PASSIA Virtual RT Meeting Minutes

After a brief overview of the legal status of Palestinians in Jerusalem and what the permit system entails, it was pointed out that Human Rights organizations and the international media have observed and called out the gap between the Israeli government’s treatment of Jewish and Palestinian people in Jerusalem during the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] Since the illegal annexation of the city in 1967, Israel has prevented the Palestinian Authority from intervening in the service of its Palestinian people, as arguments over sovereignty take precedent over the livelihood and safety of the city’s inhabitants. [...] This, paired with the fact that East Jerusalem’s 6 Palestinian Hospitals are not adequately prepared or equipped to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, has led to the spread of misinformation regarding the real number of coronavirus cases in East Jerusalem The permit system, along with family reunification processes, have become increasingly volatile and are at risk of being revoked by the Israeli. [...] As such, the Jerusalem Alliance has filled the power vacuum left behind by the Israeli and Palestinian Authorities during the pandemic, and the attendees of the conference questions how long could this solidarity campaign in the local civil society last. [...] Overall the roundtable discussion celebrated the efforts made by the Palestinian civil society in East Jerusalem since the start of the pandemic, emphasizing especially the willingness of locals to volunteer and offer assistance to those most in need.