Petition - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
Petition - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
Petition - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
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PETITION FOR URGENT ACTION ON<br />
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY ISRAEL<br />
Campaign to Preserve Mamilla Jerusalem Cemetery<br />
www.mamillacampaign.org<br />
Copyright 2010 by Campaign to Preserve Mamilla Jerusalem Cemetery<br />
www.mammillacampaign.org
PETITION FOR URGENT ACTION<br />
ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY ISRAEL:<br />
DESECRATION OF THE MA’MAN ALLAH (MAMILLA)<br />
MUSLIM CEMETERY IN THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM<br />
TO:<br />
1.The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Commissi<strong>on</strong>er</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> (Ms. Navi<br />
Pillay)<br />
2. The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Belief (Ms. Asma Jahangir)<br />
3. The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>temporary Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Racism, Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong>, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance<br />
(Mr. Githu Muigai)<br />
4. The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Independent Expert in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Field <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural<br />
<strong>Rights</strong> (Ms. Farida Shaheed)<br />
5. Director-General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Educati<strong>on</strong>al, Scientific, and<br />
Cultural Organizati<strong>on</strong> (Ms. Irina Bokova)<br />
6. The Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Switzerland in its capacity as depository <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Fourth Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
INDIVIDUAL PETITIONERS:<br />
Sixty individuals whose ancestors are interred in Mamilla (Ma’man<br />
Allah) Cemetery, from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem families <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>:<br />
1. Akkari<br />
2. Ansari<br />
3. Dajani<br />
4. Duzdar<br />
5. Hallak<br />
6. Husseini<br />
7. Imam<br />
8. Jaouni<br />
9. Khalidi<br />
10. Koloti<br />
11. Kurd<br />
12. Nusseibeh<br />
13. Salah<br />
14. Sandukah<br />
15. Zain<br />
CO- PETITIONERS:<br />
1. Mustafa Abu-Zahra, Mutawalli <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ma’man Allah Cemetery<br />
2. Addameer Pris<strong>on</strong>er Support and <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
3. Al-Mezan Centre for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong><br />
4. Al-Dameer Associati<strong>on</strong> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong><br />
5. Al-Haq<br />
6. Al-Quds <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Clinic<br />
7. Arab Associati<strong>on</strong> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> (HRA)
8. Associati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Defense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Rights</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internally Displaced<br />
in Israel (ADRID)<br />
9. Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee <strong>Rights</strong><br />
10. Housing and Land <strong>Rights</strong> Network - Habitat Internati<strong>on</strong>al Coaliti<strong>on</strong><br />
11. Jerusalem Legal Aid and <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Center (JLAC)<br />
12. The Internati<strong>on</strong>al Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Lawyers Guild<br />
13. The Independent Commissi<strong>on</strong> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong><br />
14. The Nati<strong>on</strong>al Lawyers Guild - Free Palestine Subcommittee<br />
15. Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)<br />
16. Zochrot Associati<strong>on</strong><br />
LEGAL COUNSEL:<br />
1. Dima Khalidi, Esq., Chicago, IL<br />
2. Maria LaHood, Esq., Center for C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Rights</strong>, New York, NY<br />
3. Richard Levy, Esq., New York, NY<br />
4. Michael Ratner, Esq., President, Center for C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Rights</strong>,<br />
New York, NY<br />
5. Michael Steven Smith, Esq., New York, NY<br />
6. Le<strong>on</strong>ard I. Weinglass, Esq., New York, NY<br />
DATE:<br />
February 10, 2010<br />
SUBJECT:<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> for Urgent Acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Violati<strong>on</strong>s by Israel:<br />
Desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ma’man Allah (Mamilla) Muslim Cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy<br />
City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem.
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
Executive Summary 5<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> for Urgent Acti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Violati<strong>on</strong>s in Mamilla Cemetery by Israel 14<br />
I. Introducti<strong>on</strong> 15<br />
A. Summary 15<br />
B. Muslim Customs and Religious Beliefs 16<br />
II. Background 18<br />
A. History <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Mamilla Cemetery 18<br />
B. The Desecrati<strong>on</strong> Inflicted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Center for <strong>Human</strong><br />
Dignity – Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” Project 22<br />
1. The Museum Project Has Resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Exhumati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Graves and Remains 22<br />
2. Israel is Complicit in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Desecrati<strong>on</strong><br />
Committed in Mamilla 26<br />
3. The Project has Proceeded Despite<br />
C<strong>on</strong>sistent Oppositi<strong>on</strong> 27<br />
III. Israel’s Pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Disregard for Muslim Religious Sites 28<br />
IV. Exhausti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Remedies 34<br />
V. Analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Law Violati<strong>on</strong>s 38<br />
A. Right to Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Cultural Heritage and Cultural Property 38<br />
1. Internati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Law Protecti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
2. Internati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Human</strong>itarian Law Prohibiti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
B. Right to Manifest Beliefs 41<br />
C. Right to Freedom from Discriminati<strong>on</strong> 43<br />
D. Right to Culture and Right to Family 44<br />
VI. C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> 45<br />
Appendix 48
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY<br />
A. THE MAMILLA CEMETERY: ITS HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers are individuals whose human rights have been violated<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> and desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an ancient Muslim cemetery, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Ma’man Allah (Mamilla) cemetery in Jerusalem, by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Israel working in c<strong>on</strong>juncti<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sim<strong>on</strong> Wiesenthal Center (“SWC”)<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Los Angeles, California, USA. 1 <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers also include human rights<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-governmental organizati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cerned about this desecrati<strong>on</strong>. A<br />
significant porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery is being destroyed and hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
human remains are being desecrated so that SWC can build a facility to<br />
be called <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” <strong>on</strong> this<br />
sacred Muslim site.<br />
The Mamilla cemetery has been a Muslim burial ground since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7th<br />
century, when compani<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prophet Muhammad were reputedly<br />
buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re. Before that, it was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Byzantine church and<br />
cemetery. 2 It is well attested as housing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> soldiers and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim ruler Saladin from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12th century, as well as<br />
generati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> important Jerusalem families and notables. 3 The cemetery<br />
grounds also c<strong>on</strong>tain numerous m<strong>on</strong>uments, structures, and gravest<strong>on</strong>es<br />
attesting to its hallowed history, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ancient Mamilla Pool, which<br />
dates back to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Herodian period, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1st century B.C. Since 1860,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery has been clearly demarcated by st<strong>on</strong>e walls and a road<br />
surrounding its 134.5 dunums (about 33 acres). 4 The antiquity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery was c<strong>on</strong>firmed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chief Excavator assigned to excavate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Museum site by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA), who reported that<br />
over 400 graves c<strong>on</strong>taining human remains buried according to Muslim<br />
traditi<strong>on</strong>s were exhumed or exposed during excavati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum<br />
site, many dating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12th century. His estimati<strong>on</strong> that at least two<br />
thousand additi<strong>on</strong>al graves remain under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site in 4 layers,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lowest dating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century, also verifies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> antiquity and<br />
importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. 5<br />
The Mamilla cemetery’s significance was recognized by successive<br />
authorities. It was declared an historical site during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> British Mandate<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Muslim Council in 1927, and as an antiquities site by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1 A list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers is attached as Appendix I.<br />
2 See Chr<strong>on</strong>icle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Cemetery: Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance Planned <strong>on</strong> Muslim Heritage Site in West Jerusalem, The<br />
Alternative Informati<strong>on</strong> Center, Aug. 27, 2007, available at http://www.alternativenews.org/english/982chr<strong>on</strong>icle-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-a-cemetery-museum-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-tolerance-planned-<strong>on</strong>-muslim-heritage-site-in-west-jerusalem.html.<br />
3 For a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> famous individuals buried in Mamilla, see Asem Khalidi, The Mamilla Cemetery; A Buried History,<br />
37 JERUSALEM QUARTERLY, Spring, 2009, at 107-108.<br />
4 Yehoshua Ben-Arieh, The Tolerance Museum and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery: The Plain Facts, January, 2009,<br />
available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/yehoshua-eng.html. See <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
Cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Land Registry, 1938, attached as Appendix V (registering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery plot in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem Land Registry in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> name <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trustee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Waqf (endowment), and indicating its area<br />
and boundaries).<br />
5 Affidavit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, Israel Antiquities Authority’s Chief Excavator at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project site, at paras 17.9,<br />
26, 28, Attached as Appendix II [hereinafter Suleimani Affidavit].<br />
5
British in 1944. 6 It c<strong>on</strong>tinued in active use as a burial ground throughout<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mandatory era. In 1948, so<strong>on</strong> after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel seized<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> western part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, where Mamilla is located, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jordanian<br />
government objected to any desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. The Israeli<br />
Religious Affairs Ministry acknowledged in resp<strong>on</strong>se Mamilla’s great<br />
importance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim community in a communiqué, stating:<br />
[Mamilla] is c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most prominent Muslim<br />
cemeteries, where seventy thousand Muslim warriors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Salah al-Din<br />
al-Ayubi’s [Saladin’s] armies are interred al<strong>on</strong>g with many Muslim<br />
scholars. Israel will always know to protect and respect this site. 7<br />
In 1986, in resp<strong>on</strong>se to urgent protests to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Educati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Scientific and Cultural Organizati<strong>on</strong> (UNESCO) regarding destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery, Israel avowed that “no project exists for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dec<strong>on</strong>secrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and that <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and its tombs<br />
are to be safeguarded.” 8 Subsequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA itself included Mamilla <strong>on</strong><br />
its list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Special Antiquities Sites” in Jerusalem, and determined it to be<br />
a site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> especially high value with “historical, cultural and architectural<br />
importance,” <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re should be no development, and which should<br />
be rehabilitated and maintained. 9<br />
These earlier proclamati<strong>on</strong>s by Israeli authorities appeared to recognize<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sacredness with which Muslims view <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir burial grounds, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mamilla cemetery in particular. 10 Islamic jurisprudence c<strong>on</strong>sistently holds<br />
burial sites to be eternally sanctified, and disinterment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains<br />
is expressly prohibited. As with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r m<strong>on</strong>o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>istic religi<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rites and<br />
beliefs associated with death and burial are an integral part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious<br />
practices and beliefs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims everywhere.<br />
B. ISRAEL’S PROGRESSIVE DESECRATION OF MAMILLA FAILS<br />
ITS OBLIGATION TO PROTECT HOLY SITES UNDER ITS<br />
CONTROL<br />
The western part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery, came<br />
under Israeli c<strong>on</strong>trol in 1948. This was despite United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General<br />
Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 181 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1947, which aimed to create an internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
corpus separatum for Jerusalem and ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all holy sites.<br />
The resoluti<strong>on</strong> specified that “existing rights in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places<br />
6 See <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel, In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> The Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Famillies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dead Buried in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maaman Allah (Mamilla) Cemetery, et. al., <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 3227/09, April 16, 2009, at para. 52<br />
[hereinafter 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>].<br />
7 See Akiva Eldar, Israel Prize laureate opposes Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, HA’ARETZ, Dec. 31, 2008, available at<br />
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051047.html.<br />
8 UNESCO, Executive Board, Jerusalem and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23C/Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 11.3, 125 EX/15, July 17,<br />
1986, Addendum 1, at 7.<br />
9 See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 6, at paras. 61-77.<br />
10 Letter from Qadi Ahmad Natour, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Shari’a <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals in Jerusalem, available at<br />
http://www.ipcri.org/files/qadi.html, attached as Appendix III.<br />
6
and religious buildings or sites shall not be denied or impaired,” and that<br />
“Holy Places and religious buildings or sites shall be preserved. No act<br />
shall be permitted which may in any way impair <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sacred character.” 11<br />
On 9 December 1949, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly, in resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
303(IV), restated its intenti<strong>on</strong> that “Jerusalem should be placed under<br />
a permanent internati<strong>on</strong>al regime, which should envisage appropriate<br />
guarantees for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places, both within and outside<br />
Jerusalem …” 12 In 1967, after occupying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remainder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, Israel<br />
passed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places Law which purports to protect religious sites from<br />
violators. 13<br />
Notwithstanding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel, over several decades,<br />
has progressively encroached up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
roads, buildings, parking lots and parks. Israel has ignored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repeated<br />
protests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalemites and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Palestinians (as well as Jews and<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs) against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se desecrati<strong>on</strong>s, which included appeals to internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
bodies such as UNESCO. 14 Amir Cheshen, former Arab-Affairs Advisor<br />
to Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek from 1984-94, who has first-hand<br />
knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such events, c<strong>on</strong>firmed this history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protest, stating that:<br />
Islamic stakeholders, particularly in Jerusalem, also am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Muslim community both in Israel and abroad, never aband<strong>on</strong>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
interest in what transpired in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, nor <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sensitivity in<br />
this regard. And <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y always viewed c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> that damaged<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tombs and human remains as a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
religious sensibilities. 15<br />
The latest incursi<strong>on</strong>, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e most outrageous to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers and<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, involves <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this so-called “Center for <strong>Human</strong><br />
Dignity – Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
government. This c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> project has resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> undignified<br />
disinterment and disposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several hundred <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and human<br />
remains, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exact amount and whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which are currently<br />
unknown, and threatens to erect a m<strong>on</strong>ument to “<strong>Human</strong> Dignity” and<br />
“Tolerance” atop thousands more graves. It has proceeded in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> face<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>going oppositi<strong>on</strong> to this desecrati<strong>on</strong> by Palestinian individuals and<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s, by numerous Jewish individuals and organizati<strong>on</strong>s who<br />
11 United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 181, Future Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestine, A/Res/181(II)(A+B), Nov.<br />
29, 1947, sec. III.C.13.a and III.C.13.c, respectively.<br />
12 United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 303(IV), Palestine: Questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an internati<strong>on</strong>al regime for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem area and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places A/Res/303(IV), Dec. 9, 1949. Attached as Appendix IX.A.<br />
13 Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places Law, 27 June, 1967, SH 499, 75<br />
14 See secti<strong>on</strong> II.A. <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> for a detailed discussi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> past encroachments <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
oppositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y engendered.<br />
15 Ir Amim, Jerusalem Bulletin, Special Editi<strong>on</strong>, Jan. 5, 2008, available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/tolmusiramim.html<br />
(citing Chechen’s opini<strong>on</strong> submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court).<br />
7
morally oppose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project, 16 and notwithstanding oppositi<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
current Israeli Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, who early <strong>on</strong> urged that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> museum<br />
not be built <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery site. 17<br />
The petiti<strong>on</strong>ers have exhausted all means at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir disposal to prevent<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this sacred cemetery and, hence, bring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter<br />
to your urgent attenti<strong>on</strong>, as Israel’s c<strong>on</strong>duct blatantly violates internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
human rights law, as detailed below.<br />
C. ISRAEL’S TREATMENT OF MAMILLA IS PART OF A PATTERN<br />
OF DISREGARD FOR MUSLIM RELIGIOUS SITES<br />
Israel’s acti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery illustrate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state’s disdain<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious and spiritual beliefs and sentiments that holy sites<br />
engender am<strong>on</strong>g Palestinians and Muslims everywhere. The disparity<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish and n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish holy sites is clear. There is a<br />
marked inequality, for example, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish remains found<br />
<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sites and those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jews. This is illustrated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
fact that Jewish religious authorities are immediately called up<strong>on</strong> when it<br />
is believed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are Jewish remains so that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y be accorded proper<br />
religious treatment and excavati<strong>on</strong>s may be stopped. In c<strong>on</strong>trast, as<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish sites known to be Muslim<br />
cemeteries, no Muslim religious authorities were c<strong>on</strong>sulted in order that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery be dealt with according to Islamic law. 18 As<br />
16 The petiti<strong>on</strong>ers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court included organizati<strong>on</strong>s such as Rabbis for <strong>Human</strong><br />
<strong>Rights</strong>, and individuals such as Rabbi Michael Malchior and Rabbi Naftali Rotenberg. See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 6. O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Jewish and Israeli religious, political and intellectual figures who have publicly<br />
opposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project <strong>on</strong> religious and moral grounds include: Rabbi Eric Y<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fie, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> for<br />
Reform Judaism, see Eric Y<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fie, D<strong>on</strong>’t Build Wiesenthal museum <strong>on</strong> disputed Jerusalem site, JTA, Feb. 2, 2009,<br />
available at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096949.html; U.S.-based Jewish organizati<strong>on</strong>s such as<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Progressive Faith Foundati<strong>on</strong>, Jews <strong>on</strong> First, and Jewish Voices for Peace, represented by Rabbi Seven Jacobs,<br />
Rabbi Haim Beliak and Sydney Levy, respectively, see Netty C. Gross, Grave Thoughts: What lies beneath <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dispute over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance in Jerusalem?, THE JERUSALEM REPORT, January 5, 2009, at 24; Rabbi<br />
David Schidl, see Nir Hass<strong>on</strong>, Jews and Muslims unite against Jerusalem Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, HAARETZ, July<br />
6, 2009, available at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096949.html; Dr. Rafi Greenberg, a prominent<br />
archeologist; Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, Co-CEO <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Informati<strong>on</strong>, who is<br />
behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Committee Against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Wiesenthal Center Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Tolerance” Over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Muslim Cemetery in Mamilla; Daniel Siedeman, a lawyer and founder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ir Amim; Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin,<br />
see Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, Encountering Peace: A city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tolerance, not a Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, JERUSALEM POST,<br />
Nov. 4, 2008, available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/city<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>tolerance.html; Jerusalem City Council member Meir<br />
Margalit; Former Jerusalem City Councilwoman, Anat H<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fman. See Gross, supra, at 23; Kam<strong>on</strong> Ben Shim<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Limits to Tolerance, THE JERUSALEM REPORT, July 20, 2009, at 14.<br />
17 See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 6, at paras. 191-92 (citing an article in Israeli newspaper Yediot<br />
Jerusalem). See also, Michael Green, Underlying Issues, JERUSALEM POST, March 7, 2009, available at http://www.<br />
jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1236269363261&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull (noting that Barkat was<br />
critical <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum before he became Mayor, and has attempted to communicate with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC<br />
about “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire meaning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project.”); Central C<strong>on</strong>ference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> American Rabbis (CCAR) Resoluti<strong>on</strong>, Reform<br />
Rabbinate Opposes Removal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ancient Muslim Cemetery to Make Way for Jerusalem Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, Feb.<br />
25, 2009 (commending Municipality for suggesting o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r locati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> museum), Appendix VI.<br />
18 See Mer<strong>on</strong> Rapoport, Zero Tolerance, MA’ARIV, Feb. 27,2009 (discussing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish remains).<br />
See Elena Brownstein and Amir Mizroch, Ruling expected <strong>on</strong> Tolerance Museum c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, THE JERUSALEM<br />
POST, Feb. 19, 2006, available at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1139395439285&pa<br />
gename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull (noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Grand Mufit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> West Bank and Gaza Strip,<br />
Ikrima Sabri’s complaint that “Muslim religious authorities were not c<strong>on</strong>sulted about digging at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.”). See<br />
also J<strong>on</strong>athan Lis and Amiram Barkat, Treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s found at museum building site raises storm,<br />
HAARETZ, 8/2/2006, available at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=680072 (noting<br />
that Muslim religious instituti<strong>on</strong>s were not involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves at Mamilla, and that<br />
IAA procedures require coordinati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religious Affairs Ministry, which serves <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Orthodox<br />
Jewish Israelis exclusively).<br />
8
Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chief Excavator appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities<br />
Authority (IAA) to excavate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site <strong>on</strong> Mamilla attested, “[A<br />
Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial] came to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and told me, ‘If <strong>on</strong>e Jewish<br />
skelet<strong>on</strong> were found, I would stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s immediately.’ But no<br />
Jewish remains were found and [he] was not c<strong>on</strong>cerned.” 19 This attitude <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli authorities, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminatory practices underlying<br />
it, is c<strong>on</strong>firmed by a recent study <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish holy<br />
sites in Israel, which documents several cases in which Israeli authorities<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinued c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> works despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discovery <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves<br />
during c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> projects. 20<br />
The desecrati<strong>on</strong> occurring at Mamilla is, thus, part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a larger<br />
pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disrespect, denigrati<strong>on</strong>, and desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural<br />
heritage, including religious sites such as cemeteries, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-<br />
Jewish individuals and groups by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli state. This pattern<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> was discussed in a recent report by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special<br />
Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, stating that:<br />
