National Comportment
A nation and a country's executive should, in the best of all possible worlds, be sensitive to the needs of those within it, dependent on the good will and intelligent discrimination of the needs of those depending upon it. A nation and a country should be capable of writing its national laws and municipalities within the nation their civic laws for the betterment of the entire population and society at large. And sometimes, particularly in a country like Israel, a modern liberal democracy containing within its territory elements of historic cultural and tribal precedents, it does indeed take the wisdom of Solomon to reach a decision.
Within the jurisdiction of a municipality, say one like Jerusalem - with its mixed population of Jews and Arabs, compounded by the fact that within those two isolations there sit, glowering at one another, implacably opposed, belligerent and fundamental differences - limits must be set. It must be clearly understood that, to maintain order and to administer the municipality with all its contradictory needs and imperatives, people are obliged to petition for licenses. To build structures, institutions and homes where the municipal authorities will permit.
And when residents of the municipality, be they long-time residents, or newly migrated to the area, decide on their own initiative to install themselves and their housing where it is not agreed upon and suitable, by the municipal order deeming that this is to be permitted, then they risk losing their residence. And this, according to the law. Laws written by municipal lawmakers for the express purpose to ensure that everyone recognizes both the limits and the opportunities available to them.
But in the larger, outlying areas where small towns and villages exist, and where the modern meets the medieval traditions of nomadic life, and people tend to settle themselves where they are convinced that their forbears once lived? Bearing in mind at the same time that the land upon which Israel has been established is acutely finite. In the spirit of 'no exceptions' and due warning given, it is accepted that such settlers will be forcibly removed and their homesteads will be forfeit, and such is precisely what appears to have occurred in a remote village of al-Arakib, north of Be'er Sheva.
Where the owner, Juma al-Turi and his family disbelievingly witnessed their village destroyed. By an federal administration arm whose purpose it is to determine the legality of such settlements, which had delivered due warning, and which delivered on its warning. Even the olive trees which had been planted to invigorate the land were uprooted, to be planted elsewhere. Just as Mr. al-Turi has been instructed to remove himself and put down roots elsewhere, where the government decrees he may. The price of not seeking permission beforehand.
But is this truly a just situation? Perhaps legally, but lacking somewhat in sensitivity and empathetic sensibility. A respected village elder, one who successfully imported food which he sold in the south of Israel, in Egypt and Jordan, a living symbol of successful enterprise in the village that was once his, is now in the deep dudgeon of despair. Not to despair; what Israel by authority has destroyed, the Islamic Movement undertakes to ameliorate.
"The Jews destroyed, the Muslims help. See what you've done. You are pushing us directly into the welcoming arms of the Islamic Movement, said Mr. al-Turi, aggrievedly. "These were my grandfather's lands, why does someone want to take them from me? I live here peacefully and quietly and don't bother anyone. It is simply embarrassing. I am a man of peace. I always got along with everyone, but you are pushing us to dangerous directions."The Israel Lands Administration claims the evacuation was a result of legal and physical battles against the Aturi tribe. Fully 46 illegal buildings were destroyed, and 850 trees uprooted for re-planting elsewhere. The Bedouin, say the ILA, invaded state land, and in 1998 and 2000 a court order banned them from entering the area, but the tribe settled there and planted its trees. To make things legal, the tribe was offered the opportunity to rent the land at 2 NIS per dunam, but they refused. After which a court order for evacuation was issued with the support of the Supreme Court.
'Resistance' has been initiated as the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, shocked by the demolition, denounced it: "Destruction of the village was a brutal act by state authorities against its citizens and residents, which destabilizes the foundations of democracy and human rights", said an ACRI lawyer, Rawia Abu Rabia. And the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee claims its intention to rebuild the destroyed homes, and establish a fund for the families.
The UN and international human rights groups have been invited to 'look into the matter'.
Clumsy and concerning; the optics are dreadful. Which is precisely what occurs when reason bumps against tradition. Depends on whose ox is being gored, once again.
Labels: Human Relations, Israel, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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