January 2018 - Har Homa with “Tzahor”

 

Har Homa is a Jerusalem neighborhood south east of the city that is actually closer in proximity to Bethlehem. This tour will be led by representatives from the local community association, in addition to Yossi Havilio of the NGO Tzahor, which provides free legal advice and assistance. Tzahor helped Har Homa residents oppose the installation of a waste dump facility on the edge of their neighborhood. Besides this and other environmental concerns, we will focus on the geopolitical context the neighborhood exists in, and other challenges in creating a thriving neighborhood so far from the city itself.

 

The topography of the area and desire for density has lended to this lego-like construction that characterizes the neighborhood. Credit: Michael Jacobson

Har Homa is located over the “green line” and is not physically connected to the rest of Jerusalem.

 

The topography of the area and desire for density has lead to this lego-like construction that characterizes the neighborhood. Credit: Michael Jacobson

 

March 2018 - Lifta with “Save Lifta”

 

Lifta was a Palestinian village located on what is today a small valley near the entrance of Jerusalem. “Save Lifta” is an organization at the center of a struggle between people who want to preserve the historic village, and a plan for the creation of a new luxury neighborhood amongst the existing village homes.

 

Depopulated homes on a hillside in Lifta. Credit: Yehudit Alyaoff

 

April 2018 - Silwan/City of David with “Emek Shaveh”

 

Silwan is a Palestinian neighborhood just south of the Old City. It’s also the site of the City of David, an Israeli settlement and archaeological site which is supposed to be the ancient original urban core of Jerusalem. This tour will describe the role of archaeology in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in the life fabric of the village.

A view of the Old City from Silwan. (credit: Emek Shaveh)

 

May 2018 - Ein Rafa

 

Ein Rafa is an Arab village just outside Jerusalem, across Highway 1 from Abu Ghosh. This tour will be lead by local community leaders and focus on how a new detailed plan for the region will affect the tiny village.

View of village of Ein Rafa. Credit Oren Peles.