all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 136 places which have been designated as holy sites until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 are Jewish and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel has so far <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
issued implementing regulati<strong>on</strong>s for Jewish holy sites. 21<br />
The United States State Department’s Internati<strong>on</strong>al Religious Freedom<br />
Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 similarly found that:<br />
The Government [<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel] implements regulati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong>ly for Jewish<br />
sites. N<strong>on</strong>-Jewish Holy Sites do not enjoy legal protecti<strong>on</strong> . . .<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial holy<br />
sites…While well-known sites have de facto protecti<strong>on</strong> as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir internati<strong>on</strong>al importance, many Muslim and Christian sites are<br />
neglected, inaccessible, or threatened by property developers and<br />
municipalities. 22<br />
Given this pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong>, not <strong>on</strong>ly with regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> holy sites, but in all facets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli government’s relati<strong>on</strong>ship with<br />
19 See Rapoport, supra note 18.<br />
20 See Arab Associati<strong>on</strong> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong>, Sanctity Denied: The destructi<strong>on</strong> and abuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim and<br />
Christian Holy Places in Israel, April 27, 2004, available at http://www.arabhra.org/Hra/Sec<strong>on</strong>daryArticles/<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>daryArticlePage.aspx?Sec<strong>on</strong>daryArticle=1354 [hereinafter Sanctity Denied]. This report also reveals that<br />
desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish holy sites is widespread in Israel.<br />
21 Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, Asma Jahangir, Missi<strong>on</strong> to Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Occupied Palestinian Territory, A/HRC/10/8/Add.2, 12 Jan. 2009, para. 37<br />
22 US State Department, Bureau <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Democracy, <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> and Labor, Internati<strong>on</strong>al Religious Freedom Report,<br />
2009: Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupied territories, October 26, 2009.<br />
9
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim and Christian communities under its c<strong>on</strong>trol, 23 it is no surprise<br />
that attempts to stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla, legally and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise,<br />
have been rebuffed by Israeli authorities.<br />
D. EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES<br />
Numerous avenues have been pursued in attempting to stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current<br />
desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery. Resort to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli judiciary has<br />
been futile. Although a petiti<strong>on</strong> to halt c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Israeli Muslim Shari’a Court was granted, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court overruled<br />
it, holding that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Shari’a court lacked jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>. The <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court<br />
ultimately ruled, <strong>on</strong> a separate petiti<strong>on</strong>, that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery<br />
was lawful. 24<br />
Significantly, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court ruling in October, 2008, it has<br />
been revealed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s decisi<strong>on</strong> was based <strong>on</strong> serious<br />
misrepresentati<strong>on</strong>s made by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA)<br />
regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and human remains located <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site<br />
and discovered during excavati<strong>on</strong>s. In particular, Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Chief Excavator assigned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA to excavate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, attested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IAA withheld from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court his c<strong>on</strong>sidered c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site<br />
should not be approved for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>. This c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> was based <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts that:<br />
• his archaeological excavati<strong>on</strong>s were completed in <strong>on</strong>ly 10% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire project site, while in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining 90% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site,<br />
“excavati<strong>on</strong> was ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <strong>on</strong>ly partial or preliminary”; 25<br />
• “A total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 250 skelet<strong>on</strong>s were excavated, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>dary burials, and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 200 graves were exposed but not<br />
excavated,” 26 and,<br />
• <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site c<strong>on</strong>tains at least 4 more as yet unexcavated layers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Muslim graves dating back to at least <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century, with an<br />
estimated 2000 graves remaining under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. 27<br />
Instead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> forwarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA<br />
withheld Suleimani’s report and submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were<br />
23 Israel’s discriminatory practices against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim and Christian minority, including its failure to protect<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir holy sites, has been repeatedly criticized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al community. See, e.g., Committee <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong>, C<strong>on</strong>cluding Observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UN Committee <strong>on</strong> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial<br />
Discriminati<strong>on</strong>: Israel, CERD/C/ISR/CO/13, June 14, 2007; UN Committee <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural<br />
<strong>Rights</strong>, C<strong>on</strong>cluding Observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Committee <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong>: Israel, UN Doc.<br />
E/C.12/1/Add.90 (2003), at para. 16 (noting that discriminati<strong>on</strong> “is apparent in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuing lower standard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
living <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Arabs as a result, inter alia, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher unemployment rates, restricted access to and participati<strong>on</strong><br />
in trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access to housing, water, electricity, and health care and a lower level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong>.”).<br />
See secti<strong>on</strong> III <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> for a fuller discussi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
24 See Al-Aqsa Associati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Assets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Waqf in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Land <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel Ltd. v. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Sim<strong>on</strong> Wiesenthal Center Museum Corp., judgment dated October 29, 2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 52/06<br />
[hereinafter Al-Aqsa Assoc. judgment].<br />
25 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 5, at paras. 17.2-17.3. Attached as Appendix II.<br />
26 Id. at para. 17.9<br />
27 Id. at paras. 17.9, 26, 28; See also Rapoport, supra note 16.<br />
10
no impediements to c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, and released it<br />
for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>. 28 The <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court ruling relied in large part <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
submissi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA that <strong>on</strong>ly a small porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains found, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
were o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise complete, and that “no scientific data remained,” all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which c<strong>on</strong>tradicted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s own Chief Excavator,<br />
Suleimani. 29 Suleimani has since declared that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA “under pressures<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneurs and politicians, participated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a valuable archeological site,” and that its c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an “archeological crime.” 30 As he stated in an interview, “We’re<br />
talking about tens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, and<br />
not just a few dozen.” 31<br />
A subsequent petiti<strong>on</strong> to nullify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s decisi<strong>on</strong> to release <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above revelati<strong>on</strong>s, has recently been denied<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <strong>on</strong> largely procedural grounds, namely, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was<br />
nothing in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d petiti<strong>on</strong> that was novel, and that it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore could<br />
not rec<strong>on</strong>sider its previous ruling. 32 While stating that Suleimani’s report to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA had been submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court during hearings <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous<br />
petiti<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court did not address, as it had failed to do in its first<br />
judgment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> significant c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong>s between Suleimani’s report and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress and results<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. 33 Ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, it reiterated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s versi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results, which its Chief Excavator Suleimani attested was “a factual<br />
and archaeological lie.” 34 This showed a puzzling disregard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts<br />
that should have been central to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s decisi<strong>on</strong> in both judgments,<br />
namely, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum’s c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> was taking place <strong>on</strong> an ancient<br />
cemetery site replete with Muslim graves and human remains, which were<br />
being desecrated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process.<br />
This ruling, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s 2008 ruling, clearly illustrates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Court’s bias in favor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> allowing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity -<br />
Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” to be c<strong>on</strong>structed. Its decisi<strong>on</strong>s make evident that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, in keeping with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli judiciary’s clear bias in favor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jewish interests above those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians, views Israel’s development<br />
prerogatives as more important than respecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious beliefs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
and preserving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its disdained minority Muslim and<br />
Christian populati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
28 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 5, at para. 19, Appendix II (declaring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s claim “is a factual and<br />
archaeological lie.”).<br />
29 See Al-Aqsa Assoc. judgment, supra note 24; Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 23, at paras. 22-25 (explaining<br />
in detail <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “disturbing and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ound differences” between Suleimani’s map <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site and that<br />
submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA), Appendix II.<br />
30 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 5, at paras. 15, 31, Appendix II.<br />
31 Ben Shim<strong>on</strong>, supra note 16, at 14.<br />
32 The Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Families <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dead Buried in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maaman Allah (Mamilla) Cemetery and O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs v. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
(Israeli) Antiquities Authority and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, HCJ 3227/09, Dec. 23, 2009.<br />
33 Id. The Court also did not note that Suleimani’s report was not submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA itself, but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
petiti<strong>on</strong>ers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Al-Aqsa Associati<strong>on</strong> case, a fact which indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA attempted to c<strong>on</strong>ceal not <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
Suleimani’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> should not resume, but also his findings that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was<br />
replete with Muslim graves dating as far back as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century.<br />
34 Id.; See Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 5, at para. 19, Appendix II<br />
11
Informal avenues to c<strong>on</strong>vince <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. backers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC) to c<strong>on</strong>sider alternative locati<strong>on</strong>s have also been<br />
unsuccessful, and have revealed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> callousness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se authorities to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians and Muslims regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights and feelings<br />
toward <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. 35<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers thus have no recourse but to internati<strong>on</strong>al human rights law<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong>s tasked with upholding it, to which this petiti<strong>on</strong> is<br />
submitted.<br />
E. INTERNATIONAL LAW VIOLATIONS<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum <strong>on</strong> a porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous internati<strong>on</strong>al human rights, including:<br />
I. The right to protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage and cultural property,<br />
including religious sites such as cemeteries, as guaranteed by internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
human rights instruments such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO World Heritage C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> (UDHR), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Covenant <strong>on</strong> Civil and Political <strong>Rights</strong> (ICCPR) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong> (ICESCR), and<br />
buttressed by extensive internati<strong>on</strong>al humanitarian law protecti<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which are c<strong>on</strong>sidered customary internati<strong>on</strong>al law principles.<br />
II.The right to manifest religious beliefs, as propounded in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UDHR and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR.<br />
III. The right to freedom from discriminati<strong>on</strong>, as set forth in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> All Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong> (CERD), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICESCR.<br />
IV.The right to family and culture, as set forth in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UDHR, ICCPR, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ICESCR.<br />
F. REQUESTS FOR ACTION<br />
In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se violati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>ers request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following acti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and bodies addressed herein:<br />
I. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers request that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong><br />
and Belief, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>temporary Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racism,<br />
Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong>, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Independent Expert in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Field <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural <strong>Rights</strong> urgently demand that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel:<br />
35 See, e.g., Yaakov Lappin, Wiesenthal dean rejects museum protests as extremist agitati<strong>on</strong>, JERUSALEM POST,<br />
Nov. 7, 2008, available at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910055540&pagename=JPos<br />
t/JPArticle/ShowFull; D<strong>on</strong>ald Macintyre, Israel plans to build ‘Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance’ <strong>on</strong> Muslim Graves, THE<br />
INDEPENDENT, Feb. 9, 2006 (quoting IAA spokeswoman defending c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> over cemeteries).<br />
12
1. Immediately halt fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery site;<br />
2. Document and reveal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>ers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
human remains and artifacts, as well as archaeological fragments<br />
and m<strong>on</strong>uments exhumed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>;<br />
3. Recover and rebury all human remains where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were originally<br />
found, in coordinati<strong>on</strong> with, and under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competent Muslim authorities in Jerusalem; and,<br />
4. Declare <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire historic site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery an<br />
antiquity, to be preserved and protected henceforth by its rightful<br />
custodians, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Waqf (public endowment) authorities in<br />
Jerusalem.<br />
II. Based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate laid out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> October 21, 2009, petiti<strong>on</strong>ers request that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Commissi<strong>on</strong>er</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sider this complaint <strong>on</strong> an urgent<br />
basis and investigate and report <strong>on</strong> Israel’s violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above human<br />
rights, which, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Israeli acti<strong>on</strong>s that degrade or damage<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish religious sites, c<strong>on</strong>stitute a pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> gross violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
human rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians and Muslims.<br />
III. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers request that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO c<strong>on</strong>sider this<br />
complaint in light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing UNESCO resoluti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights violati<strong>on</strong>s alleged herein, and coordinate efforts with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above-menti<strong>on</strong>ed United Nati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials in order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
cemetery, a cultural and religious heritage site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> great value, be preserved<br />
and protected.<br />
IV. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers request that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Switzerland, in its capacity<br />
as depository <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fourth Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, c<strong>on</strong>sider this issue in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resuming <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>tracting Parties’ C<strong>on</strong>ference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fourth<br />
Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
13
PETITION FOR URGENT ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS<br />
VIOLATIONS BY ISRAEL: DESECRATION OF<br />
MA’MAN ALLAH (MAMILLA) MUSLIM<br />
CEMTERY IN THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM<br />
The following complaint by representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> families with ancestors<br />
buried in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery, supported by Palestinian and Israeli human<br />
rights organizati<strong>on</strong>al co-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, requests urgent acti<strong>on</strong> to halt all<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> work in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, and declare <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery a cultural<br />
heritage site to be henceforth preserved and protected.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> I summarizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts behind this complaint and explains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries and burials in Islam.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> II provides historical background <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery and<br />
details <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> that Israel has committed against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> III puts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wider<br />
pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli disregard for and disrespect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish communities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Land.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> IV explains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various acti<strong>on</strong>s taken by Palestinians and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs<br />
to stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, and c<strong>on</strong>cludes that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y have<br />
exhausted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir remedies.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> V presents an analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights and humanitarian law<br />
violati<strong>on</strong>s that have occurred as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
cemetery.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> VI c<strong>on</strong>cludes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complaint with a request for acti<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
bodies here addressed.<br />
14
I. INTRODUCTION<br />
A. Summary<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers respectfully request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteurs <strong>on</strong> Freedom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> and Belief and <strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>temporary Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racism, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Independent Expert <strong>on</strong> Cultural <strong>Rights</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Commissi<strong>on</strong>er</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <strong>Human</strong><br />
<strong>Rights</strong>, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO to act urgently to demand<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel cease <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> and destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ancient Mamilla Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
plans approved by Israeli municipal and regi<strong>on</strong>al planning authorities <strong>on</strong><br />
porti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r request that investigati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
be c<strong>on</strong>ducted to reveal <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human<br />
remains exhumed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remains be recovered and reburied in coordinati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper Muslim<br />
authorities, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery be declared a protected heritage site.<br />
The Mamilla cemetery is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest and oldest Muslim cemetery in<br />
Jerusalem, in use from as early as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7th century until 1948, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel was established and it ceased to be accessible to its Muslim<br />
public trust custodians. Prior to this, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was home to a Byzantine<br />
church, where Christian m<strong>on</strong>ks are believed to have been buried. 1 The<br />
cemetery grounds also c<strong>on</strong>tain numerous m<strong>on</strong>uments, structures, and<br />
gravest<strong>on</strong>es attesting to its hallowed history, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ancient Mamilla<br />
Pool. The cemetery holds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalemites<br />
and important figures in Jerusalem’s history and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> regi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
including judges, scholars, military leaders, and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r dignitaries, am<strong>on</strong>g<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m ancestors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers. Its boundaries have been well<br />
delineated since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1860s.<br />
Israeli authorities have been complicit in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> neglect, destructi<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery over six decades, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> face <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> str<strong>on</strong>g public<br />
and legal protests by Palestinian, Israeli and internati<strong>on</strong>al opp<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
progressive encroachments. The most recent development project has<br />
resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exhumati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
disposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and human remains in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sim<strong>on</strong> Wiesenthal Center <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Los Angeles, California,<br />
USA (SWC), <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a so-called “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tolerance” over a secti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. The remains were exhumed<br />
and removed from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site during various phases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> means and locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir disposal have been<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cealed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant Israeli authorities. The Israeli government,<br />
toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Municipality and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities<br />
Authority (IAA), authorized c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir full<br />
knowledge that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a historic Muslim cemetery deemed<br />
1 See Chr<strong>on</strong>icle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Cemetery: Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance Planned <strong>on</strong> Muslim Heritage Site in West Jerusalem, The<br />
Alternative Informati<strong>on</strong> Center, Aug. 27, 2007, available at http://www.alternativenews.org/english/982chr<strong>on</strong>icle-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-a-cemetery-museum-<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>-tolerance-planned-<strong>on</strong>-muslim-heritage-site-in-west-jerusalem.html.<br />
15
an antiquity, and against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s own Chief<br />
Excavator, entrusted with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>, that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> should<br />
be prohibited because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery’s historical and archeological<br />
significance. The Israeli Supreme Court ratified this decisi<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong><br />
misleading informati<strong>on</strong> presented by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC in resp<strong>on</strong>ding to<br />
a legal acti<strong>on</strong> mounted by ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> plaintiffs to stop c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
These acti<strong>on</strong>s by various Israeli local, nati<strong>on</strong>al and judicial authorities<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all Palestinians and Muslims,<br />
whose forbears are buried in this cemetery, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> innumerable Muslim<br />
Palestinians from Jerusalem who have direct ancestors buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, some<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. They also violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> people <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
faiths and backgrounds who believe that ancient and historically important<br />
cemeteries such as Mamilla are part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humanity,<br />
and should be protected and preserved for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all. These human<br />
rights protecti<strong>on</strong>s include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage and<br />
property, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom from discriminati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to culture and family.<br />
B. Muslim Customs and Religious Beliefs<br />
In order to understand <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> import <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel’s acti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
cemetery to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, it is necessary to explain Muslim customs<br />
and beliefs regarding burials and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries. Death is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered an important stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> life for Muslims, who believe that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
soul lives <strong>on</strong> after death. A proper Islamic burial is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore imperative<br />
for Muslims. There are specific rites that are performed when a Muslim<br />
dies, which include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> washing, shrouding and burial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> body as<br />
