Diplomatic pressure is needed to save Jabal al-Baba's kindergarten, clinic, and women's center!
At 4pm tomorrow (Tuesday), the villagers of Jabal al-Baba will be forced to dismantle the building that serves as their community's kindergarten, clinic, and women's center. They don't want to - they are being made by the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) to self-demolish this essential structure because it was allegedly erected without a permit, while the entire village is under demolition orders. They were ordered to dismantle it despite the fact that the building is a portable structure, and provides access to necessary humanitarian services.
In July 2017, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) visited the community and informed Attallah (the organization legally representing Jabal al-Baba) that they had no intention to demolish. However, in November, they visited again and warned that they would demolish the next month. At that time, the village’s lawyer, Netta Amar Shiff submitted a request to the ICA that they allow the community a week to provide the necessary documents to demonstrate that the structure is used only for humanitarian purposes. On April 18th, her request was rejected, and the villagers were ordered to demolish the structure themselves by the afternoon of Tuesday, April 24th.
The kindergarten serves 25 children between the ages of three and six. Without the kindergarten, these children would be without any educational framework, and would likely stay at home. The school provides them with a safe and progressive learning environment.
The women’s center serves 45 women in the community. The center provides them with entrepreneurship training, sewing and tailoring lessons, and classes in first aid. The purpose of the center is to empower them.
The health clinic provides primary care services to the community via a nurse and doctor who are available one day a week. If demolished, the healthcare of the community’s women would be placed in jeopardy, as they are unable to drive themselves to the nearest clinic.
This structure provides absolutely necessary humanitarian support to the Palestinian village of Jabal al-Baba.
What is required now is diplomatic pressure from members of Congress. Click the red "START WRITING" button to begin!
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