NEW YORK — Tuesday, Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled to freeze the demolition orders that were issued for at least 38 homes in the small agricultural town of al-Walaja, which lies partially within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, though residents do not receive municipal services or hold Israeli residency cards. The town now has six more months to continue working up a zoning plan for the area. T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization that represents over 2,300 rabbis and cantors and their communities in North America, celebrated this rare win and thanked both Israeli and Palestinian partners who advocated to advance an equitable development plan that will formally authorize existing homes.
Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, issued the following statement in support of the decision:
“We applaud the Israeli High Court of Justice’s decision to freeze the 38 demolition orders on Palestinian homes in Al-Walaja for six months, as well as the justices’ support for a planning process in the village. Although the town of al-Walaja now needs to invest much time and money to complete a zoning plan together, the residents, together with their Israeli and Palestinian partners, have already demonstrated that they have the capacity and the commitment to carry out such a process. We pray that this decision indicates a shift toward allowing the residents to remain in their homes for the long term.
“T’ruah has consistently opposed expulsions from neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and the West Bank for more than a decade. We have fought back against attempts by Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF-KKL) to evict families and attempts by settler organizations to displace Palestinians for archaeological projects. Targeted evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem — with the goal of ‘Judaizing’ those neighborhoods — are unjust and illegal. Those of us committed to a just, negotiated resolution must vocally oppose these evictions, which only further entrench the occupation.
“The ancient rabbis taught that a home is a mikdash me’at, a small sanctuary. Throughout history, Jews have faced violent expulsion from our own homes — our miniature holy sites — at the whims of rulers. We know the anxiety of insecurity and the pain of loss, and we must stand up for those who are threatened with this same indignity.
“This decision is a testament to the passion and hard work by the residents of al-Walaja, together with Israeli and Palestinian activists, and supporters in the United States and beyond who have brought attention to this struggle. T’ruah will continue to partner with these leaders to ensure that all residents of al-Walaja can remain in their homes, including the more than a dozen other families who have been delivered demolition orders since the initial petition was filed. We will continue to support the villagers as they work to create an equitable and fair zoning plan that will ensure the security and welfare of all residents.
“T’ruah rabbis and cantors are committed to a just and secure future for both Israelis and Palestinians. We will continue to stand with our Israeli partners, including human rights and civil society organizations, as well as with Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, in their efforts to protest and bring legal challenges to immoral eviction efforts.”
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,300 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