so<strong>on</strong> as possible, preferably <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same day as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> death, and according<br />
to prescribed methods. As for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> burial, for Sunni Muslims, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave<br />
must be perpendicular to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> qibla, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> directi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> prayer, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
deceased’s head must be facing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> qibla, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> body turned <strong>on</strong> its right<br />
side. The body should be buried without a casket, where permitted by<br />
law. 2<br />
Burial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead in Islam, as in most religi<strong>on</strong>s, is an act to which much<br />
religious significance is attached. The rituals associated with burial are<br />
an integral part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “shari’a,” or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> path ordained by God for Muslims<br />
to follow. Its significance extends to both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased, who are put in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir final resting place until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Day <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Judgment, and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> living, who<br />
prepare <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> body <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> final reck<strong>on</strong>ing, and pray over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
soul <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead, asking for God’s mercy <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir behalf. 3 The desecrati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore an affr<strong>on</strong>t not <strong>on</strong>ly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dignity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dead, but also to those who buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fidence that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would<br />
remain where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were interred.<br />
2 See Bilal Abu Aisha, Funeral Rites and Regulati<strong>on</strong>s in Islam, available at http://www.missi<strong>on</strong>islam.com/<br />
knowledge/funeral.htm<br />
3 Id.<br />
16
According to Islamic jurisprudence, disinterment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead is strictly<br />
forbidden, and such acti<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>stitute grave disrespect to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir living descendants. 4 Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries is eternal.<br />
Such sanctity cannot be “suspended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> passing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time, and its sanctity<br />
cannot be changed until Judgment Day. Therefore, it is stated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
is an absolute prohibiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> digging up graves and this is according<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> learned opini<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Shari’a scholars without excepti<strong>on</strong>.” 5 Such an<br />
insult as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> removal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir graves does not stop<br />
at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct descendants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased, who in this case include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Individual <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, but has implicati<strong>on</strong>s for Muslims everywhere when<br />
acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> are committed in blatant disregard for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir burial customs and sites. The disrespect involved in exhuming<br />
human remains from cemeteries also signals to o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r groups that similar<br />
treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious sites is permissible, and thus threatens protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious sites <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs as well.<br />
It is customary for Muslims to visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> relatives and ancestors,<br />
and to pray for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead. The visitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and prayer at gravesides<br />
is menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Quran and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sunnah <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prophet Muhammad. 6<br />
Muslim Palestinians, including some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present Individual <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers<br />
whose ancestors’ graves remain visible, have c<strong>on</strong>tinued to visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
relatives buried in Mamilla cemetery down to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present. 7 Photographs<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> still-preserved secti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery attest to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> renovati<strong>on</strong><br />
and replacement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> headst<strong>on</strong>es <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those graves still identifiable by living<br />
relatives. 8<br />
The Individual <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers are descendants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals buried in Mamilla<br />
who are deeply <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
4 Judge Ahmad Natour, Letter from President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Shari’a Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals to Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, available at<br />
http://www.ipcri.org/files/qadi.html, attached as Appendix III [hereinafter Judge Natour Letter].<br />
5 Id. (citing judgments issued by Israeli Shari’a courts and a fatwa issued by all Shari’a judges in Israel in<br />
1994 stating that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries is eternal until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time). See also Shaikh ‘Akrama Sabri,<br />
Fatwa Shari’a fi tahrim al-i’tida’ ‘al al-maqabir, Mar. 20, 2004, (prohibiting destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves), attached<br />
as Appendix IV.<br />
6 See Translati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sahih Muslim, Book 4: The Book <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prayers, available at http://www.usc.edu/schools/<br />
college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/004.smt.html:<br />
Book 4, no. 2130: Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Allah (may peace be up<strong>on</strong> him) visited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his<br />
mo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r and he wept, and moved o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs around him to tears, and said: I sought permissi<strong>on</strong> from my Lord to beg<br />
forgiveness for her but it was not granted to me, and I sought permissi<strong>on</strong> to visit her grave and it was granted<br />
to motel So visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves, for that makes you mindful <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> death.;<br />
Book 004, Number 2128: Sulaiman b. Buraida narrated <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his fa<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Messenger <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Allah<br />
(may peace be up<strong>on</strong> him) used to teach <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y went out to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graveyard. One <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> narrators used to<br />
say this in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> narrati<strong>on</strong> transmitted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> authority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Abu Bakr:” Peace be up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhabitants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city (i. e.<br />
graveyard).” In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hadith transmitted by Zuhair (<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> words are):” Peace be up<strong>on</strong> you, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhabitants <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city,<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> believers, and Muslims, and God willing we shall join you. I beg <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Allah peace for us and for you.”<br />
Book 004, Number 2119: Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be up<strong>on</strong> him) as saying: It is<br />
better that <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> you should sit <strong>on</strong> live coals which would burn his clothing and come in c<strong>on</strong>tact with his skin<br />
than that he should sit <strong>on</strong> a grave.<br />
7 Raed Duzdar recently renovated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gravest<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his ancestor, Ahmad Agha Duzdar, who was Governor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jeruslaem in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19th century. The new gravest<strong>on</strong>e was destroyed <strong>on</strong>ly weeks after it was erected. Badr Khalidi<br />
attested to having visited <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his ancestor, Mohammed Shamseddine al-Khalidi al-Dairi, interred in<br />
Mamilla in 1401 A.D. See List <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, attached as Appendix I. See also, Martin Patience, Row over Israeli<br />
tolerance Museum, BBC NEWS, Feb. 17, 2006 (quoting Mohammed Hamdi Bader, who visited his grandfa<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r’s<br />
grave regularly to pray by it).<br />
8 See photographs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> renovated headst<strong>on</strong>es, Appendix VIII.B.<br />
17
cemetery, potentially bel<strong>on</strong>ging to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir ancestors. 9 They, like milli<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Palestinians and Muslims, are gravely distressed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves and remains, and perceive Israel’s indifference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery’s historical, cultural and religious importance as a symbol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
its lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holy sites <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r religious groups, including<br />
Muslims and Christians. All <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers believe that Israel’s<br />
disrespect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a historically and religiously important cemetery such as<br />
Mamilla jeopardizes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r cemeteries and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r religious<br />
sites bel<strong>on</strong>ging to all faiths.<br />
II. BACKGROUND<br />
A. History <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Mamilla Cemetery<br />
The Mamilla cemetery is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest and oldest Muslim cemetery in<br />
Jerusalem. It was recognized as a Muslim cemetery as early as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 7th<br />
century, and is said to hold remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Prophet Muhammad’s<br />
compani<strong>on</strong>s. 10 Prior to this, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was home to a Byzantine church,<br />
where Christian m<strong>on</strong>ks are believed to have been buried. 11 It is historically<br />
attested that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery holds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> eminent scholars and<br />
Jerusalem notables going back over 1000 years, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> noted military<br />
leaders from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> army <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Saladin in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12th century. 12 The cemetery was<br />
in active use at least as late as 1927, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Supreme Council<br />
deemed it a historical site to be preserved and properly maintained. 13<br />
The President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Shari’a <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals in Jerusalem,<br />
Ahmad Natour, attested that it c<strong>on</strong>tinued to be used as a cemetery as late<br />
as 1948. 14 The cemetery grounds also c<strong>on</strong>tain numerous m<strong>on</strong>uments,<br />
structures, and gravest<strong>on</strong>es attesting to its hallowed history, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ancient Mamilla Pool, which operated as a cistern for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first century B.C. 15<br />
The boundaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery have been clearly delineated since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1860s, during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ottoman administrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestine, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a wall<br />
and a road surrounding it. These boundaries were fastidiously respected<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ottomans and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> British, and were not encroached up<strong>on</strong> during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
first years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli rule. 16<br />
The ownership <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land was unc<strong>on</strong>tested and uninterrupted until 1948,<br />
when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel was established. As with all Muslim cemeteries<br />
9 See List <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, attached as Appendix I.<br />
10 See Charmaine Seitz, Paradise and Gehenna Keep Close Company in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sanctuary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> God, 6:1 JERUSALEM<br />
QUARTERLY, at 61; Saree Makdisi, The Architecture <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Erasure, CRITICAL INQUIRY, Spring, 2010, at 3, available<br />
at http://criticalinquiry.uchicago.edu/issues/makdisi.pdf.<br />
11 See Chr<strong>on</strong>icle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Cemetery, supra note 1.<br />
12 For a list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> famous individuals buried in Mamilla, see Asem Khalidi, The Mamilla Cemetery; A Buried History,<br />
37 JERUSALEM QUARTERLY, Spring, 2009, at 107-108.<br />
13 Id. at 105.<br />
14 Judge Natour Letter, supra note 4, Appendix III.<br />
15 See Chr<strong>on</strong>icle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Cemetery, supra note 1.<br />
16 Yehoshua Ben-Arieh, The Tolerance Museum and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery: The Plain Facts, January, 2009,<br />
available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/yehoshua-eng.html.<br />
18
in Palestine, Mamilla was an Islamic endowment, or public waqf, a fact<br />
c<strong>on</strong>firmed by a 1938 British Mandate registrati<strong>on</strong> certificate in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> name<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trustee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic Endowment (waqf). 17 It was recorded as<br />
<strong>on</strong>e undivided bloc <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> land (Bloc. No. 30036, Plot No. 1), with an area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
134.5 dunums (approximately 33 acres). 18 In 1944 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> British Mandatory<br />
authorities declared <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery an antiquities site. 19 After 1948, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site<br />
was expropriated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Custodian <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Absentee Property, which<br />
handled all Palestinian land seized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government in post-1948 Israel.<br />
It was later transferred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel Lands Authority, which subsequently<br />
transferred it to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Municipality in 1992. 20 The Israeli<br />
government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Municipality gifted part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sim<strong>on</strong> Wiesenthal Center (SWC), and approved plans for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Center for<br />
<strong>Human</strong> Dignity – Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
Despite recent attempts to denigrate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery<br />
and its importance to Muslims, Israeli authorities have, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past,<br />
recognized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire cemetery grounds as a site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> great historical and<br />
religious importance. In a resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial Jordanian protests against<br />
desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery in 1948, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> newly established Israeli Religious<br />
Affairs Ministry admitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery’s great importance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim<br />
community, stating that it “is c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most prominent<br />
Muslim cemeteries, where seventy thousand Muslim warriors from Salah<br />
al-Din al-Ayubi’s armies are interred al<strong>on</strong>g with many Muslim scholars.<br />
Israel will always know to protect and respect this site.” 21 In 1964 Israel<br />
designated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery as an antiquities site. 22 Later encroachments by<br />
Israel led to a petiti<strong>on</strong> by Palestinians to UNESCO in 1986. In resp<strong>on</strong>ding<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO investigator, Israel asserted that “no project exists for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dec<strong>on</strong>secrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and that, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and<br />
its tombs are to be safeguarded.” 23 Most recently, in 2002, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
Antiquities Authority (IAA) recognized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery as a “Special<br />
Antiquities Site” in Jerusalem and determined it to be a site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> especially<br />
high value with “historical, cultural and architectural importance,” <strong>on</strong> which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re should be no development, and which should be rehabilitated and<br />
maintained. 24<br />
In spite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this apparent awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery’s sanctity and its<br />
historical value, Israel has gradually expropriated and destroyed most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. Over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six decades that Israel has c<strong>on</strong>trolled <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery<br />
17 See Certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Land Registry, 1938, attached as<br />
Appendix V.<br />
18 Id. See also Ben-Arieh, supra note 16.<br />
19 See <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel, In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Matter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> The Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Famillies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dead Buried<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maaman Allah (Mamilla) Cemetery, et. al., <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 3227/09, April 16, 2009, at para. 52<br />
[hereinafter 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>].<br />
20 Makdisi, supra note 10, at 8.<br />
21 Ben Arieh, supra note 16; Akiva Eldar, Israel Prize laureate opposes Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, HA’ARETZ, Dec. 31,<br />
2008, available at http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051047.html.<br />
22 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at para. 52.<br />
23 UNESCO, Executive Board, Jerusalem and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 23C/Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 11.3, 125 EX/15, July 17,<br />
1986, Addendum 1, at 7 [hereinafter 1986 UNESCO Report].<br />
24 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at paras. 61-77.<br />
19
and prevented Muslims from maintaining it, its situati<strong>on</strong> has deteriorated<br />
significantly, with <strong>on</strong>ly a handful <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave markers remaining visible,<br />
in c<strong>on</strong>trast to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> thousands that were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re in 1948. 25 The Mamilla<br />
cemetery has been slowly encroached up<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli state, beginning<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1960s when about half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> it was turned into “Independence<br />
Park.” A parking lot was built over ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery in 1964,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituting part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plot <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site is located.<br />
The building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot was itself illegal, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a 1951<br />
Israeli government decisi<strong>on</strong> forbidding Muslim mosques and cemeteries to<br />
be transferred. 26 It was n<strong>on</strong>e<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less justified by a ruling obtained in 1964<br />
from a Muslim judge in Jaffa, employed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli state, who agreed to<br />
publish a decisi<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery was no l<strong>on</strong>ger sanctified. This ruling,<br />
however, has been proven to be invalid based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that remains<br />
were clearly still intact <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are now. The Muslim religious-legal<br />
requirements for de-sanctifying a cemetery, namely that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery be<br />
thoroughly investigated, that no b<strong>on</strong>es be found, and that fresh remains<br />
be allowed to be placed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, were clearly not met in this case. Moreover,<br />
such findings would not have allowed for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery to be used for<br />
purposes o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than reusing grave sites deemed aband<strong>on</strong>ed for new<br />
burials. 27 The Israeli-appointed judge’s legitimacy was also negated by<br />
his c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong> for fraud in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same year <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong>. 28 The current<br />
President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Shari’a Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals has pr<strong>on</strong>ounced this 1964<br />
decisi<strong>on</strong> null and void, and has c<strong>on</strong>firmed that cemeteries never lose <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
sanctity in Islam. 29<br />
O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r past encroachments <strong>on</strong>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
a school and playing field in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> northwest corner, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an<br />
underground parking garage in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1980s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access roads<br />
through <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, excavati<strong>on</strong>s in 2005 to lay electric cables, and<br />
use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> it as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> premises <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade and<br />
Industry. 30 Thus, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery as an antiquities site and<br />
Israel’s past recogniti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery’s significance has failed to protect<br />
it, as evidence by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuing encroachments <strong>on</strong> it, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> poor state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
still visible porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s most recent acti<strong>on</strong>s in<br />
releasing part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum.<br />
25 Khalidi, supra note 12, at 105. See Appendix VII, comparing aerial photos and maps <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery in 1951<br />
and at present, and showing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> development <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery since 1948.<br />
26 Netty C. Gross, Grave Thoughts: What lies beneath <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispute over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance in Jerusalem?,<br />
THE JERUSALEM REPORT, January 5, 2009, at 24.<br />
27 Id.<br />
28 See Judge Natour Letter, supra note 4, Appendix III. See also J<strong>on</strong>athan Cook, Travesty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tolerance <strong>on</strong> display,<br />
ALJAZEERA MAGAZINE, available at http://aljazeera.com/news/articles/42/Travesty_<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>_tolerance_<strong>on</strong>_display.<br />
html (noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legitimacy and widespread corrupti<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g Islamic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials appointed by Israel<br />
“because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir willingness to do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> government’s bidding ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir public standing or<br />
Islamic credentials.”)<br />
29 Judge Natour Letter, supra note 4, Appendix III.<br />
30 Khalidi, supra note 12, at 105. See Appendix VII.B, a 2010 aerial photograph indicating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> some<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se developments.<br />
20
C<strong>on</strong>trary to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> claims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum project that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was<br />
never any oppositi<strong>on</strong> to previous c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, 31 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
has been sustained oppositi<strong>on</strong> by members, leaders and organizati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Palestinian communities in Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory,<br />
including East Jerusalem, throughout all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above-menti<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
incursi<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. This oppositi<strong>on</strong> has come from Islamic waqf<br />
authorities and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r religious instituti<strong>on</strong>s, members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem families<br />
with ancestors buried in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, and civil society organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
After <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel in 1948, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jordanian government<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficially protested desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. 32 Until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lifting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
military rule imposed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from 1948 to 1966, Palestinians who<br />
were able to remain inside territory seized by Israel in 1948 were not<br />
in a positi<strong>on</strong> to challenge Israeli c<strong>on</strong>trol over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
decimati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinian populati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinian community’s<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sequent political and social weakness after 1948, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> severe<br />
restricti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> movement and organizing placed <strong>on</strong> Palestinians inside<br />
Israel by military laws.<br />
In 1958, attempts by Israel to build a stage in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery for<br />
independence celebrati<strong>on</strong>s were averted by a request, ultimately heeded,<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Advisory Council <strong>on</strong> Muslim Affairs to change its locati<strong>on</strong>. 33 In<br />
1967, however, Israel rejected a petiti<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Jordanian) Islamic Waqf<br />
Department in Jerusalem requesting permissi<strong>on</strong> to maintain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
cemetery after 20 years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> neglect by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli state after 1948, and<br />
instead proceeded to establish Independence Park over much <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery. 34 There was also outrage expressed at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> resulting<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot <strong>on</strong> Mamilla grounds in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1960s.<br />
Waqf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Jerusalemites witnessed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains scattered<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>red to rebury. 35<br />
Palestinians have also petiti<strong>on</strong>ed internati<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
attempts to prevent development <strong>on</strong> Mamilla grounds. Building operati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1980s were <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> urgent communicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Educati<strong>on</strong>al, Scientific and Cultural Organizati<strong>on</strong><br />
(UNESCO) to assist in stopping <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, which<br />
ultimately produced no results. 36 In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> late 1980s, as new porti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery were destroyed for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a car-park, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim<br />
waqf authorities held a public c<strong>on</strong>ference attended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
press and C<strong>on</strong>suls based in Jerusalem to protest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong>, during<br />
31 Such false claims were accepted unreservedly by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court in its decisi<strong>on</strong> allowing resumpti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum, in disregard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary. See Al-Aqsa Associati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Assets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Waqf in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Land <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel Ltd. v. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Sim<strong>on</strong> Wiesenthal Center Museum<br />
Corp., judgment dated October 29, 2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 52/06 (stating that no objecti<strong>on</strong>s were<br />
