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Gallery|Occupied West Bank

Israel dismantles ‘the gateway to Jerusalem’

Activists vow to continue protests against Israeli plans to further disconnect Palestinians from Jerusalem.

The Bawwabet Al Quds (Gateway to Jerusalem) camp was set up in early February by Palestinian activists to protest Israel's construction plans for the E1 area.

By Silvia Boarini

Published On 25 Feb 2015

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Abu Dis, Palestine – Israel’s border police dismantled the Bawwabet Al Quds (gateway to Jerusalem) protest camp for the sixth time on February 16. 

The camp located on the outskirts of Abu Dis, an expanding suburb east of Jerusalem, is a Palestinian popular struggle initiative to protest against Israel’s development plans for the E1 area.

According to the plan, Israel seeks to build some 4,000 housing units for settlers in the corridor linking Jerusalem and the illegal settlement of Maale Adumim, thus securing Jewish demographic continuity and heavily disrupting Palestinian movement between the north and the south of the West Bank.

The developement plan entails negative consequences for the Palestinian communities.

In order to begin construction in the E1 area, Israel intends to forcibly relocate some 2,800 Jahalin Bedouins currently settled there, onto lands that belong to the suburb of Abu Dis.

The Bawwabet Al Quds protest camp is built exactly on the site where part of the Jahalin Bedouins are to be relocated. The camp, activists explain, brings together all the parties affected by the E1 area “development” in order to voice their grievances against designs that do not take their views into account, and will further disconnect Palestinians from Jerusalem. 

The Palestinian community of Abu Dis, now cut off from the city by the wall, fears the impact, triggered by losing valuable land, on its natural growth and future.

The Bedouin community, on the other hand, does not wish to be moved onto land taken from someone else and in an urban setting that will not allow them to maintain their pastoral lifestyle.

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As the camp was dismantled, activists vowed to continue rebuilding until their voices are heard.

Since its establishment at the beginning of February, Bawwabet Al Quds has been demolished six times. Activists who reached the camp following news of an imminent demolition, find warmth by the fire.
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Nariman Sharauneh works at the PA's committee for civil society organisations. 'I came to show my support for this cause. We need to make a statement, all of us.'
Activists prepare to erect a new structure at the Bawwabet al Quds protest camp.
Dauod, a member of the Arab Jahalin tribe, lives in nearby Jabal al Bab. 'They want to move us over here but this is not Bedouin land. There are people here already.'
Attaha joined the camp to protest against the destabilising effects that Israel's constructions plans are having on Palestinian communities.
A young man drapes the Palestinian flag over his shoulders.
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As Israel's border police storms the camp, activists disperse into the nearby hills to avoid stun grenades and tear gas.
Sultan Abu Al Eineen, head of the PA's committee for civil society organisations, recovers following tear-gas inhalation.
Border police arrest one of the activists. At least four people were detained.
A border guard holds up a pepper spray can to disperse protesters during the arrest.
One of the tin shacks sheltering the activists is lifted onto the truck carrying the remains of the camp.
Border police guard the camp.
Once the camp is cleared, workers are brought in to dismantle the structures.
Mahmud, 25, a Bedouin of the Arab Jahalin tribe, lives on land beneath the protest camp. 'We are protesting together, we don't want to be moved again.'