North Star with Ellin Bessner Can international pressure stop the Sheikh Jarrah evictions?
In May, Sheikh Jarrah became famous as the central neighbourhood in a land dispute in East Jerusalem. The Israeli government recently allowed Jewish settlers to build homes in the area, which has deep significance for religious Jews. But their settlement meant evicting Palestinians whose families have been living in there for generations. Jewish settlers say those homes actually belonged to Jews before that, while many critics and international governments consider the whole area illegally occupied.
Two Israeli courts already ruled that four Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah would have to leave their homes—but these families appealed, and a final decision was supposed to be handed down this past May. But protests led to violence across the country, and soon rallies were held around the world, while Israel's attorney general requested a postponement of the court's decision until hostilities calmed down.
The decision is now set to be announced next week, on Aug. 2.
In Canada, progressive and left-learning Jewish groups are watching the situation closely. Young members of several organizations—including JSpaceCanada, Canadian Friends of Peace Now and the New Israel Fund of Canada—have joined forces to call on the leaders of Canada’s five main political parties to pressure Israel into stopping the evictions and prevent further violent protests.
But will the letter have an effect? What are the writers' expectations? On today's episode, Ellin Bessner with Kevin Keystone, a spokesperson for the coalition of young Jews behind the letter.
What we talked about:
- Read the joint letter at nifcan.org/joint-letter-sheikh-jarrah
- Learn about the upcoming event staged by Canadian Friends of Peace Now at peacenowcanada.org
The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. Find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.