Silwan: No Legend Yet

The “Pied Piper of Hamelin” is Alive. Not in Germany but in Oppressed Silwan. No Legends this Time

By occupiedpalestine, April 14, 2011

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is the subject of a legend concerning the departure or death of a great many children from the town of Hamelin (Hameln) in  Germany, in the Middle Ages. The earliest references describe a piper, dressed in pied (multicolored) clothing, leading the children away from the town never to return. In the 16th century the story was expanded into a full narrative, in which the piper is a rat-catcher hired by the town to lure rats away with hismagic pipe. When the citizenry refuses to pay for this service, he retaliates by turning his magic on their children, leading them away as he had the rats. This version of the story spread as a fairy tale. This version has also appeared in the writings of, among others, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm and Robert Browning.

The story may reflect a historical event in which Hamelin lost its children…

Back to reality

Silwan seems to be the new Hameln, for Israeli Occupying Authority catches the children of Silwan. This time not with magic of a flute, but with rifles, teargas, hit & run attacks, kidnapping children during nightly raids hence, even a 4 year old mentally handicapped childgot arrested. Minors, press, medics, or social workers of Palestinian origin are undergoing atrocities on daily basis. People are teargassed while praying. Incursions are taking place every day with the usual known indiscirminate and disproportional violence.

Last months, there is an ongoing and increasing amount of reports of kidnapping, arrest, abuse and violence against the children of Silwan. Not only by the “most moral army in the World: IOF ” but backed by those, also settlers take a huge part of the violations against humanity, rights, liberties, rights and commit ongoing violations against the people of Silwan. Silwan, which  situated by the wayin  illegally occupied Jerusalem.

International Law, The 4th Geneva Convention (1949) and the Hague Regulations (1907) prohibits an occupying entity to transfer it’s own people into occupied territories, but also (!) has obligations towards the inhabitants, like their welfare, to look after their needs, necessities and more.

The realityof Israel’s behaviour throughout the West Bank and especially in this case in Silwan is almost an disgusting opposite. And again, the world’s silence  on these ongoing crimes against Palestinians is being covered by hasbara (propaganda) or lack of coverage by international media who do not seem to bother about these atrocities at all.

Ethnic Cleansing

Silwan, as part of Jerusalem is being exploited, ethnically cleansed from it’s original Palestinian inhabitants solely for the purpose of turning it into touristic site ongoing since 1997.

In the beginning of the 90s, a private organization called Elad (El Ir-David, To City of David) started to operate in the village. In Elad’s mission statement it is written that its mission is to “strengthen the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, and this in the means of tours, guidance, populating, and publishing material.” In practice, Elad feverishly worked to gain ownership of houses and lands in the village and particularly in Wadi Hilwah neighborhood.

When Elad received from the Israeli Land Administration, the responsibility for the preservation and maintenance of City of David national park, which lies in the heart of Wadi Hilwah neighborhood, the very important site of ancient Jerusalem.

Perhaps that is why the Israeli Antiquities Authority opposed handing responsibility to Elad, a private body with a clear political agenda for the area. Following an appeal to the Israeli High Court, the contract with Elad was annulled. However, the contract was reenacted in 2002 by the Israeli Parks and Nature Authority. Surprisingly, the Antiquities Authority did not oppose the move in its second round.

For What?

The Jewish settlement in Silwan constitutes around 5% of the population of Wadi Hilwah. However, the presence of these 400 people is endangering the way of life of Wadi Hilwah’s residents. While on the one hand many of their houses are slated for demolition by the municipality, on the other Elad initiates numerous projects that limit their living space to further its agenda of changing the demographic reality in Wadi Hilwah. Residents feel unwanted and as if they are being systematically expelled from their homes in the name of archaeology, history and Elad’s crusade for Jewish settlement.

Construction of housing is prohibited to Palestinians. Homes are being demolished, And when it is of use of Israel, even people are continuously being evicted out of their own homes, or worse, taken over by settlers which whome they have to share their walls and belongings untill the point of no return comes and they even get kicked out of their own house to go live on the streets.

For an extensive description of Silwan’s history and exploitation you can download the booklet of Wadi Hilweh Information Center (PDF)

Wadi Hilweh Information Center

Jawad Siyam, the director of the Information Center is known throughout Silwan for his diligent and tireless work for the community and its children, spearheading a vast number of initiatives and programs aimed at improving the welfare of the village’s youth. Besides this, he and his family are ongoing targeted by Israeli Occupation Forces, arrested, detained and delivered over to the tireless harrassement, slander, persecution and aggression of the occupier.

Visit the website of  Wadi Hilweh Information Center

Oh Holy Yerushalayim and ignorance of Jerusalem-Loving tourism

So, all those ignorants worldcitizens, who have high esteem of the mangnificance of Jerusalem, especially the Occupied part and go see Al-Quds and it’s historical buildings, environments, better think one time again about the people in the slopes behind the ethnically cleansed neighbourhoods of all these beautiful enlightened places, feeling spiritually for being there, where Jezus once walked… If he would walk there now he would be horrified and get sick of the facade of “Gods Chosen ones”.

For sure, Jerusalem is the place where all monotheistic religions are rooted and regarded as holy. But nowadays, nothing holy anymore about the way Israel “manages” it’s exploitation of the town, it’s people, last but not least, how it treats it’s children. Violating not only every (international) law, but also violating every mitzvah (commandment) of their own God.

“At the time when Hashem created the first human being, He showed him each of the trees in the Garden of Eden and told him: “See my works how good and excellent they are! Now all that I created is for your sake. Think upon this. Do not corrupt or destroy My world. For if you destroy it, there will be no one to restore it after you.” (Kohelet Raba 7:19)

The Facts

Israel’s infatigable urge to cleanse Jersualem – actually like the whole of Palestine – and the policies it uses has not even a spark of divineness. It is just plain zionism, ethnic cleansing in the most rude way imaginable.  Hence, we could write a book with a thousand stories about Silwan, but this is no Legend, this is every-day-reality. While the world is watching, touring the site and coming home again after a holiday totally brainwashed by Israel’s Hasbara without thinking no second no more about the people who rightfully own their spot where they we’re born, expelled, evicted, their homes annexated,  demolished or even got killed in the process.

• Learn more, about the systematic Ethnic Cleansing of Jersualem and Palestine and read the special topic : Ethnic Cleansing
• For the facts about the abuse, detention and even torture of Children you can read the special topic: Children of Palestine

For an “impression”: below an overview, which will be continuously updated with reports from media and inside sources so you can convince yourself of the ugly face of Israel, it’s policies towards the people, violations of their rights, and destruction of their future, especially those of the people, the children of Silwan.

Spread the news, awake the world for it is impossible, apartheid like taking place every day in Silwan is going on any longer. Silwan is no Legend yet, but the world has to take care, it does not become one.