29 August 2009
Two events were held in East Jerusalem on the evening of Saturday, 29th August, to condemn the recent eviction of two Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, as well as the continuing colonization and land confiscation in the city, practices which are illegal under international law.
A protest organized by the Coalition for Jerusalem was held at 20:30 in front of Damascus Gate just outside the old city, attended by both Palestinians and Israelis as well as international activists. This was followed by a candlelit march of about 30 attendants of the demo, through the streets of East Jerusalem towards the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
The march was terminated in front of the recently occupied house of the Al-Gawi family in the neighborhood, in the street where the family has been living and sleeping ever since. It was met there by a large group of 200 to 300 protesters, in a second demonstration organized by the group ‘Rabbis for human rights’. The event had a festive atmosphere, with Palestinian singing, music and dancing, and lasted until well in the night, finishing about half an hour before midnight.
A large force of police and military units oversaw the event from a distance together with security from inside the occupied house, but did not significantly disturb the participants and the event.