In moves that harden hearts rather than encourage co-existence, government bulldozers are demolishing the delicate relationship between Jewish and Arab citizens. While Arab homes, either built without or awaiting permits, are demolished in unrecognized Bedouin villages and, for the first time, in the village of Ein Rafah near Jerusalem, a group of housing activists are camping out in tents in downtown Jerusalem. The protesters are decrying the lack of public housing for people in need. The groups came together in a recent demonstration that united Arab residents of Jaffa with Bedouin in the Negev and with single mothers in Jerusalem who can't afford their rent payments.

Arabs and Jews demonstrate for housing rights in Jerusalem

By sitting together with activists to plan strategic action, giving advocacy advice and guidance, connecting them to other activists, providing transportation to demonstrations and putting victims and protestors in touch with the media, SHATIL staff is playing a critical role in the public protest.

Ein Rafah house demolition

One of the house demolition victims is Yasmin (Jessica) Barhum, a British immigrant who converted to Islam and moved to Ein Rafah after marrying Musa Barhum. In the pre-dawn hours of July 25th, Yasmin's newly-wed sister-in-law, Hanan, was awakened by the glare of police flashlights through her window. An hour later, the two-family home lay in ruins. Among the debris were the brand-new kitchen Hanan and her husband had bought for their new apartment, Musa's childhood photographs, their wedding video and his 18-month-old daughter's shoes. The family was given five minutes to remove their valuables. There had been no warning. A court had ordered the demolition 18 months ago pending permits – which the family was waiting to receive.

Despite her shock and outrage, Yasmin, a graduate of SHATIL's Community Organizing Training Program and a community activist who benefits from SHATIL consulting, is managing to put her SHATIL training to good use. She immediately began organizing her village to protest the demolition and began a process of examining the relationship between housing demolitions, planning and human rights.

"She is not staying with her own grief and shock, but is taking it to a bigger level," says Ronit Heyd, director of SHATIL's Economic and Social Justice Initiative.

In a special meeting of the Knesset Interior Committee, Chairperson MK Ophir Pines blasted the Ein Rafah demolition as "inhumane," calling it a mistake and a "trauma for the entire village…with far reaching consequences."

SHATIL Director Rachel Liel commented, "As Israel approaches its 60th year of independence, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask: is the destruction of homes the solution to the historic conflict over land with the Palestinian citizen of Israel? Or, has the time come, as a mature democracy, to search together for a humane, honorable solution that will enable us all to share a common future?"