"No hospital in the developed world would be expected to operate without telephone service," [Al-Quds Maternity Hospital hospital administrator Helmi Barak] Barak said. "Is this Africa? We pay taxes and are regulated by Israel's Ministry of Health. Shouldn't we get the same basic services? I don't understand how they can provide electricity to army outposts all over the West Bank but not telephone service to Jerusalem."
"This isn't about security," said Ziad Hammouri, director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights. "It's about demographics and the Judaization of East Jerusalem."
Israel’s separation barrier has left residents of neighborhoods such as Kafr Aqab cut off from most public services, even though they live within Jerusalem’s city limits, hold residency cards and pay city taxes. (Kevin Frayer / Associated Press / February 8, 2004)
"This isn't about security," said Ziad Hammouri, director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights. "It's about demographics and the Judaization of East Jerusalem."
Israel’s separation barrier has left residents of neighborhoods such as Kafr Aqab cut off from most public services, even though they live within Jerusalem’s city limits, hold residency cards and pay city taxes. (Kevin Frayer / Associated Press / February 8, 2004)Kafr Aqab, in the northern corner of East Jerusalem, is one of the largest, most isolated neighborhoods, with an estimated 20,000 residents. Once seen as an upscale Palestinian area, Kafr Aqab today is one of the worst slums in Jerusalem.
There are no police officers, nor is there mail service. The only hospital is a maternity clinic. Trash is piled up along narrow roads with deep potholes. There's only one traffic light at the busy main intersection, but it broke years ago, residents say, and was never repaired.
Unauthorized midrise construction is exploding because city inspectors almost never visit. Falling bricks from one building project recently forced a neighboring elementary school to seal off part of its playground so students wouldn't be hit by debris.
Many families with enough money to move have relocated to other parts of East Jerusalem not cut off by the wall. They've left behind a neighborhood increasingly beset by poverty and crime.
In the security vacuum, residents try to maintain order themselves, relying on local elders and powerful families to resolve disputes.... READ MORE
[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]
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