made c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site during previous development projects) [hereinafter Al-Aqsa Assoc.<br />
judgment].<br />
32 See supra note 21 and related discussi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
33 Eldar, supra note 21.<br />
34 Khalidi, supra note 12, at 105.<br />
35 Id. at 106. See attached photograph, Appendix VIII.C.<br />
36 See 1986 UNESCO Report, supra note 23.<br />
21
which human b<strong>on</strong>es that had been collected from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> despoiled cemetery<br />
site by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> waqf authorities were displayed. 37 Amir Cheshen, former Arab-<br />
Affairs Advisor to Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek from 1984-94, c<strong>on</strong>firmed<br />
that “During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> human remains were uncovered and this<br />
brought about c<strong>on</strong>siderable distress and a public uproar am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Arab<br />
residents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> East Jerusalem. In additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Steering Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
Arabs found it appropriate to file a protest.” 38 Palestinians and religious<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s also publicly protested <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery land to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem Municipality in 1992. 39 As Cheshen attested:<br />
it is clear that Islamic stakeholders, particularly in Jerusalem, also<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim community both in Israel and abroad, never<br />
aband<strong>on</strong>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir interest in what transpired in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, nor<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sensitivity in this regard. And <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y always viewed c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
that damaged <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tombs and human remains as a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
sanctity and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir religious sensibilities. 40<br />
The most recent encroachment <strong>on</strong>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Center for<br />
<strong>Human</strong> Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” project, has also generated<br />
much c<strong>on</strong>troversy, and has been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous lawsuits and<br />
public protests in Israel and internati<strong>on</strong>ally. The present Complaint is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sistent with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protest by Palestinians and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs against<br />
Israeli encroachments and desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. Failure to stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
current c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, which aims to erect a large modern structure atop<br />
this ancient cemetery, will surely pave <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> way for o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r similar projects<br />
atop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> centuries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims who were buried in<br />
this cemetery in Jerusalem, in flagrant violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
human rights law, as well as numerous United Nati<strong>on</strong>s resoluti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong><br />
Jerusalem, going back to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel.<br />
B. The Desecrati<strong>on</strong> Inflicted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity -<br />
Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” Project<br />
1. The Museum Project Has Resulted<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Exhumati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Graves and Remains<br />
The progressive infringements <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery by Israeli<br />
authorities since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1960’s have culminated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest project,<br />
authorized and supported by Israeli state authorities and upheld by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court in 2008. 41 This project to erect a “Center for <strong>Human</strong><br />
37 This was attested to in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> memoirs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last Jordanian mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, Anwar al-Khateeb al-Tamimi,<br />
With Saladin in Jerusalem, published in 1989.<br />
38 Ir Amim, Jerusalem Bulletin, Special Editi<strong>on</strong>, Jan. 5, 2008, available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/tolmusiramim.html<br />
(citing Chechen’s opini<strong>on</strong> submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court) [hereinafter Ir Amim Jerusalem<br />
Bulletin]<br />
39 See Makdisi, supra note 10, at 8.<br />
40 Ir Amim Jerusalem Bulletin, supra note 37.<br />
41 See Al-Aqsa Assoc. judgment, supra note 31 (ruling that erecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum is lawful and imposing<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dispositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains in areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court was told c<strong>on</strong>tained remains). See Secti<strong>on</strong><br />
II.B. below for a discussi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court was misled regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number and distributi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human<br />
remains located under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire site.<br />
22
Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” <strong>on</strong> a cemetery site c<strong>on</strong>taining thousands<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim remains has predictably resulted in severe desecrati<strong>on</strong> at various<br />
stages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> process. 42<br />
The Museum project was approved to be built by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Municipality <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
previously paved over car park in 2002, <strong>on</strong> about 14 dunums (3.5 acres),<br />
over 10 per cent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> total area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. 43 The government<br />
reportedly informed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plot was open public land, and<br />
provided it with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> necessary permits to build <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re. 44 The Museum plan<br />
was approved as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a broader plan to “develop” central Jerusalem. 45<br />
The groundbreaking cerem<strong>on</strong>y was held in May, 2004, and digging <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
site began in 2005. The planning process itself was c<strong>on</strong>ducted with much<br />
secrecy, as are o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>troversial planning projects in Israel, and was<br />
already “approved before being presented in full to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli public…<strong>on</strong>ce<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were already a fait accompli.” 46<br />
Both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC had full knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building site was part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> historical Mamilla cemetery. As<br />
Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> archaeologist appointed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel Antiquities<br />
Authority (IAA) to excavate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site stated, am<strong>on</strong>g IAA<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, “The Mammilla cemetery is known as an antiquities site and a<br />
burial site in Jerusalem ever since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Crusades.” 47 Prior to<br />
any work being d<strong>on</strong>e <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA, at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> behest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Suleimani, dug<br />
test trenches <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> designated project site, which revealed “that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire<br />
area “abounded with graves,” and that under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a<br />
crowded Muslim cemetery, c<strong>on</strong>taining three or four layers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves.” 48<br />
SWC representatives were apprised <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this fact. 49<br />
Despite this discovery, groundbreaking work in preparati<strong>on</strong> for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> was c<strong>on</strong>ducted, resulting in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disinterment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> at least<br />
two hundred graves and human remains, buried according to Muslim<br />
rites, which dated back to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamluk period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic history, or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
12th century B.C. 50 The whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se remains are currently<br />
42 See photos <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exhumed and exposed graves and human remains <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site, Appendix VIII.A.<br />
43 See 2010 aerial photograph, Appendix VII.A, highlighting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> original boundaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery and<br />
indicating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site.<br />
44 Elana Brownstein and Amir Mizroch, Ruling expected <strong>on</strong> Tolerance Museum c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, JERUSALEM POST,<br />
February 19, 2006, available at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1139395439285&page<br />
name=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull<br />
45 The development plan also includes plans to build malls and luxury housing in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area, which is centrally<br />
located. The development plan is itself c<strong>on</strong>troversial, given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> undetermined legal status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development, which aims to erase <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinian presence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city and replace it with an Israeli<br />
presence, in part to solidify Israel’s c<strong>on</strong>trol over Jerusalem, which both Palestinians and Israelis claim as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
capital. See Chr<strong>on</strong>icle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Cemetery, supra note 1.<br />
46 Es<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Zandberg, The Architectural C<strong>on</strong>spiracy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Silence, HAARETZ, Feb. 24, 2007, available at http://<br />
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/825662.html (noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> secrecy with which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> planning sector operates in<br />
Jerusalem and elsewhere).<br />
47 Affidavit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, Israel Antiquities Authority’s Chief Excavator at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project site, at para.<br />
6.6. Attached as Appendix II [hereinafter Suleimani Affidavit]. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time that he ordered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> test trenches,<br />
Suleimani was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority Jerusalem District. In 2005, he was appointed<br />
Chief Excavator at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site. Suleimani has worked with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA in various capacities since 1990. See<br />
Suleimani Affidavit, at paras. 1-4, Appendix III.<br />
48 Id. at para. 6.5.<br />
49 Id., at para. 6.6.<br />
50 See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at para. 19.<br />
23
unknown. The degrading manner with which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se remains were dealt<br />
shows a blatant disrespect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those buried and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir living<br />
descendants. It was <strong>on</strong>ly after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se exhumati<strong>on</strong>s were publicized that<br />
Palestinians, Muslims, Israelis, and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m,<br />
realized <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project was inflicting <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery.<br />
Once this desecrati<strong>on</strong> was revealed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli press, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
Antiquities Authority (IAA) began excavati<strong>on</strong>s to determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to<br />
allow c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> to c<strong>on</strong>tinue based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site’s antiquity. The IAA’s<br />
subsequent partial excavati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site to determine whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to release<br />
it for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> unear<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>d hundreds more human remains. At an early<br />
stage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Chief Excavator Suleimani submitted a report<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA and SWC recommending that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site should not be released<br />
for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, stating that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> porti<strong>on</strong>s excavated “A total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 250<br />
skelet<strong>on</strong>s were excavated, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from sec<strong>on</strong>dary burials, and<br />
ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 200 graves were exposed but not excavated. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
above, I estimated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are at least about 2000 graves <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site,”<br />
in at least four layers. 51 The remains found dated back to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12th century<br />
or earlier, and were all buried according to Muslim burial rites, while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
bottom layer excavated dated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century. 52 He fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r reported<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> was completed in <strong>on</strong>ly 10% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire project site,<br />
while in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remaining 90% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, “excavati<strong>on</strong> was ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <strong>on</strong>ly partial or<br />
preliminary.” 53 It was reported that remains were mishandled and damaged<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this excavati<strong>on</strong> and that at least <strong>on</strong>e skull was smashed. 54<br />
As <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s Chief Excavator, Suleimani, attested subsequently, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s were marred by intense pressure exerted <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA by<br />
representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum project and by various Israeli politicians<br />
sympa<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>tic to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project to c<strong>on</strong>clude <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s hastily, and to<br />
approve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project in order to enable c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum to begin. 55 The IAA, in turn, not <strong>on</strong>ly put pressure <strong>on</strong><br />
Suleimani to stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> digging, but he was also asked if he would alter his<br />
report, which found that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was an antiquity and that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
should not be allowed without a full investigati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all human remains<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and appropriate documentati<strong>on</strong>. 56 Indeed, Suleimani stated<br />
that representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC “would come to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site <strong>on</strong> a daily basis,<br />
pressing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s to progress quickly, to prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims<br />
from halting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project,” and that “In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
threats began coming in from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneurs…[who] were threatening<br />
that if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> was held up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would sue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority,<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pace must be quickened.” 57<br />
51 See Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 17.9, Appendix II.<br />
52 Id. at paras. 26,28 ; See also Mer<strong>on</strong> Rapoport, Zero Tolerance, MA’ARIV, Feb. 27,2009.<br />
53 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 17.2-17.3, Appendix II.<br />
54 J<strong>on</strong>athan Lis and Amiram Barkat, Treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s found at museum building site raises storm,<br />
HAARETZ, 8/2/2006, available at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=680072.<br />
55 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at paras. 10-14, Appendix II.<br />
56 Id. at para. 30.<br />
57 Id. at paras. 10, 12.<br />
24
The submissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a petiti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court to halt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum resulted in a temporary order to stop<br />
work and close <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site in 2006. Although excavati<strong>on</strong>s temporarily<br />
stopped when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court issued its order, desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinued - graves were vandalized, reportedly by fundamentalist Jewish<br />
groups. 58<br />
After <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court released its decisi<strong>on</strong> to allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project to<br />
move forward in October, 2008, c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> resumed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum<br />
site, despite c<strong>on</strong>tinued oppositi<strong>on</strong> to it and revelati<strong>on</strong>s that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC were not forthright with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
completed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> large number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves remaining <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. 59 The<br />
IAA claims that human remains found during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest work by agents<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC, under directi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA, are being manually removed<br />
after documentati<strong>on</strong> in order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may be reburied in an alternate<br />
locati<strong>on</strong>. 60 The decisi<strong>on</strong> to remove and reinter Muslim remains, however,<br />
was taken without c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with legitimate Muslim authorities, and<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> face <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> severe oppositi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians, Muslims and<br />
o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs opposed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers. It was reported<br />
that in <strong>on</strong>e week <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 al<strong>on</strong>e, 300 Muslim graves were disinterred<br />
during c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains were dumped<br />
into a mass grave. 61 Recent reports have menti<strong>on</strong>ed that remains have<br />
been assembled around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perimeter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site pending<br />
a decisi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> relevant authorities <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir possible re-interment<br />
elsewhere in Mamilla or at ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r site. 62 The great secrecy with which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SWC and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli government have cloaked <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project makes it difficult<br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>ers to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> real extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> involved,<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exhumed remains. 63<br />
Although Israel claims that preparati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
is complete, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work performed has not <strong>on</strong>ly left hundreds, if not<br />
thousands, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains and graves in disarray and unaccounted for,<br />
but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re also remain thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves beneath <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site.<br />
The project site is an area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong>, and allowing c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Museum above it will <strong>on</strong>ly exacerbate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> damage to any remains still at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, and to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sensitivities attached to this issue by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers<br />
and many o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Palestinians, Muslims, Jews and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs. Needless to<br />
say, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers oppose any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r disturbance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and remains<br />
58 Makdisi, supra note 10, at 13.<br />
59 These revelati<strong>on</strong>s included <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Suleimani in an interview with an Israeli newspaper regarding<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> suppressi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his findings from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>, as detailed infra, secti<strong>on</strong> II.B.2. See<br />
Rapoport, Zero Tolerance, supra note 52.<br />
60 Michael Green, Underlying Issues, JERUSALEM POST, March 7, 2009, available at http://www.jpost.com/<br />
servlet/Satellite?cid=1236269363261&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull<br />
61 Palestinian News Network, Israel municipality digs up 300 Muslim graves in Jerusalem this week for ‘Museum<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance,’ July 16, 2009, available at http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?opti<strong>on</strong>=com_c<strong>on</strong>tent&task=view&i<br />
d=6176&Itemid=29<br />
62 Private communicati<strong>on</strong> from Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, Director, IPCRI, October 2009.<br />
63 Access to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site is closely guarded, with a high barrier erected around it and c<strong>on</strong>stant camera surveillance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. See photographs, Appendix VIII.D; Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 27 (describing how “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
site was…surrounded by high fences, cameras were installed and guards were placed around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, so that it<br />
looks more like a military camp, all with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintaining secrecy.”), Appendix II.<br />
25
in Mamilla, for archaeological or any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r purposes, excepting acti<strong>on</strong><br />
necessary to restore and preserve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery.<br />
2. Israel is Complicit in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Desecrati<strong>on</strong> Committed in Mamilla<br />
The Israeli state, its organs and agents, have been involved at all stages<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this project. The cemetery was proposed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC as a site for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Museum by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Municipality in 1993, despite its full knowledge<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery. 64 Former Jerusalem mayors<br />
Teddy Kollek and Ehud Olmert were instrumental in encouraging <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
project and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery as a site. 65 A company owned by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem Municipality, Moriah Jerusalem Development Co., Ltd. was<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tracted by SWC to c<strong>on</strong>struct <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> museum and was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> primary company<br />
tasked with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initial digging <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site when hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains were<br />
found. 66<br />
Most harmful has been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority’s (IAA’s) role<br />
in approving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> after beginning archeological<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s to determine <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site’s value as an antiquity, even though<br />
it had itself included Mamilla <strong>on</strong> its list <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Special Antiquities Sites” in<br />
Jerusalem, and determined it to be a site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> especially high value with<br />
“historical, cultural and architectural importance,” <strong>on</strong> which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re should<br />
be no development, and which should be rehabilitated and maintained. 67<br />
The excavati<strong>on</strong>s it c<strong>on</strong>ducted were tainted by severe pressure to<br />
disc<strong>on</strong>tinue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work, including from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> backers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum project,<br />
IAA <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials, and Israeli politicians. The IAA’s accessi<strong>on</strong> to this pressure<br />
is explained by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC was financing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> archaeological<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong> work, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli law. 68 As noted, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work was<br />
stopped in 2006 by a <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court order after a lawsuit was filed challenging<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> legality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum project <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery.<br />
In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> defending against this lawsuit, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA ultimately<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cealed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, whom<br />
it had appointed as Chief Excavator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA excavati<strong>on</strong>, regarding<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prevalence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site so as to ensure a favorable ruling<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court. Thus, ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than alerting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court to<br />
Suleimani’s recommendati<strong>on</strong> that no c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> should resume because<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> was <strong>on</strong>ly partial and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was replete with Muslim<br />
64 The fact that previous c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site to build a parking lot resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unearthing and desecrati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims, surely did not escape <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> museum project.<br />
See Mer<strong>on</strong> Benvenisti, The hypocrisy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tolerance, HAARETZ, Sept. 2, 2006, available at http://www.haaretz.<br />
com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=680580. That <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery is also evident from<br />
Israeli maps showing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> original boundaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, which includes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proposed Museum site. See<br />
Appendix VII.<br />
65 Netty C. Gross, supra note 26, at 22.<br />
66 See Benvenisti, supra note 64.<br />
67 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at para. 73.<br />
68 The Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court itself has ruled, in an unrelated decisi<strong>on</strong>, that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority is<br />
obligated to finance excavati<strong>on</strong>s examining sites for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> antiquities. See Estate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Late Lilly<br />
Dankner, Deceased, et al. v. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquties Authority et al., <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 4146/05,<br />
ILR 52(4) 774, 813-14. Antiquities Authority regulati<strong>on</strong>s also forbid <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority to receive financing from<br />
entrepreneurs who are developing a site. See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at 30.<br />
26
graves at least four layers deep and dating back to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA submitted false informati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court that “almost <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire<br />
area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> has been released for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, because it<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tains no fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r scientific data,” and thus <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no need for fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>. 69 Based <strong>on</strong> maps Suleimani attests c<strong>on</strong>tradict those that he<br />
had submitted illustrating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work d<strong>on</strong>e <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA claimed<br />
that <strong>on</strong>ly a small porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site c<strong>on</strong>tained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains found, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s were o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise<br />
