Palestinian families facing eviction from their homes in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood have organised large iftar meals this Ramadan to draw international attention to the threat to their community.
Throughout the holy month, extended families and their friends have broken their day-long fasts together, celebrating their Palestinian heritage in the tiny neighbourhood.
Violent protests have erupted in Sheikh Jarrah in recent days over Israeli threats to evict the families, who have lived in the area for decades, to make way for Jewish settlers.
As the large families gathered on Monday, some members stood out in their keffiyehs, the chequered scarves that have become a symbol of Palestine.
University student Asala Al Qasim, 23, one of the Palestinians whose family could lose the home in which they have lived for generations, helped to prepare some of the food.
It included traditional Palestinian dishes such as maqluba – a casserole of lamb or chicken, with aubergines, rice, cauliflower, carrots and a homemade sauce.
Ms Al Qasim said the meals were a proud display of Palestinian identity.
"It's part of our campaign to draw the world's attention to our fight against the illegitimate attempt to kick us out of the house of my grandparents," she told The National.
“They used to live here in the same house that we inherited from them.”
Ms Al Qasim said her family were determined to stay in Sheikh Jarrah.
“We won’t leave our house," she said. "We grew up watching our mother defending me, my sister and two brothers against several bids by settlers and Israeli courts to confiscate our home.”
An Israeli court issued a ruling in 2009 giving ownership of the family’s house and courtyard to settlers, Ms Al Qasim said.
“At that time, our mother didn’t have the power of social media like us today," she said. "She died two years ago and we won’t let her down. I can still smell my mother in the house.”
Jerusalem has witnessed decades of unrest related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
But much of the recent violence in East Jerusalem and at Al Aqsa Mosque stems from attempts by Jewish settler groups to evict Palestinians from at least 28 houses in Sheikh Jarrah.
A lower court ruling this year endorsed the settlers’ claims to some properties, which infuriated Palestinians.
A Supreme Court hearing on a Palestinian appeal had been set for Monday, but the Israeli Justice Ministry said on Sunday that, in light of "all the circumstances", it would delay the case.
For the Palestinian families of Sheikh Jarrah, the dispute is not just about property.
The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as their future capital, while Israel regards the entire city as its "undivided capital".
‘We wish to have Ramadan all year long’
Supporters of the Sheikh Jarrah families facing the loss of their homes have gathered with them throughout Ramadan in a show of solidarity.
About 6.30pm, on almost all of the past 29 days, Mahmoud Al Husseini has broken his fast with them.
Mr Al Husseini, 27, an engineer from Jerusalem, has prayed with them after iftar, and together they have danced the traditional dabke.
"I have been keen to come all the way to Sheikh Jarrah as a sign of sympathy, as every family has pitiful stories to tell about their struggle with Jewish settlers," he told The National.
“The Israeli occupation forces have denied me and my friends access several times. They only allowed us in during the early days of Ramadan when the situation was calm."
Mr Al Husseini said the group iftar in Sheikh Jarrah was the brainchild of young maqdisis, an Arabic description for the Palestinians in Jerusalem.
“We saw ourselves the deliberate acts of provocation from Jewish settlers – swear words, loud songs in Hebrew during the adhan [call to prayer], throwing stones and eggs at us, to mention but a few examples,” he said.
Some of the iftar participants bring their own meals to share with others.
The long table spreading across one of the streets was filled with unmistakable Palestinian cuisine ingredients such as zaatar, olive oil and khubz, which is flatbread baked at home.
Ramadan is always a special time for Muslims but this year was especially meaningful for the community in Sheikh Jarrah.
Ms Al Qasim said her family hoped that the spirit of solidarity they were able to foster during the holy month would continue afterwards.
“We wish to have Ramadan all year long to sustain this wonderful sense of solidarity with us, not just from fellow Palestinians but also from Muslims worldwide,” she said.
As the faithful around the world prepare to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, Ms Al Qasim’s family is ready to continue the fight for their home.
Additional reporting Salem Al Rayyas in Gaza
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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The%20specs
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 10-speed auto
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
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What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The%20specs
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
