Here's an article from the New York Times (which is considerably Pro-Israeli, even for American liberal media) about the evictions in East Jerusalem I posted about early this morning. Though, this one does a good job of weaving in the current Israeli and international political scene concerning settlements and occupation. It isn't hard for me to imagine this happening; I walked these streets just weeks ago. But it's hard for me to sit comfortably in my house in Santa Barbara, CA and know that this is happening.

One of the greatest lies ever told is that one person can't do anything to change the world. I'm not saying I'm the next revolutionary to lead the charge against all oppression in the world, but I can certainly write about it here. I can give a voice to those who don't have the means or the courage to speak for themselves.

The two families who were evicted earlier on Sunday in East Jerusalem had been living in the house since 1956, long before Israel occupied the area. Who's land is it anyway? (If you figure that one out let me know.)

“I do not need a tent or rice,” Mr. Hanoun said. “What I need is to return to my house where I and my children were born.”

A total of 38 members of the Ghawi family were removed from six apartments that made up one of the houses. The Hanoun family numbers 17.

And why does Israel feel it needs this land? 1) It's adjacent to a shrine to Shimon Hatzadik, or Simeon the Just, a Second Temple High Priest. The street was cordoned off by Police after the evictions not allowing anyone through to the houses except Orthodox Jews so they could get to the shrine. Time and time again, Israel has refused to announce that occupation and settlements have nothing to do with Zionism, or the Jewish push to control 100% of the land of Israel, and the complete removal of all Palestinians from the area; the evidence is to the contrary. How can you separate Zionism and occupation? They feed off of each other. Israel occupies the West Bank and subsequent East Jerusalem because they feel it to be their God-given right to control all of the land. But at the expense of an entire people group? 2) They want to build a hotel. Oh. Well that makes sense. 3) The Palestinians live there illegally anyways, the don't have the documentation for their house. Maybe because you won't issue the paperwork in the first place? Or you make it so ridiculously expensive that any Palestinian couldn't afford such documents if they quadrupled their entire life earnings.

There's a lot to say about this. And this isn't the whole story. My point is that Israel continues to violate international law, at a time no less when the international community is willing to make progressive steps towards a viable peace, and bring the 'boot of the empire' harder and harder upon the neck of the oppressed.

Israel, have you become the evil you deplored?

Wes