complete. 70 Dr. Raphael Greenberg, an Israeli archeologist based at Tel<br />
Aviv University who is knowledgeable about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>ducted by<br />
Suleimani, c<strong>on</strong>firmed that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maps <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA presented to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court are ‘in<br />
oppositi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> reality in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area,’ because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y show that excavati<strong>on</strong><br />
is complete in areas where it has not even begun.” 71 The Court’s ruling<br />
reflects its reliance <strong>on</strong> this misleading informati<strong>on</strong>. 72<br />
In this manner, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> very same Israeli Governmental authority whose<br />
purpose it is to protect historical antiquities sites, that is, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA, has<br />
acted c<strong>on</strong>sistently in this case to permit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinued destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem’s oldest and most revered Muslim cemeteries, c<strong>on</strong>trary to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opini<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its own pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als and to its previous designati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site as a special antiquities site. Suleimani has thus declared that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IAA “under pressures <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneurs and politicians,<br />
participated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a valuable archeological site,” and that<br />
its c<strong>on</strong>duct c<strong>on</strong>stitutes an “archeological crime.” 73 As he stated in an<br />
interview, “We’re talking about tens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
ground <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, and not just a few dozen.” 74<br />
3. The Project has Proceeded Despite C<strong>on</strong>sistent Oppositi<strong>on</strong><br />
Since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project was revealed, Palestinian, Israeli and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Muslim and<br />
Jewish religious leaders, scholars, individuals and organizati<strong>on</strong>s have<br />
been warning prop<strong>on</strong>ents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discord such a project<br />
would engender given <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery to Palestinians<br />
and Muslims, and noting that it c<strong>on</strong>tains graves <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> family members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
69 See Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 19, Appendix II (declaring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s claim “is a factual<br />
and archaeological lie.”).<br />
70 Id., at paras. 22-25 (explaining in detail <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “disturbing and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ound differences” between Suleimani’s own<br />
map and that submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA).<br />
71 Mer<strong>on</strong> Rapoport, IAA approves <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> building museum <strong>on</strong> ancient Muslim cemetery, HA’ARETZ, July 7, 2007,<br />
available at http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/880732.html [hereinafter Rapoport, IAA approves<br />
building].<br />
72 See Al-Aqsa Assoc. judgment, supra note 31 (relying <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> defendants’ asserti<strong>on</strong> that <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e area,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stituting 12% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, was c<strong>on</strong>tentious because it c<strong>on</strong>tained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves); Suleimani<br />
Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 23 (noting that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court judgment “mainly relied” <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> map submitted<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA), Appendix II. Although <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s most recent decisi<strong>on</strong> in December, 2009, which rejected a<br />
petiti<strong>on</strong> to void <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s decisi<strong>on</strong>s based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> revealed by Suleimani, stated that Suleimani’s<br />
report was submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court during <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first petiti<strong>on</strong>, it was not submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA itself but by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
petiti<strong>on</strong>ers in that case. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court ignored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein and relied instead <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> incorrect<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> results that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA provided. See The Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Families <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dead<br />
Buried in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Maaman Allah (Mamilla) Cemetery and O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs v. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Israeli) Antiquities Authority and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, HCJ<br />
3227/09, Dec. 23, 2009 [hereinafter Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Families judgment]. See infra, fn. 112-115 and related<br />
discussi<strong>on</strong> for more detail <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court decisi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
73 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at paras. 15, 31, Appendix II.<br />
74 Kam<strong>on</strong> Ben Shim<strong>on</strong>, Limits to Tolerance, THE JERUSALEM REPORT, July 20, 2009, at 14.<br />
27
living Palestinians and those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> important Muslim historical figures. 75<br />
Many Jewish individuals and organizati<strong>on</strong>s have also argued that it<br />
presents a moral dilemma for Jews who believe in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
own cemeteries, and have worked to halt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project. 76 Indeed, public<br />
revelati<strong>on</strong>s about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim remains resulted<br />
in widespread indignati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all faiths, as well<br />
as Jews who oppose such desecrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> moral and religious grounds,<br />
including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers. There have been several public dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>. Protests arose when it was discovered that<br />
human remains were being dug up and improperly disposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>. 77 Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
protests took place against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court decisi<strong>on</strong> in 2008. 78<br />
Despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public pressure, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC, with Israel’s support, has refused to<br />
alter its plans for its “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity – Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance.”<br />
The arbitrati<strong>on</strong> set up by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court in 2006 to help resolve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
dispute over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery broke down after SWC insisted that it would not<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sider any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r site for its museum plan. 79 Pressure from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mayor<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem and various Israeli Knesset members to cease erecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Museum <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery have proven fruitless. 80<br />
III. ISRAEL’S PATTERN OF<br />
DISREGARD FOR MUSLIM RELIGIOUS SITES<br />
The past and current desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery by Israeli authorities<br />
is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a much broader history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong>, repressi<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
discriminati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel towards Palestinians, both<br />
Muslim and Christian, inside Israel and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinian territory occupied<br />
in 1967. The discriminati<strong>on</strong> that Palestinians c<strong>on</strong>tinue to face manifests<br />
itself in many forms, including religious, ethnic, racial and <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
nati<strong>on</strong>ality, all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific c<strong>on</strong>cern in this case.<br />
75 Id., at 14 (noting that “The project has been c<strong>on</strong>troversial since it was first proposed in 1993, l<strong>on</strong>g before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> began.”).<br />
76 The petiti<strong>on</strong>ers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court included organizati<strong>on</strong>s such as Rabbis for <strong>Human</strong><br />
<strong>Rights</strong>, The Shalom Block, The Center for Jewish Pluralism, etc., and individuals such as Rabbi Michael Malchior,<br />
Rabbi Naftali Rotenberg, Uri Avneri, etc. See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19. O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Jewish and Israeli<br />
religious, political and intellectual figures who have publicly opposed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project <strong>on</strong> religious and moral grounds<br />
include, am<strong>on</strong>g many o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs: Rabbi Eric Y<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fie, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> for Reform Judaism, see Eric Y<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fie, D<strong>on</strong>’t<br />
Build Wiesenthal museum <strong>on</strong> disputed Jerusalem site, JTA, Feb. 2, 2009, available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/<br />
reformresp<strong>on</strong>se.html; U.S.-based Jewish organizati<strong>on</strong>s such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Progressive Faith Foundati<strong>on</strong>, Jews <strong>on</strong> First,<br />
and Jewish Voices for Peace, represented by Rabbi Seven Jacobs, Rabbi Haim Beliak and Sydney Levy, respectively,<br />
see Gross, supra note 26 at 24; Rabbi David Schidl, see Nir Hass<strong>on</strong>, Jews and Muslims unite against Jerusalem<br />
Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, HAARETZ, July 6, 2009, available at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1096949.<br />
html; Dr. Rafi Greenberg, a prominent archeologist; Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, Co-CEO <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel/Palestine Center for<br />
Research and Informati<strong>on</strong>, who is behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Public Committee Against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Wiesenthal Center<br />
Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Tolerance” Over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Cemetery in Mamilla; Daniel Siedeman, a lawyer and founder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ir Amim;<br />
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, see Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, Encountering Peace: A city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tolerance, not a Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tolerance, JERUSALEM POST, Nov. 4, 2008, available at http://www.ipcri.org/files/city<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>tolerance.html; Jerusalem<br />
City Council member Meir Margalit; Former Deputy Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Mer<strong>on</strong> Benvenisti; Former Jerusalem City<br />
Councilwoman, Anat H<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fman. See Gross, supra note 26, at 23; Ben Shim<strong>on</strong>, supra note 74, at 14.<br />
77 See, e.g., D<strong>on</strong>ald Macintyre, Israel plans to build ‘Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance’ <strong>on</strong> Muslim Graves, THE INDEPENDENT,<br />
Feb. 9, 2006; Lis and Barkat, supra note 54.<br />
78 See, e.g., Yova Stern, Arabs rally against c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem museum <strong>on</strong> Muslim cemetery, HA’ARETZ,<br />
6/1//2008, available at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1035063.html.<br />
79 See Gross, supra note 26, at 22.<br />
80 See infra, notes 112-114, and related discussi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
28
The Mamilla Cemetery is located in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> western part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, which<br />
toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with East Jerusalem and its envir<strong>on</strong>s, was declared to be an<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al corpus separatum under United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly<br />
Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 181 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 29 November, 1947. Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 181, which provided<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al charter for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel,<br />
endowed Jerusalem with a special internati<strong>on</strong>al regime, and included<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s that protected <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holy sites and religious landmarks <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
religi<strong>on</strong>s. It specified that “existing rights in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places and<br />
religious buildings or sites shall not be denied or impaired,” and that “Holy<br />
Places and religious buildings or sites shall be preserved. No act shall be<br />
permitted which may in any way impair <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sacred character.” 81<br />
However, Israel seized c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> western part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, including<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery, in 1948, and has administered it ever<br />
since, in c<strong>on</strong>traventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s resoluti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject. 82<br />
As early as December 9, 1949, after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Israel, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly, in its resoluti<strong>on</strong> 303(IV),<br />
restated its intenti<strong>on</strong> that: “Jerusalem should be placed under a permanent<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al regime, which should envisage appropriate guarantees for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places, both within and outside Jerusalem…” The<br />
General Assembly also rec<strong>on</strong>firmed specifically <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> General<br />
Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 181 (II) establishing a special internati<strong>on</strong>al regime for<br />
Jerusalem, and noting that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem shall include <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present<br />
municipality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> surrounding villages and towns.” 83<br />
Israel’s c<strong>on</strong>tinued rule over all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem flouts this internati<strong>on</strong>ally<br />
mandated arrangement. Most importantly for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, in spite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli laws enacted since 1948 that have pledged<br />
to protect holy sites from desecrati<strong>on</strong> and assure freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
different religious groups to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir holy sites, Israel has failed to provide <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
protecti<strong>on</strong>s for “religious buildings or sites” envisaged by UNGA Resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
181 and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r UN resoluti<strong>on</strong>s. Israel’s Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
1967, which applies to all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, states that: “The Holy Places shall<br />
be protected from desecrati<strong>on</strong> and any o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r violati<strong>on</strong> and from anything<br />
likely to violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> different<br />
religi<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> places sacred to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m or <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir feelings with regard to those<br />
places.” 84<br />
81 United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 181, Future Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestine, A/Res/181(II)(A+B), Nov.<br />
29, 1947, sec. III.C.13.a and III.C.13.c, respectively.<br />
82 Sovereignty over western Jerusalem remains an unresolved issue. While Israel c<strong>on</strong>trols Jerusalem and acts as<br />
a de facto sovereign over it, its sovereignty has not been formally recognized in any part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al community, as is evident from UNGA Resoluti<strong>on</strong>s 181 and 303, and subsequent United Nati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
resoluti<strong>on</strong>s. It is fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r indicated by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United States c<strong>on</strong>sulate in western Jerusalem falls under<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sulate-general in East Jerusalem, ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> U.S. embassy in Tel<br />
Aviv. See also Veffer v. Canda (Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Foreign Affairs), 2006 FC 540, May 1, 2006 (c<strong>on</strong>cluding that “Nothing<br />
has changed since 1949 in regard to any legal basis for a claim to Jerusalem by Israel… Jerusalem has not<br />
been recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al community as being under Israel’s sovereignty...The fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eastern<br />
porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem is viewed as occupied territory has not altered <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al community<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinues to regard sovereignty over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem as unresolved.”).<br />
83 United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 303(IV), Palestine: Questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an internati<strong>on</strong>al regime for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem area and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places A/Res/303(IV), Dec. 9, 1949, attached as Appendix IX.A.<br />
84 Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places Law, June 27, 1967, SH 499, 75.<br />
29
Notwithstanding this, Israel has systematically neglected its duties with<br />
regard to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish religious sites in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem. This was recognized as early as 1980, when United Nati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Security Council resoluti<strong>on</strong> 476 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> June 30, 1980 deplored “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> persistence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel, in changing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> physical character, demographic compositi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>al structure and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem” and<br />
rec<strong>on</strong>firmed:<br />
that all legislative and administrative measures and acti<strong>on</strong>s taken<br />
by Israel, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupying Power, which purport to alter <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> character<br />
and status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem have no legal validity and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute a flagrant violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fourth Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
relative to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Civilian Pers<strong>on</strong>s in Time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> War and also<br />
c<strong>on</strong>stitute a serious obstructi<strong>on</strong> to achieving a comprehensive, just<br />
and lasting peace in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Middle East. 85<br />
The Security Council also urgently called <strong>on</strong> “Israel, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupying<br />
Power, to abide by this and previous Security Council resoluti<strong>on</strong>s and to<br />
desist forthwith from persisting in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy and measures affecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
character and status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem.” 86 More recently, in<br />
Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 1322 deploring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “provocati<strong>on</strong> carried out at Al-Haram Al-<br />
Sharif in Jerusalem <strong>on</strong> 28 September 2000, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent violence<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re and at o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Holy Places,” <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Security Council reaffirmed “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> need<br />
for full respect by all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>demned any behaviour to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>trary.” 87 In its resoluti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1980<br />
and 2000, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Security Council was referring to Israel’s failure to protect<br />
religious sites in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entirety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, as indicated<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were not limited to East Jerusalem. In this regard,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UN <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council in an October 21, 2009 resoluti<strong>on</strong> similarly<br />
recognized that Israel has human rights obligati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entirety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, calling <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Commissi<strong>on</strong>er</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong><br />
to report <strong>on</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se obligati<strong>on</strong>s “in and around East<br />
Jerusalem.” 88<br />
The failure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel to carry out its duty to protect n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish religious<br />
sites has been highlighted previously by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong><br />
Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> and Belief. In her 2009 Report, following a visit<br />
to Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur<br />
explicitly addressed Israel’s failure to protect n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish Holy Sites. The<br />
report recognized Israeli laws that “aim to safeguard and preserve sacred<br />
places from desecrati<strong>on</strong>,” but noted that “all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 136 places which have<br />
been designated as holy sites until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2007 are Jewish and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel has so far <strong>on</strong>ly issued implementing regulati<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
85 United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Security Council Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 476, S/Res/476 (1980), June 30, 1980 attached as Appendix<br />
IX.B.<br />
86 Id.<br />
87 United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Security Council Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 1322, S/RES/1322, October 7, 2000.<br />
88 <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council Resoluti<strong>on</strong>, The human rights situati<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory, including<br />
East Jerusalem, A/HRC/S-12/1, Oct. 21, 2009 [hereinafter 2009 HRC Resoluti<strong>on</strong>].<br />
30
Jewish holy sites.” 89 The United States State Department’s Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Religious Freedom Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2009 similarly noted in this respect:<br />
The 1967 Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Sites Law applies to holy sites <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
religious groups within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country and in all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Government implements regulati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong>ly for Jewish sites. N<strong>on</strong>-<br />
Jewish holy sites do not enjoy legal protecti<strong>on</strong> under it because<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government does not recognize <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial holy sites.<br />
At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were 137 designated holy sites, all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
which were Jewish. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government has drafted<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s to identify, protect, and fund <strong>on</strong>ly Jewish holy sites.<br />
While well-known sites have de facto protecti<strong>on</strong> as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al importance, many Muslim and Christian sites are<br />
neglected, inaccessible, or threatened by property developers and<br />
municipalities. 90<br />
One illustrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this deliberate discriminati<strong>on</strong> is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> marked inequality in<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish remains found <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> sites versus those<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jews. Jewish religious authorities are called up<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
can be stopped immediately when it is believed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are Jewish<br />
remains, in order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y may be accorded proper religious treatment. 91<br />
In c<strong>on</strong>trast, as in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current development <strong>on</strong> Mamilla, Muslim<br />
religious authorities are not c<strong>on</strong>sulted to ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery be dealt with according to Islamic law. 92 As Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
IAA’s Chief Excavator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site <strong>on</strong> Mamilla noted, “The Muslim<br />
dead have no <strong>on</strong>e to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m…[A Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial] came<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site and told me, ‘If <strong>on</strong>e Jewish skelet<strong>on</strong> were found, I would stop<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s immediately.’ But no Jewish remains were found and [he]<br />
was not c<strong>on</strong>cerned.” 93 This attitude is c<strong>on</strong>firmed by a recent study <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish religious sites in Israel, which documents several<br />
cases in which Israeli authorities c<strong>on</strong>tinued c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> works despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
discovery <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves during c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> projects. 94<br />
For ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r illustrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this discriminati<strong>on</strong>, we need <strong>on</strong>ly c<strong>on</strong>trast<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli decisi<strong>on</strong> to build a “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tolerance” atop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most historically important Muslim cemetery in<br />
89 Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong><br />
or belief, Asma Jahangir, Addendum: Missi<strong>on</strong> to Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian, para. 37, U.N. Doc. A/<br />
HRC/10/8/Add. 2 (Jan. 12, 2009) [hereinafter Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SR <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief].<br />
90 US State Department, Bureau <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Democracy, <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> and Labor, Internati<strong>on</strong>al Religious Freedom Report,<br />
2009: Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupied territories, October 26, 2009.<br />
91 See Rapoport, Zero Tolerance, supra note 52; Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 26, Appendix II<br />
(noting that “when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s found are suspected to be Jewish, it is mandatory to notify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Religi<strong>on</strong>s, and its representatives may disc<strong>on</strong>tinue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s.”).<br />
92 See Brownstein and Mizroch, supra note 44 (noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Grand Mufit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> West Bank and Gaza<br />
Strip, Ikrima Sabri’s complaint that “Muslim religious authorities were not c<strong>on</strong>sulted about digging at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.”).<br />
See also Lis and Barkat, supra note 54 (noting that Muslim religious instituti<strong>on</strong>s were not involved in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves at Mamilla, and that IAA procedures require coordinati<strong>on</strong> with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religious Affairs<br />
Ministry, which serves <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Orthodox Jewish Israelis exclusively).<br />
93 See Rapoport, Zero Tolerance, supra note 52.<br />
94 See Arab Associati<strong>on</strong> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong>, Sanctity Denied: The destructi<strong>on</strong> and abuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim and<br />
Christian Holy Places in Israel, April 27, 2004, available at http://www.arabhra.org/Hra/Sec<strong>on</strong>daryArticles/<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>daryArticlePage.aspx?Sec<strong>on</strong>daryArticle=1354 [hereinafter Sanctity Denied].<br />
31
Jerusalem, Mamilla, with that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to designate a historical<br />
Jewish cemetery located <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Olives as a Jewish heritage<br />
site. 95 Repeated efforts by Muslim and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Palestinian groups in Israel<br />
to preserve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir graveyards and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r religious sites from destructi<strong>on</strong><br />
and vandalism have c<strong>on</strong>sistently failed to stop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> that Israel<br />
justifies in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> “development pressures and public needs.” 96 It is<br />
within this c<strong>on</strong>text, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, that pre-1948 Muslim cemeteries all over<br />
