Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations has published a book, part of the Am I Not a Human? series, in Arabic, examining the suffering of Jerusalem and Holy Sites under Israeli occupation. It recounts the hardships faced by the city, its residents, and its holy sites under occupation, as well as the violations perpetrated against Islamic and Christian endowments and holy sites throughout Palestine by Israel. The Suffering of Jerusalem and Holy Sites under the Israeli Occupation was authored by Dr. Mohsen Mohammad Saleh.
>> Click to Download the Full Book  (164 pages, 7.4 MB) |
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Publication Information – Title: Mu‘anat al-Quds wa al-Muqaddasat Tahta al-Ihtilal al-Israeli (The Suffering of Jerusalem and Holy Sites under the Israeli Occupation) >> Click to Download the Full Book |
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The 142-page book examines the multifaceted suffering caused by Israel’s occupation and the displacement of the Palestinian people, presenting the material in a rigorously documented yet emotionally resonant manner.
The book explains that the suffering endured by Jerusalem and the holy sites in Palestine permeates all aspects of life. Through a historical narrative, it documents the measures undertaken by Israeli authorities to occupy Jerusalem and consolidate their control over the city. It provides brief accounts of several villages and neighborhoods that were seized and whose residents were expelled, and presents examples of international documents affirming the illegality of Israeli occupation of Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the book documents the assaults on al-Aqsa Mosque, ranging from excavations that threaten its structural integrity to acts of desecration and the confiscation of parts of the compound. It also addresses the seizure of homes and neighborhoods adjacent to the mosque, alongside Israel’s efforts to transform the area into an open space for Jews and tourists, effectively reshaping it into a museum-like and touristic site and thereby undermining its sanctity, status and Islamic character.
The book also examines the measures undertaken by Israeli authorities to Judaize the Old City of Jerusalem by transforming its Arab and Islamic identity into a Jewish one. In addition, it discusses efforts to establish a parallel “sacred Jewish city” sharing the same central space, an initiative commonly referred to as the “Jerusalem First” project.
The book also examines settlement expansion within the framework of the Greater Jerusalem project, as well as various plans aimed at severing the geographical contiguity between Jerusalem and the WB and appropriating vast areas of Palestinian land for incorporation into Jerusalem’s sphere of control.
It further includes a chapter addressing the principal objective behind the construction of the Separation Wall. Advancing the Judaization of Jerusalem through the confiscation of land and the encirclement of the city with walls and settlements that constrain it and isolate it from its Arab and Islamic surroundings.
In addition, the book discusses policies aimed at reshaping the city’s demographic composition, including the displacement of Jerusalemites through the revocation of their residency rights. It also examines policies of home demolitions and the denial of building permits, which are intended to limit the demographic and urban growth of the city’s Palestinian population.
The book documents violations carried out by Israeli occupation authorities against Islamic and Christian holy sites and endowments throughout Palestine more broadly.
The book seeks to convey that the steadfastness of Jerusalemites and their attachment to their land must be sustained by tangible support from those who stand behind their just cause. It therefore calls for moving beyond the language of slogans and aspirations toward concrete programs and practical actions implemented on the ground.
Furthermore, the book represents a well-documented scholarly contribution to the literature of interest to researchers and those concerned with Jerusalem and its holy sites. It is further distinguished by the inclusion of photographs, maps and documents that enrich the analysis and present the subject in a compelling and persuasive manner.
This series is a rich interactive documentation of the Palestinian suffering under the Israeli occupation. It focuses on the Israeli violations of the Palestinians’ basic human rights. This series is also distinguished with academic, well documented, comprehensive, concise, and graphically-supported, It is published (& ongoing publication) in both Arabic and English Languages.
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