to the report, clashes erupted after Israeli authorities announced a plan to evict 26 Palestinian families from their homes in Silwan. Israeli forces attempted to evict the Abu Nab family, resulting in confrontations around Bat Al-Hawa.

A visit by members of the extremist Israeli National party to Jonathan Home in Silwan sparked two days of clashes, the center said.

Meanwhile, Silwan grassroots organizer and Fatah official Adnan Gheith was advised by his party to withdraw an appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court and will be deported from Jerusalem for four months starting January 12.

According to activist group the Popular Struggle Organizing Committee, Gheith’s lawyer was informed that the expulsion was intended to curb the official's political activity, "since the security apparatus considers him to be a central instigator of unrest in Silwan," a statement said.

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