Israel have suffered similar fates, and have been, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former<br />
Deputy Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, Mer<strong>on</strong> Benvenisti:<br />
turned into garbage dumps, parking lots, roads and c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
sites…Open burial sites are scattered throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country,<br />
human b<strong>on</strong>es are strewed about, and tombst<strong>on</strong>es are shattered,<br />
covered with garbage…The Muslim cemeteries’ c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> is so<br />
outrageous that if it existed in ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r civilized state it would raise<br />
a public storm. 97<br />
The priority that Israel places <strong>on</strong> promoting <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish narrative<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> history and culture <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> British Mandate Palestine, as well as <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> land for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusive benefit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish Israelis, has<br />
resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> and neglect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many sites important to Muslims<br />
and Christians in Palestine and around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> world, including religious,<br />
historical and cultural sites, because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a failure to sufficiently protect and<br />
preserve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. 98 The c<strong>on</strong>tinuous threat, since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> East Jerusalem in 1967, to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Al-Aqsa mosque, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third holiest site<br />
for Muslims, is a well-documented example which c<strong>on</strong>tinues to receive<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al attenti<strong>on</strong>. The outer enclosure wall <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mosque complex,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy Sanctuary (Al-Haram al-Sharif), is built <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lower courses<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enclosure wall <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Herodian temple, which was located <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
same site until its destructi<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Romans in 70 AD. Since 1967, Israel<br />
has been digging under and around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> complex, allegedly in search <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ancient Jewish historical sites. Its c<strong>on</strong>tinued excavati<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
tunneling are believed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim community to threaten <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collapse<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mosque complex itself, and have already led to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collapse<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> houses and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r buildings in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Quarter <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem’s Old<br />
City. Despite widespread c<strong>on</strong>demnati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se excavati<strong>on</strong>s, about which<br />
Israeli authorities disclose little, Israel has not heeded <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> warnings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al community and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians and Muslims<br />
95 Benvenisti, supra note 64.<br />
96 Id.<br />
97 Id. See also Sanctity Denied, supra note 94 (describing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> many n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish cemeteries in Israel).<br />
98 See Dan Lieberman, Why Jerusalem? Israel’s Hidden Agenda, 956 AL-AHRAM WEEKLY ON-LINE, July 16-22,<br />
2009, available at http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/956/special.htm. The systematic destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> over 400<br />
Palestinian villages during and after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> war <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1948, including in many cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious sites within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m,<br />
such as cemeteries, mosques and churches, was <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning. See generally, Walid Khalidi, ed., ALL THAT<br />
REMAINS: THE PALESTINIAN VILLAGES OCCUPIED AND DEPOPULATED BY ISRAEL IN 1948, Institute for Palestine<br />
Studies, 1992. See also Destructi<strong>on</strong> and Desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Christian Holy Places after 1948, available at http://<br />
www.jerusalemites.org/crimes/crimes_against_christianity/27.htm, (documenting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Christian<br />
holy sites after 1948).<br />
32
all over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> world. 99 Recent excavati<strong>on</strong>s in areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> occupied East Jerusalem<br />
fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r illustrate this point: While <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli authorities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA are<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducting archeological excavati<strong>on</strong>s looking for evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an ancient Jewish<br />
presence in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area, living Palestinians are being evicted from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir homes,<br />
which are <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n demolished, under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pretext that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were built illegally. 100<br />
The land and property ownership laws <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel are especially egregious<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir manifest discriminati<strong>on</strong> against Palestinian citizens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel. The<br />
Absentee Property Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1950 expropriated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians<br />
deemed “absent” from Israel after hostilities ceased in 1948 and transferred<br />
it to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Custodian <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Absentee Property with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> making land and<br />
property available for settling Jewish immigrants to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> new state. This<br />
included Islamic endowment (waqf) properties, such as religious instituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and mosques, and holy sites and cemeteries like Mamilla. State lands<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trolled by nati<strong>on</strong>al instituti<strong>on</strong>s such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish Nati<strong>on</strong>al Fund, which<br />
itself owns about 13 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land in Israel, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel Lands<br />
Authority, are subject to openly discriminatory criteria that bar n<strong>on</strong>-Jews<br />
from owning, leasing or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rwise accessing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se lands. 101 Most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
lands were originally expropriated in 1948 without compensati<strong>on</strong> from<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir Palestinian owners. The fact that Palestinians have nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r been<br />
compensated nor allowed to regain <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir homes and property in Israel, in<br />
violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al law and United Nati<strong>on</strong>s resoluti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter,<br />
while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians c<strong>on</strong>tinues to be seized today, both in<br />
Israel and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory, is evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel’s<br />
discriminatory policies regarding land rights. 102<br />
99 See, e.g., 2009 HRC Resoluti<strong>on</strong>, supra note 88 (c<strong>on</strong>demning Israel’s digging “in and around Al-Aqsa mosque<br />
and its vicinity” and demanding that Israel cease all excavati<strong>on</strong> works <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re and “refrain from any acts or<br />
operati<strong>on</strong>s that may endanger <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> structure or foundati<strong>on</strong>s or change <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> holy sites both Christian and<br />
Islamic.”); Committee <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong>, C<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Reports Submitted by States<br />
Parties under Article 9 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>: C<strong>on</strong>cluding observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Committee <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial<br />
Discriminati<strong>on</strong> – Israel, CERD/C/ISR/CO/13, June 14, 2007, at para. 36 (expressing c<strong>on</strong>cern that excavati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
under al-Aqsa were endangering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mosque)[hereinafter 2007 CERD Report]; Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO technical<br />
missi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Old City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, 176 EX/Special Plenary Meeting/ INF.1, April 17, 2007, paras. 49 and 51<br />
(recommending that Israel halt its excavati<strong>on</strong>s under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mosque).<br />
100 See Ilene Prusher, Why 88 Arab homes received evicti<strong>on</strong> notices, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, Feb. 26,<br />
2009, available at http://www.csm<strong>on</strong>itor.com/World/Middle-East/2009/0226/p04s01-wome.html (noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
plans to demolish Palestinian homes “to make way for a new archaeological park.”). The <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council<br />
recognizes that all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel’s acti<strong>on</strong>s in Jerusalem are part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its wider efforts to change <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demography <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Jerusalem, in c<strong>on</strong>traventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al law, in order that it become a permanent part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel. See 2009<br />
HRC Resoluti<strong>on</strong>, supra note 88 (c<strong>on</strong>demning, at <strong>on</strong>ce, “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>fiscati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> lands and properties, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demolishing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> houses and private properties, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and expansi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> settlements, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuous c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> separati<strong>on</strong> Wall, changing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> demographic and geographic character <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> East Jerusalem…”).<br />
101 See, e.g., Dan Le<strong>on</strong>, The Jewish Nati<strong>on</strong>al Fund: How <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Land Was ‘Redeemed,’ 12.4 & 13.1 PALESTINE-ISRAEL<br />
JOURNAL OF POLITICS, ECONOMICS AND CULTURE, 2005/06, available at http://www.pij.org/details.php?id=410.<br />
102 See United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 194(III), Palestine – Progress Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Mediator, A/Res/194(III), Dec. 11, 1948, at para. 11 (spelling out <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians to return to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
properties or receive compensati<strong>on</strong>). In Israel, land is c<strong>on</strong>tinually seized from Palestinians <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
discriminatory building and planning laws that result in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> restricti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> development in Palestinian areas and<br />
proceed to penalize Palestinians with evicti<strong>on</strong>s and home demoliti<strong>on</strong>s up<strong>on</strong> defiance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such laws. See Centre<br />
<strong>on</strong> Housing <strong>Rights</strong> and Evicti<strong>on</strong>s, Report Prepared for <str<strong>on</strong>g>Office</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Commissi<strong>on</strong>er</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> C<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
Israel, July, 2008, available at http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/COHRE%20UPR%20Israel%20and%20<br />
OPT%20FINAL.pdf. C<strong>on</strong>tinuing home demoliti<strong>on</strong>s and evicti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians in East Jerusalem and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
replacement by Israeli settlers, <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dubious purchase or prior ownership claims, in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al law are central to Israel’s efforts to keep c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem as its “undivided capital.” See,<br />
e.g., Palestinians evicted in Jerusalem, BBC NEWS, Aug. 2, 2009, available at (noting that “Jewish settlers moved<br />
into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> houses [from which nine Palestinian families were evicted] almost immediately,” linking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue to<br />
Israel’s claim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sovereignty over all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, and noting internati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>demnati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> acti<strong>on</strong>s].<br />
33
This discriminati<strong>on</strong> against n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish citizens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel and Palestinians<br />
in Jerusalem has extended to many o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r facets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> life. Given its selfidentificati<strong>on</strong><br />
as a “Jewish state,” <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish populati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel,<br />
namely Christian and Muslim Palestinian Arabs, who currently make up<br />
approximately 18 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli populati<strong>on</strong>, are citizens whose<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewishness by definiti<strong>on</strong> precludes <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir enjoyment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same rights<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State. 103 Some aspects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> widespread discriminati<strong>on</strong> against<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish communities and citizens in Israel, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> availability<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resources for educati<strong>on</strong>, housing, urban development, access to jobs<br />
in key sectors <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ec<strong>on</strong>omy and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State, and land ownership, have<br />
been repeatedly cited by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UN Committee <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial<br />
Discriminati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Committee <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong>,<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r internati<strong>on</strong>al bodies. 104<br />
IV. EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES<br />
Individuals and groups affected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Museum<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” over a part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, in additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, have undertaken numerous efforts to halt <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
and protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery from fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r desecrati<strong>on</strong>. There have been<br />
several petiti<strong>on</strong>s filed in Israeli courts, public dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
authorities, and informal attempts to halt c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum.<br />
Despite c<strong>on</strong>centrated efforts to address this issue in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli courts,<br />
Palestinian and Israeli petiti<strong>on</strong>ers have failed to arrest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC Museum<br />
development plan. A successful petiti<strong>on</strong> to halt c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> adjudged<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Shari’a Court in Israel proved fruitless when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court<br />
ruled that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Shari’a court had no jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> matter. 105<br />
The Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> highest court in Israel whose decisi<strong>on</strong>s are final<br />
and not subject to appeal, c<strong>on</strong>sidered a petiti<strong>on</strong> to halt c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> in<br />
2006. This resulted in a temporary order to cease c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> while <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
case was being heard. The court’s decisi<strong>on</strong> in October <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008 allowed<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> to resume immediately, <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains<br />
exhumed ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r be reburied in an alternative locati<strong>on</strong>, or that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum<br />
be built <strong>on</strong> a floating floor so as to avoid c<strong>on</strong>tact with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves. 106 The<br />
Court’s reas<strong>on</strong>ing was that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site’s importance for urban development<br />
purposes outweighed its religious, historical and cultural value to Muslims<br />
103 UN Committee <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong>, C<strong>on</strong>cluding Observati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Committee <strong>on</strong><br />
Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong>: Israel, UN Doc. E/C.12/1/Add.90 (2003), at para. 16 (noting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “excessive<br />
emphasis up<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State as a ‘Jewish State’ encourages discriminati<strong>on</strong> and accords a sec<strong>on</strong>d-class status to its<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish citizens.”) [hereinafter 2003 ECOSOC Observati<strong>on</strong>s].<br />
104 See, e.g., 2007 CERD Report, supra note 99; 2003 ECOSOC Observati<strong>on</strong>s, supra note 103, at para. 16 (noting<br />
that discriminati<strong>on</strong> “is apparent in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tinuing lower standard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> living <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Arabs as a result, inter alia,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> higher unemployment rates, restricted access to and participati<strong>on</strong> in trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access to housing,<br />
water, electricity, and health care and a lower level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong>.”).<br />
105 See <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 1331/06 and <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Justice File 1771/06.<br />
106 See Al-Aqsa Assoc. judgment, supra note 31. It is presently unclear whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se alternatives was<br />
chosen. In ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r case, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was no coordinati<strong>on</strong> with Muslim authorities regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
remains.<br />
34
and Palestinians, and that oppositi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development was implausible<br />
because no protest was raised when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state had previously built <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery. 107 This decisi<strong>on</strong>, however, was based <strong>on</strong> err<strong>on</strong>eous beliefs about<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests against previous incursi<strong>on</strong>s into <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery,<br />
as is evident from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discussi<strong>on</strong> above. Moreover, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court relied<br />
<strong>on</strong> misleading informati<strong>on</strong> provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority<br />
(IAA). In particular, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA reported to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, in complete<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its Chief Excavator’s report, that it was releasing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site<br />
for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s were completed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were no fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r archeological findings to be made. 108<br />
A subsequent petiti<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court in September, 2009 seeking<br />
nullificati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA decisi<strong>on</strong> to allow c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was based <strong>on</strong><br />
newly acquired evidence about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s earlier egregious misrepresentati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court. Specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong> alleged that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA suppressed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its Chief Excavator, Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, who was in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inspecting and excavating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. Instead, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA submitted a map showing<br />
that excavati<strong>on</strong>s were nearly complete, and failed to inform <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Suleimani’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> not be allowed because <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site<br />
was replete with several layers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves dating back 1000 years, and<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s were <strong>on</strong>ly complete <strong>on</strong> 10% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. 109 Ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r respected<br />
Israeli archeologist familiar with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> details <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case, Raphael Greenberg,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>firmed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s submissi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court c<strong>on</strong>tained “statements<br />
that…are c<strong>on</strong>trary to reality <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Site and c<strong>on</strong>tradict customary scientific<br />
criteria.” 110 The IAA’s decisi<strong>on</strong> to release <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> also did not<br />
follow <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> proper procedures, according to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>. 111<br />
The <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court refused this petiti<strong>on</strong> in December 2009 <strong>on</strong> largely<br />
procedural grounds. Despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wealth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new evidence submitted<br />
regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> severity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> being committed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> apparent decepti<strong>on</strong> committed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC in its<br />
dealings with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court c<strong>on</strong>cluded that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was nothing in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
sec<strong>on</strong>d petiti<strong>on</strong> that was novel, and that it <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore could not rec<strong>on</strong>sider<br />
its previous ruling. 112 While stating that Suleimani’s report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA had<br />
been submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court during hearings <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous petiti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court did not address, as it had failed to do in its first judgment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
significant c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong>s between Suleimani’s report and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong><br />
provided by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> progress and results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. 113 Ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r, it reiterated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA’s versi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results, which<br />
107 Id.<br />
108 See Secti<strong>on</strong> II.B.2 above.<br />
109 Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, Appendix II.<br />
110 See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at paras. 88-91. See also Rapoport, IAA approves building,<br />
supra note 71.<br />
111 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at paras. 78-105 (detailing IAA procedures that were not followed<br />
in this case).<br />
112 Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Families judgment, supra note 72.<br />
113 Id. The Court also did not note that Suleimani’s report was not submitted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA itself, but ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r by<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>ers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Al-Aqsa Associati<strong>on</strong> case, a fact which indicates that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA attempted to c<strong>on</strong>ceal not<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly Suleimani’s recommendati<strong>on</strong>s that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> should not resume, but also his findings that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was<br />
replete with Muslim graves dating as far back as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century.<br />
35
its Chief Excavator Suleimani attested was “a factual and archaeological<br />
lie.” 114 This showed a puzzling disregard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> facts that should have<br />
been central to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s decisi<strong>on</strong> in both judgments, namely, that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum’s c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> was taking place <strong>on</strong> an ancient cemetery<br />
site replete with Muslim graves and human remains, which were being<br />
desecrated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process. The judgment fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r emphasized that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re<br />
was no remedy for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>ers since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground work <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was<br />
already completed. 115<br />
This ruling, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s 2008 ruling, clearly illustrates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Court’s bias in favor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> allowing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity -<br />
Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” to be c<strong>on</strong>structed. Even with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> knowledge that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli government and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC allowed hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains<br />
to be unear<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>d and removed to unknown locati<strong>on</strong>s without c<strong>on</strong>sent from<br />
or coordinati<strong>on</strong> with Muslim religious authorities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court was moved<br />
nei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> severe desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human remains <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project site,<br />
nor by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> problematic role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> IAA and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC in c<strong>on</strong>cealing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site remained replete with graves and human remains and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
valuable archaeological artifacts.<br />
Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court’s c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> is a fait<br />
accompli fails to c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers in ensuring that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrated remains be recovered and<br />
properly reburied in accordance with Muslim rites, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves<br />
and remains that are still beneath <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site are left in peace and<br />
not fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r disturbed, as intended by those who buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. As this<br />
case dem<strong>on</strong>strates, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lower Israeli courts, over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
six decades <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence, have repeatedly upheld <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> primacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish<br />
interests in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli State, without equal or balanced c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians, whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Israeli citizens or stateless pers<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir rights. 116 The discriminatory practices and policies <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
state have thus <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten been validated and defended by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli judiciary.<br />
Seeking legal remedies in Israel has been futile, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no adequate<br />
or available judicial remedy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery from fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
desecrati<strong>on</strong> and destructi<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore satisfied any<br />
