The MSD participates in rebuilding houses demolished by the Israeli occupation:

the MSD team participated these days participates in rebuilding houses demolished by the Israeli occupation in the occupied Jerusalem .The project started on July, 19 2010 in an attempt of rebuilding the demolished houses. The MSD participated with its team of 15 employees, volunteers and the board of directors voluntarily, also there were tens of foreigners who volunteered for help in rebuilding these houses. The main foreign volunteers were the former minister for International Development in the British government and a member of the British House of Lords Clair Short that resigned upon the war on Iraq.        .

The executive manager Mua’th Al-Za’tari talked to the MSD about the importance of the organization role in participating for rebuilding the demolished Palestinian houses and said: we appreciate the crucial and real solidarity of the Spanish government for funding such strategic projects for the fourth year respectively. Also the foreign volunteers who came here at their expense to participate in rebuilding the demolished houses.

Al-Za’tari confirmed that most of these volunteers are prominent figures; representatives of political parties and civil society organizations, academics, doctors and researchers. Also he confirmed the crucial role of the Spanish government in funding such projects for the fourth year respectively, and that this activity was organized by the ICAD.

He said about the MSD and its executive and administrative participation :

Indeed, we are the first Palestinian organization in Jerusalem to participate virtually in helping and supporting the Palestinians to strengthen their steadiness, providing legal and technical services for the civilians, disclosing, documenting and publicizing the Israeli violations against the Palestinians rights. Also the MSD organized advocacy and pressure campaigns for the last two years. In the field work, the MSD participated, especially these days, with the executive and administrative team, volunteers and foreigners  with our own hands together helping the construction workers to rebuild the demolished houses by the occupation.    

as for the houses to be built, Al-Za’tari noted that the project started on July,19 2010 in Shu’fat camp in defiance of the occupation. We started practically rebuilding the Hamad’s house in Shu’fat Camp, Dahiet Al-Salam, and will be finished on August,1 2010 and the next house to be built will be in Shu’fat and another two in Beit Hanina.

About the Palestinian organizations and the civil society participation in the rebuilding project:

Al-Za’tari said: “unfortunately, the call for participating in this project was open for two months for all the Palestinian  Jerusalemite organizations, the civil society activists and the civilians but with no respond. He also confirmed the importance of the organizations and individual participation in such activities that strengthens the steadiness with action not words, like what is happening unfortunately in the Jerusalemite society, whether on the individual level or the organizations. Everyone praises the Jerusalem cause and we see reports and statements in all the local newspapers, but in fact there is no concrete presence for these organizations or activities, it is far from any help or support to be provided for the Palestinians in Jerusalem. 

Also, AL-Za’tari confirmed that Jerusalem  is in urgent need for real efforts to support the Palestinians in Jerusalem that has been suffering since the occupation for more than 43 years, also the lack of mechanisms for steadiness, especially in providing the appropriate residence for the Jerusalemites.