On 26 January, the committee of residents of Kafr \u02bfAqab and Palestinian villages adjacent to East Jerusalem organised a protest strike against the setting up of new checkpoints by the Israeli military. The strike declaration stated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u2018The decision was taken due to the army\u2019s closure of the main roads and the continued policy of neglect and discrimination against Arab communities, which makes it difficult for us to reach our workplace with dignity. We are forced to cope\u00a0 with daily unjust conditions that harm our lives and livelihoods. The closure of the roads and the siege imposed on our communities, not only restrict our daily movements\u00a0 but also testifies to the ongoing violation of our basic rights as citizens and residents in this country. We will not remain silent while our rights to movement, to work and our right to a free life with dignity are violated.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
According to reports, participants in the strike included Jerusalem municipality employees, health workers and school students. The participation of Palestinian bus drivers in the strike even prompted Israeli authorities to announce disruptions to public transport \u2014 suggesting that the strike was not just a symbolic move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Kafr \u02bfAqab was annexed to the Jerusalem municipal area, it is located outside the separation barrier \u2014 which also severely damages residents\u2019 access to basic infrastructure, such as water and electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent weeks, the Israeli military has significantly restricted movement through the Qalandiya checkpoint \u2014 through which Palestinian residents of communities in north-east Jerusalem cross the Green Line for work and study. A distance of 2 kilometres can turn into a two-hour drive. The occupation regime\u2019s justification for this collective punishment against the residents of Kafr \u02bfAqab and all Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem is the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the prisoner swap deal and the Gaza ceasefire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contrary to the lies of the Israeli government, the collective punishment of Palestinian communities and prisoners returning home \u2014 who were detained with military trials or without trial at all, and many of whom were actually kidnapped by the occupation forces \u2014 was not intended to provide security to the Israeli public, but rather to repress\u00a0 these communities and deny them any sense of achievement after their loved ones were released from the occupation\u2019s prisons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Demonstration against house demolition in Silwan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the day of the strike, and as part of the Palestinian residents\u2019 struggle, a demonstration was also organised in front of the Jerusalem municipality on the initiative of Silwan residents against the demolition of homes and the settlement project in the eastern part of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The settler association \u02bfAteret Cohanim is promoting a plan to evict hundreds of Palestinian residents from their homes in the Ba\u1e6dn al-Hawa neighbourhood of Silwan. 26 families, 154 people, are at risk of eviction. The settlers\u2019 association El\u02bfad (aka \u02bfIr David Foundation) wants to demolish a significant part of the Al-Bustan neighbourhood in Silwan, to establish an \u201carchaeological park\u201d. Currently, the entire neighbourhood, which consists of about 29 families, is under threat of eviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n