exhausti<strong>on</strong> requirement. This complaint, moreover, seeks to ensure that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli government not <strong>on</strong>ly ceases c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC Museum<br />
over a porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, but also that any fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r “development”<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery is prevented by declaring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire site as an<br />
antiquity to be preserved and protected. Allowing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
114 Id.; See Suleimani Affidavit, supra note 47, at para. 19, Appendix II<br />
115 Id.<br />
116 This is evident from important <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court decisi<strong>on</strong>s affecting Palestinians, both citizens <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Occupied Palestinian Territories, including its decisi<strong>on</strong> allowing c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same Wall which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICJ<br />
deemed to be in violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al law. See Beit Sourik Village Council v. The Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel [2005]<br />
IsrSC 58(5) 807, and Legal C<strong>on</strong>sequences <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a Wall in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory,<br />
Advisory Opini<strong>on</strong>, 2004 I.C.J. 136 (9 July). See also, e.g., Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority <strong>Rights</strong> in Israel<br />
and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs v. Minister <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Interior and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs, HCJ 7052/03, May 14, 2006 (upholding Israeli law banning Israelis<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir Palestinian spouses from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territories from living toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r).<br />
36
Museum atop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery will undoubtedly lead to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
projects, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gradual encroachment <strong>on</strong>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery will c<strong>on</strong>tinue<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> point that no trace <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> it is left. Israeli courts will not c<strong>on</strong>sider <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se<br />
larger issues.<br />
N<strong>on</strong>-legal efforts to c<strong>on</strong>vince <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC to aband<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project, undertaken<br />
by individuals and groups o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current petiti<strong>on</strong>ers, have likewise<br />
proven unsuccessful. The current Mayor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, criticized<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum’s locati<strong>on</strong>, and attempted to c<strong>on</strong>vince <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC to aband<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery site, even <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fering alternative locati<strong>on</strong>s for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum. 117 A hearing was held in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Knesset (Parliament) in<br />
February, 2006, during which representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim community<br />
expressed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir distress at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project, and some Knesset members<br />
deplored <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> plan to build <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum <strong>on</strong> a porti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. 118<br />
The Israeli Speaker <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Knesset’s appeal to move <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum to ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
site, <strong>on</strong>to land <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fered by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem Municipality, went unheeded. 119<br />
Popular petiti<strong>on</strong>s and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r communicati<strong>on</strong>s have also been sent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
SWC, showing widespread opprobrium for its insistence <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinuing<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> oppositi<strong>on</strong> it has faced. 120<br />
Numerous articles have been published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media and in academic<br />
journals about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum project. 121<br />
Representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC have attempted to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir positi<strong>on</strong><br />
and attack oppositi<strong>on</strong> to it as merely political and opportunistic, with<br />
clear disdain for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> feelings that desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>secrated cemeteries<br />
engenders. 122 The protracted legal battles and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> adverse publicity<br />
surrounding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> issue have thus clearly failed to sway ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> backers<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project or Israeli authorities, who c<strong>on</strong>tinue to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery site for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum. The IAA c<strong>on</strong>tinues to deny <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that it<br />
omitted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>sidered opini<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its Chief Archeologist that c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
should not resume, and to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> atop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Muslim graves in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. 123<br />
117 See 2009 <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>, supra note 19, at paras. 191-92 (citing an article in Israeli newspaper Yediot<br />
Jerusalem). See also, Green, supra note 60 (noting that Barkat was critical <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum before<br />
he became Mayor, and has attempted to communicate with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC about “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire meaning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project.”);<br />
Central C<strong>on</strong>ference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> American Rabbis (CCAR) Resoluti<strong>on</strong>, Reform Rabbinate Opposes Removal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ancient<br />
Muslim Cemetery to Make Way for Jerusalem Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance, Feb. 25, 2009 (commending Municipality<br />
for suggesting o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r locati<strong>on</strong>s for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> museum), attached as Appendix VI.<br />
118 Baskin, supra note 76 (noting that a Knesset hearing resulted in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin appealing<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC to move <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum to a different locati<strong>on</strong>).<br />
119 Id.<br />
120 See <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council <strong>on</strong> American Islamic Relati<strong>on</strong>s, Urge Israel to Halt C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum <strong>on</strong><br />
Muslim Cemetery, available at http://www.gopetiti<strong>on</strong>.com/<strong>on</strong>line/23494.html; Americans for Peace Now wrote<br />
a letter to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC with Israeli and Jewish public figures to urge it to change <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum, and<br />
organized a letter writing campaign for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> public to express similar sentiments. See Acti<strong>on</strong> Alert: Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tolerance: Respect Muslim Cemetery in Jerusalem, available at http://peacenow.org/entries/archive5685.<br />
121 Many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se appear as references in this <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
122 See, e.g., Yaakov Lappin, Wiesenthal dean rejects museum protests as extremist agitati<strong>on</strong>, JERUSALEM POST,<br />
Nov. 7, 2008, available at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910055540&pagename=JPost/<br />
JPArticle/ShowFull<br />
123 See, e.g., Macintyre, supra note 77 (quoting IAA spokeswoman defending c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> over cemeteries).<br />
37
V. ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW VIOLATIONS<br />
A. Right to Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural Heritage<br />
Preserving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a people has been recognized as an<br />
important internati<strong>on</strong>al priority, and has been <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> numerous<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al instruments. The imperative to protect cultural property<br />
is a principle <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both internati<strong>on</strong>al human rights law and internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
humanitarian law, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle has attained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> customary<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al law in both sets <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws. In both times <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peace and during<br />
armed c<strong>on</strong>flicts, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore, states are obliged to take measures to protect<br />
cultural property located within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir territory.<br />
Cultural heritage encompasses “areas including archeological sites which<br />
are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> outstanding universal value from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aes<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>tic, ethnological or<br />
anthropological point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> view.” 124 As defined by UNESCO, “Outstanding<br />
universal value means cultural and/or natural significance which is so<br />
excepti<strong>on</strong>al as to transcend nati<strong>on</strong>al boundaries and to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> comm<strong>on</strong><br />
importance for present and future generati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all humanity.” 125 The<br />
Mamilla cemetery in Jerusalem qualifies as a cultural heritage site, given its<br />
historical, cultural and religious significance not <strong>on</strong>ly to Palestinians, but to<br />
Muslims and people <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all faiths, worldwide.<br />
Several internati<strong>on</strong>al human rights instruments incorporate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e’s cultural heritage. The right to protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural<br />
heritage is embodied in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> more general individual rights enumerated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> (UDHR), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>on</strong> Civil and Political <strong>Rights</strong> (ICCPR) and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />
Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong> (ICESCR), including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to religi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
culture, and family, as discussed in detail below. In additi<strong>on</strong>, several<br />
instruments deal specifically with cultural heritage. The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong>al, Scientific and Cultural Organizati<strong>on</strong> (UNESCO) C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Cultural and Natural Heritage, to<br />
which Israel is a party, states that “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ensuring <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> identificati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong>, c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong>, presentati<strong>on</strong> and transmissi<strong>on</strong> to future generati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural and natural heritage…and situated <strong>on</strong> its territory, bel<strong>on</strong>gs<br />
primarily to that State.” 126 The C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r emphasizes “that such<br />
heritage c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a world heritage for whose protecti<strong>on</strong> it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al community as a whole to co-operate.” 127 Moreover,<br />
it is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> duty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> States Parties to “set up…services for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> and presentati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural and natural heritage” and “to<br />
take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate…measures necessary for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> identificati<strong>on</strong>, protecti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong>, presentati<strong>on</strong> and rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this heritage.” 128<br />
124 UNESCO, C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Cultural and Natural Heritage, UNESCO Doc. 17/<br />
C106, (Nov. 16, 1972) Art. 1; Israel acceded Oct. 6, 1999 [hereinafter UNESCO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>].<br />
125 UNESCO, Intergovernmental Committee for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Cultural and Natural Heritage,<br />
Operati<strong>on</strong>al Guidelines for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> World Heritage C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, Jan. 2008, para. 49, available<br />
at http://whc.unesco.org/archive/opguide08-en.pdf.<br />
126 UNESCO C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, supra note 124, at Art. 4.<br />
127 Id., Art. 6(1)<br />
128 Id., Art. 5(2)(4).<br />
38
A number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s and Declarati<strong>on</strong>s also address<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> safeguarding cultural heritage, and preventing its<br />
destructi<strong>on</strong>. The 2003 Declarati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Intenti<strong>on</strong>al Destructi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural Heritage defines intenti<strong>on</strong>al destructi<strong>on</strong> as “an act intended<br />
to destroy in whole or in part cultural heritage, thus compromising its<br />
integrity, in a manner which c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> internati<strong>on</strong>al law<br />
or an unjustifiable <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humanity and dictates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
public c<strong>on</strong>science…” 129 It <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n asserts that, in both peacetime and during<br />
armed c<strong>on</strong>flict, “States should take all appropriate measures to c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
[activities] in such a manner as to protect cultural heritage,” while placing<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibility <strong>on</strong> states for intenti<strong>on</strong>al destructi<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state itself<br />
committed or failed to prevent. 130 The 1976 UNESCO Recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Safeguarding and C<strong>on</strong>temporary Role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Historical Areas<br />
includes important language recognizing that “this living evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> days<br />
g<strong>on</strong>e by is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vital importance for humanity and for nati<strong>on</strong>s who find in<br />
it both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> expressi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir way <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> life and <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> corner-st<strong>on</strong>es<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir identity.” 131 It goes <strong>on</strong> to state that “Historic areas and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
surroundings should be actively protected, against damage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all kinds,<br />
particularly that resulting from unsuitable use, unnecessary additi<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
misguided or insensitive changes such as will impair <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir au<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>nticity…” 132<br />
The universal right to protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage is fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r buttressed<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extensive provisi<strong>on</strong>s provided in internati<strong>on</strong>al humanitarian law,<br />
which include obligati<strong>on</strong>s to protect and prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural<br />
property, both during peacetime and during armed c<strong>on</strong>flict, 133 and to<br />
prohibit attacks against cultural property, including places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship and<br />
historic m<strong>on</strong>uments such as cemeteries. 134 Many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se principles relating<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural property have attained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> customary<br />
129 UNESCO Declarati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Intenti<strong>on</strong>al Destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural Heritage, Oct. 17, 2003, available at<br />
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=17718&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html<br />
130 Id. at secs. IV-VI.<br />
131 UNESCO Recommendati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>cerning <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Safeguarding and C<strong>on</strong>temporary Role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Historical Areas, Nov.<br />
26, 1976, available at http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13133&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_<br />
SECTION=201.html. The Recommendati<strong>on</strong> defines historic areas as follows: “`Historic and architectural…<br />
areas’ shall be taken to mean any groups <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> buildings, structures and open spaces including archaeological<br />
and palae<strong>on</strong>tological sites, c<strong>on</strong>stituting human settlements in an urban or rural envir<strong>on</strong>ment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cohesi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which, from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> archaeological, architectural, prehistoric, historic, aes<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>tic or sociocultural point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
view are recognized.” Id. at para. I(1)(a)<br />
132 Id. at para. 4.<br />
133 The Hague C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, for <strong>on</strong>e, obligates state parties to “undertake to prepare in time <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peace for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
safeguarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural property situated within <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own territory against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foreseeable effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an armed<br />
c<strong>on</strong>flict…” Hague C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural Property in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Event <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Armed C<strong>on</strong>flicts, Art. 3,<br />
Opened for signature 14 May, 1954; Israel signed 14 May, 1954; entered into force 7 Aug. 1956 [emphasis<br />
added].<br />
134 UNESCO’s Basic Rules <strong>on</strong> Cultural Property include “Rule 7: Do not damage <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
ethnic groups; remember that this may inspire <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m to do <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same to your own cemeteries.” See UNESCO,<br />
Cultural Property – Basic Rules, CLT/CH/01/7.1/INF1, 2001, available at http://unesdoc.unesco.org/<br />
images/0015/001579/157916mb.pdf<br />
39
internati<strong>on</strong>al law, to which all states are bound. 135 The requirement for<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious sites is explicit both in internati<strong>on</strong>al human rights<br />
law and in internati<strong>on</strong>al humanitarian law, and is especially important<br />
when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a vulnerable religious, cultural and ethnic minority are<br />
involved, as is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> case with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim minority in Israel.<br />
The status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> birthplace <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> world’s m<strong>on</strong>o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>istic<br />
religi<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> repository <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> millennia <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> history, makes Israel’s duty<br />
to protect and prevent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage, including<br />
religious and historical sites such as cemeteries, an especially important<br />
<strong>on</strong>e. UNESCO has c<strong>on</strong>sistently recognized Jerusalem in particular as a<br />
city immensely rich with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jews, Christians and<br />
Muslims alike. It has noted that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> precarious and uncertain current<br />
status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem endangers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage embodied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein,<br />
and has adopted numerous resoluti<strong>on</strong>s “to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> safeguarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> spiritual, cultural, historical and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r values <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City.” 136 In<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>se to communicati<strong>on</strong>s by representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians in 1986<br />
regarding c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> taking place <strong>on</strong> Mamilla cemetery, UNESCO adopted<br />
a resoluti<strong>on</strong> deploring acti<strong>on</strong>s in Jerusalem that “have imperiled important<br />
historical m<strong>on</strong>uments which embody <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural identity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> indigenous<br />
populati<strong>on</strong>.” 137<br />
135 This fact was noted by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Tribunal for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former Yugoslavia, and recognized by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Committee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Red Cross. See, Prosecutor v. Pavle Strugar (Trial Judgment), IT-01-42-T, para.<br />
229 and related footnotes, Internati<strong>on</strong>al Tribunal for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Jan. 31, 2005, available at<br />
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain?docid=48ad42092; Jean-Marle Henckaerts, Study<br />
<strong>on</strong> customary internati<strong>on</strong>al humanitarian law: A c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> understanding and respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rule <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
law in armed c<strong>on</strong>flict, INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF THE RED CROSS, vol. 87, no. 857, March, 2005, at 201-202,<br />
available at http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/p0860/$File/ICRC_002_0860.PDF. The ICRC’s<br />
compilati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> customary internati<strong>on</strong>al humanitarian law rules includes rules 39 and 40, which state:<br />
Rule 39. The use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> great importance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> every people for purposes which are<br />
likely to expose it to destructi<strong>on</strong> or damage is prohibited, unless imperatively required by military necessity.<br />
Rule 40. Each party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>flict must protect cultural property:<br />
A. All seizure or destructi<strong>on</strong> or willful damage d<strong>on</strong>e to instituti<strong>on</strong>s dedicated to religi<strong>on</strong>, charity, educati<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
arts and sciences, historic m<strong>on</strong>uments and works <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> art and science is prohibited.<br />
B. Any form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ft, pillage or misappropriati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and any acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vandalism directed against, property <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
great importance to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> every people is prohibited.<br />
These rules are partially derived from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Additi<strong>on</strong>al Protocols to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s, many provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
which have attained <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> customary law. Additi<strong>on</strong>al Protocol I states:<br />
Art 53. Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural objects and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship:<br />
Without prejudice to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provisi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hague C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural Property in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Event<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Armed C<strong>on</strong>flict <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 14 May 1954, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r relevant internati<strong>on</strong>al instruments, it is prohibited:<br />
(a) to commit any acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hostility directed against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> historic m<strong>on</strong>uments, works <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> art or places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship<br />
which c<strong>on</strong>stitute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural or spiritual heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peoples;<br />
(b) to use such objects in support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> military effort;<br />
(c) to make such objects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> object <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reprisals.”<br />
Protocol Additi<strong>on</strong>al to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 August 1949, and relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Armed C<strong>on</strong>flicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977. (Israel not a signatory)<br />
Additi<strong>on</strong>al Protocol II to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s states that<br />
“it is prohibited to commit any acts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hostility directed against historic m<strong>on</strong>uments, works <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> art or places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
worship which c<strong>on</strong>stitute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural or spiritual heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> peoples…”<br />
Protocol Additi<strong>on</strong>al to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12 August 1949, and relating to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Victims <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
N<strong>on</strong>-Internati<strong>on</strong>al Armed C<strong>on</strong>flicts (Protocol II), 8 June 1977, Art. 16. (Israel not a signatory)<br />
136 See 1986 UNESCO Report, supra note 23, at Annex II. See also UNESCO, Jerusalem and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
23/C/Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 11.3, Report by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director General, UNESCO 24C/15, 127 EX/12 Rev., Oct. 15, 1987.<br />
137 1986 UNESCO Report, supra note 23, at Annex II.<br />
40
It is apparent that cemeteries are sites which are recognized as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
group’s cultural heritage. In reference to Israel’s treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious<br />
sites important to n<strong>on</strong>-Jews, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> Religi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Belief emphasized that “religious sites and cemeteries have more than a<br />
material significance for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious community attached to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.” 138<br />
The United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly has urged all states to promote “a<br />
culture <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tolerance and respect for…religious sites, which represent an<br />
important aspect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humankind,” and “to ensure<br />
that religious sites are fully respected and protected.” 139 Israel has been<br />
repeatedly criticized for failing to adequately protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious groups o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r than Jews, and has, indeed, c<strong>on</strong>tributed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
intenti<strong>on</strong>al destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such cultural heritage.<br />
By c<strong>on</strong>tributing to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> and destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
cemetery, which c<strong>on</strong>tains thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> historically important graves,<br />
m<strong>on</strong>uments, and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r artifacts attesting to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rich history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims<br />
in Jerusalem, as well as Christians before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m, Israel has aband<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
its duty to protect and preserve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim<br />
and Christian religious communities under its c<strong>on</strong>trol. Its acti<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery represent <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> anti<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its duties to protect and c<strong>on</strong>serve<br />
cultural heritage sites. Moreover, its acti<strong>on</strong>s violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights not <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
individuals who have relatives buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present Individual<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, but also <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire community <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims to whom<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious and historical significance, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> world<br />
community, in whose interest it is to protect “<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
humankind.”<br />
B. Right to Manifest Beliefs<br />
The right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to manifest <strong>on</strong>e’s beliefs<br />
are enshrined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> (UDHR), <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
principles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which are c<strong>on</strong>sidered customary internati<strong>on</strong>al law, as well as<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenant <strong>on</strong> Civil and Political <strong>Rights</strong> (ICCPR), to which<br />
Israel is a state party. 140 A group’s beliefs regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its<br />
138 Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SR <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, supra note 89, at para. 39 [emphasis added].<br />
139 General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 55/254, Protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religious Sites, A/Res/55/254, May 31, 2001.<br />
140 Universal Declarati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong>, G.A. res. 217A, at 71, U.N. GAOR, 3d Sess., 1st plen. mtg., U.N. Doc<br />
A/810 (Dec. 12, 1948) [hereinafter UDHR].<br />
Article 18: Every<strong>on</strong>e has <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thought, c<strong>on</strong>science and religi<strong>on</strong>; this rights includes freedom…<br />
to manifest his religi<strong>on</strong> or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.<br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenant <strong>on</strong> Civil and Political <strong>Rights</strong>, GA res. 2200A (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N.<br />
Doc. A/6316 (Dec. 16, 1966), entered into force Mar. 23, 1976; ratified by Israel Oct. 3, 1991 [hereinafter ICCPR]<br />
Art. 18 (1) : Every<strong>on</strong>e shall have <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thought, c<strong>on</strong>science and religi<strong>on</strong>. This right shall include<br />
freedom…ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r individually or in community with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs and in public or private, to manifest his religi<strong>on</strong> or<br />
belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.”<br />
These provisi<strong>on</strong>s were expounded up<strong>on</strong> by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Committee in General Comment No. 22:<br />
Para. 4: “The freedom to manifest religi<strong>on</strong> or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching encompasses<br />
a broad range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> acts. The c<strong>on</strong>cept <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship extends to ritual and cerem<strong>on</strong>ial acts giving direct expressi<strong>on</strong><br />
to belief, as well as various practices integral to such acts, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ritual formulae, and objects, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> display <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> symbols, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> observance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> holidays and days <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest. The<br />
observance and practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> or belief may include not <strong>on</strong>ly cerem<strong>on</strong>ial acts but also…participati<strong>on</strong> in<br />
rituals associated with certain stages <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> life…”<br />
United Nati<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Committee, General Comment 22, para. 4, The right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thought, c<strong>on</strong>science<br />
and religi<strong>on</strong> (Art. 18), U.N.Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4 (1993) [hereinafter HRC General Comment 22].<br />
41
urial sites, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rites and methods by which a religious group buries<br />
its dead, are a manifestati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that group’s religious beliefs.<br />
The importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries to religious groups was specifically noted<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> and Belief in her report<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> country visit to Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory, which<br />
stated “that places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship, religious sites and cemeteries have more<br />
than a material significance for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious community attached to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. General Assembly resoluti<strong>on</strong> 55/254 calls up<strong>on</strong> all States to exert<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir utmost efforts to ensure that religious sites are fully respected and<br />
protected as well as to adopt adequate measures aimed at preventing<br />
such acts or threats <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> violence.” 141 Cemeteries are thus singled out as<br />
repositories <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a group’s cultural heritage, in additi<strong>on</strong> to being <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> unique<br />
religious significance.<br />
The disinterment and desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> burial sites bel<strong>on</strong>ging to a specific<br />
minority religious group, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subsequent dispositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains<br />
without c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with that group, nor that group’s knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
whereabouts, c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a religious group to<br />
manifest its religious beliefs. The importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries as religious<br />
sites where individuals and groups manifest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir religious beliefs was<br />
c<strong>on</strong>firmed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief<br />
in resp<strong>on</strong>se to a complaint regarding desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hm<strong>on</strong>g graves in<br />
Thailand. 142 The disinterment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mamilla cemetery that has taken place, with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> approval and participati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli government and its agents, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
countless Jerusalemites whose ancestors are buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, and those<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims everywhere, to manifest <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir religi<strong>on</strong>. By degrading and<br />
disrespecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beliefs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims regarding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir burial<br />
sites, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> practices attached to this belief, Israel is not <strong>on</strong>ly curtailing<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims to visit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased relatives; it is also<br />
undermining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir belief in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eternal sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemeteries, and making<br />
evident its lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> respect for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious beliefs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a minority religious<br />
group under its c<strong>on</strong>trol.<br />
The desecrati<strong>on</strong> committed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> SWC<br />
“Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a violati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this right, regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any previous development <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. The<br />
IAA’s approval <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, in spite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> clear evidence<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was replete with Islamic graves <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> historic and archaeological<br />
significance, indicates <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Government’s complicity in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tempt<br />
displayed by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum builders <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>mselves for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery’s sanctity,<br />
141 Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SR <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, supra note 89, at para. 39.<br />
142 <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council, Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> or belief, Summary <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cases<br />
transmitted to Governments and replies received, A/HRC/4/21/Add.1, March 8, 2007, at para. 290 (reiterating<br />
her previous asserti<strong>on</strong> that “different types <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> buildings or properties that have more than a material significati<strong>on</strong><br />
for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious community that is attached to it, such as cemeteries… have been targeted,” and that “places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
worship are an essential element <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manifestati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> or belief,” and “attacks<br />
or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> restricti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> places <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> worship or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r religious sites and shrines in many cases violate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
right not <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a single individual, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a group.”).<br />
42
and for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dignity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those interred and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir descendants. This acti<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>firms and compounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> preceding decades <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> neglect, destructi<strong>on</strong><br />
and desecrati<strong>on</strong> carried out by Israel in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
municipal parking lots and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r facilities in parts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery, which<br />
have been c<strong>on</strong>sistently opposed by Palestinians.<br />
C. Right to Freedom from Discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
Numerous internati<strong>on</strong>al human rights instruments, to all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which Israel<br />
is bound, articulate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> prohibiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> against individuals<br />
and groups. This includes discriminati<strong>on</strong> against individuals <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong>, as prohibited in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UDHR and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR, 143 and discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
against minority groups within a state, as prohibited by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> All Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Discriminati<strong>on</strong><br />
(ICERD), and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenant <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic, Social and Cultural<br />
<strong>Rights</strong> (ICESCR). 144 Internati<strong>on</strong>al bodies have reiterated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious groups that make up a minority<br />
populati<strong>on</strong>. The <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Committee noted that it “views with<br />
c<strong>on</strong>cern any tendency to discriminate against any religi<strong>on</strong> or belief for<br />
any reas<strong>on</strong>, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y…represent religious minorities<br />
that may be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hostility <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a predominant religious<br />
community.” 145 The <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong> urged states parties to<br />
ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials do not engage in discriminati<strong>on</strong>, and that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
apply <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws equally regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an individual or group’s religi<strong>on</strong>. 146<br />
143 UDHR, supra note 140, at Art. 2<br />
Art. 2: Every<strong>on</strong>e is entitled to all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights and freedoms set forth in this Declarati<strong>on</strong>, without distincti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any<br />
kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religi<strong>on</strong>, political or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r opini<strong>on</strong>, nati<strong>on</strong>al or social origin, property,<br />
birth or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r status<br />
ICCPR, supra note 140, Art. 2(1).<br />
Article 2(1): Each State Party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within<br />
its territory and subject to its jurisdicti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights recognized in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present Covenant, without distincti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
any kind, such as…religi<strong>on</strong> .<br />
144 ICCPR, supra note 140, Arts. 2(1), 26, 27<br />
Article 26: “All pers<strong>on</strong>s are equal before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law and are entitled without any discriminati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> equal<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law. In this respect, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law shall prohibit any discriminati<strong>on</strong> and guarantee to all pers<strong>on</strong>s<br />
equal and effective protecti<strong>on</strong> against discriminati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> any ground such as [.] religi<strong>on</strong> [.].”<br />
Article 27: “ In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, pers<strong>on</strong>s bel<strong>on</strong>ging to such<br />
minorities shall not be denied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right, in community with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir group, to enjoy <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own<br />
culture, to pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ess and practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own religi<strong>on</strong>, or to use <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir own language.”<br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> All Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong>, G.A. res. 2106 (XX), Annex,<br />
20 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 14) at 47, U.N. Doc. A/6014 (1966), entered into force Jan. 4, 1969; ratified by Israel<br />
Jan. 3, 1979 [hereinafter ICERD].<br />
Article 5: “…States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discriminati<strong>on</strong> in all its forms and to<br />
guarantee <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> every<strong>on</strong>e, without distincti<strong>on</strong> as to race, colour, or nati<strong>on</strong>al or ethnic origin, to equality<br />
before <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> law, notably in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enjoyment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following rights: [.] (d) O<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r civil rights, in particular: … (vii) The<br />
right to freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thought, c<strong>on</strong>science and religi<strong>on</strong>”.<br />
Internati<strong>on</strong>al Covenant <strong>on</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Social and Cultural <strong>Rights</strong>, G.A. res. 2200A, U.N. Doc A/6316 (1966),<br />
entered into force Jan. 3, 1976; ratified by Israel Oct. 3, 1991 [hereinafter ICESCR]<br />
Art. 2 (2) : “The States Parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present Covenant undertake to guarantee that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights enunciated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
present Covenant will be exercised without discriminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> any kind such as … religi<strong>on</strong>...”<br />
145 HRC General Comment 22, supra note 140, at para. 2.<br />
146 Commissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong>, Eliminati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> intolerance and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong> based <strong>on</strong> religi<strong>on</strong><br />
or belief, <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> resoluti<strong>on</strong> 2005/40, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2005/L.10/Add.11 (Apr. 19, 2005)<br />
para. 4 (g) : “Urges States:… To ensure that all public <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials and civil servants, including members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> law<br />
enforcement bodies, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> military and educators, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial duties, respect different religi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
and beliefs and do not discriminate <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grounds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> or training is provided;”.<br />
43
Israel has clearly failed in its obligati<strong>on</strong> to ensure that religious minorities<br />
in its State are equally protected by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws. This failure extends to equal<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sacred and religious sites. The Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong><br />
Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> and Belief specifically cited Israel’s discriminatory<br />
treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish holy sites, noting that all places designated as<br />
holy sites up to 2007 were Jewish, n<strong>on</strong>e being Muslim or Christian. The<br />
report recommended:<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel issue as so<strong>on</strong> as possible n<strong>on</strong>selective<br />
regulati<strong>on</strong>s and designate holy sites <strong>on</strong> a n<strong>on</strong>-discriminatory basis.<br />
The unique spiritual and religious dimensi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> holy sites<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir importance for believers in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole world need to be<br />
appropriately taken into account. 147<br />
The Israeli government’s failure to protect, and its complicity in destroying,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery is thus a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its obligati<strong>on</strong> to ensure<br />
equal protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> laws to its religious minorities. The progressive<br />
destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery by Israeli authorities c<strong>on</strong>stitutes<br />
discriminatory c<strong>on</strong>duct when compared to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish holy<br />
sites, and especially when compared to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> care and attenti<strong>on</strong> lavished <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jewish cemetery <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Olives. It is also clear that Israel’s<br />
treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery is characteristic <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its treatment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish religious sites throughout Israel and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian<br />
Territory, including o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r cemeteries. The IAA’s disregard <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its Chief Excavator in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site and its<br />
attempt to misrepresent such informati<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court makes<br />
clear its intenti<strong>on</strong>al degradati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> religious, historical and cultural<br />
value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site to Muslims. It is evident that Israel’s disdain for and<br />
destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> sacred sites such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery extends to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
religious, cultural and historical heritage sites <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish groups,<br />
and is part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a larger pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> discriminati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
D. Right to Culture and Right to Family<br />
The rights to culture and family are enshrined in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UDHR, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR, and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICESCR. 148 The right to culture encompasses <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to engage in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cultural life <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> community. The rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> minorities to engage in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
own cultural life, including religious life, are protected in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR. 149<br />
Burial <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead and visitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves is both a cultural and religious<br />
rite, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which is important to all communities. The sanctity<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir burial places is unequivocal in Islam, as is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
prohibiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> disinterment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dead. The complicity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
government in destroying an important Muslim cemetery and desecrating<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore c<strong>on</strong>stitutes a violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinian and<br />
Muslim rights to practice <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir culture and religi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
147 Report <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> SR <strong>on</strong> freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> religi<strong>on</strong> and belief, supra note 89, at para. 77.<br />
148 UDHR, supra note 140, Art. 27; ICESCR, supra note 144, Art. 15(a).<br />
149 ICCPR, supra note 140, Art. 27.<br />
44
These acti<strong>on</strong>s also infringe <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> right to family, as codified in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> UDHR,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICCPR and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ICESCR, which prohibit arbitrary interference with<br />
family and entitle <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> family to State protecti<strong>on</strong>. 150 By participating in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
disturbance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves, Israel is violating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians<br />
and Muslims, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Descendant <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir ancestors’ burial sites and engage in burial and grave visitati<strong>on</strong><br />
practices involving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir families and ancestors.<br />
VI. CONCLUSION<br />
As a State Party to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> instruments, and as a state bound by customary<br />
internati<strong>on</strong>al law principles, cited in this complaint, Israel is obligated<br />
to protect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights enshrined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rein. By soliciting, approving and<br />
facilitating <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a so-called “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity<br />
- Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> heart <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ancient Muslim cemetery <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Mamilla, itself in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> heart <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holy City <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, Israel is violating<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current Individual petiti<strong>on</strong>ers who have ancestors<br />
buried <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re, as well as <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all Muslims and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs who believe in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir cemeteries and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs who regard <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> collective cultural heritage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> humankind,.<br />
The Individual <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, <strong>on</strong> behalf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir extended families in Jerusalem and<br />
throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> world and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs so affected, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore request <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following:<br />
I. That <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> Freedom <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong> and Belief, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Special<br />
Rapporteur <strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>temporary Forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Racism, Racial Discriminati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Independent Expert in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Field <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Cultural <strong>Rights</strong> urgently demand that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel:<br />
1. Immediately halt fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tolerance” <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery site;<br />
2. Document and reveal to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>ers <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whereabouts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
human remains and artifacts, as well as archaeological fragments<br />
and m<strong>on</strong>uments exhumed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>;<br />
3. Recover and rebury all human remains where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y were originally<br />
found, in coordinati<strong>on</strong> with, and under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supervisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
competent Muslim authorities in Jerusalem; and,<br />
4. Declare <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire historic site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery an antiquity,<br />
to be preserved and protected henceforth by its rightful custodians,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim Waqf (public endowment) authorities in Jerusalem.<br />
150 UDHR, supra note 140, Arts. 12, 16(3);<br />
ICCPR, supra note 140, Arts. 17, 23;<br />
Article 17: No <strong>on</strong>e shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family,<br />
home or corresp<strong>on</strong>dence, nor to unlawful attacks <strong>on</strong> his h<strong>on</strong>our and reputati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Article 23: The family is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> natural and fundamental group unit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society and is entitled to protecti<strong>on</strong> by<br />
society and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> State.<br />
ICESCR, supra note 144, Art. 10:<br />
Article 10: The States Parties to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present Covenant recognize that:<br />
The widest possible protecti<strong>on</strong> and assistance should be accorded to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> family, which is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> natural and<br />
fundamental group unit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society, particularly for its establishment and while it is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> care and<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dependent children…<br />
45
II. Based <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mandate laid out in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council resoluti<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> October 21, 2009, petiti<strong>on</strong>ers request that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> United Nati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Commissi<strong>on</strong>er</str<strong>on</strong>g> for <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sider this complaint <strong>on</strong> an urgent<br />
basis and investigate and report <strong>on</strong> Israel’s violati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above human<br />
rights, which, toge<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r Israeli acti<strong>on</strong>s that degrade or damage<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-Jewish religious sites, c<strong>on</strong>stitute a pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> gross violati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
human rights <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Palestinians and Muslims.<br />
III. That <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> UNESCO c<strong>on</strong>sider this complaint in light<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> existing UNESCO resoluti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> subject and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human rights<br />
violati<strong>on</strong>s alleged herein, and coordinate efforts with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above-menti<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
United Nati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials in order that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery, a cultural and<br />
religious heritage site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> great value, be preserved and protected.<br />
IV. That <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Switzerland, in its capacity as depository <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Fourth Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>, c<strong>on</strong>sider this issue in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>text <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resuming<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> C<strong>on</strong>tracting Parties’ C<strong>on</strong>ference to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Fourth Geneva C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
46
48<br />
APPENDICES
Appendix I. Sixty individual petiti<strong>on</strong>ers who have attested<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir ancestors, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> following Jerusalem<br />
notables, are interred in Mamilla (Ma’man Allah) Cemetery:<br />
• Abdullah Ali Koloti<br />
• Ahmad Agha Duzdar<br />
• Al-Amir Esa Bin Muhamad al-Hakari<br />
• Bader el-Din Zain<br />
• Ghaleb Jawad Ismail ‘Aref Musa Taher Abdul-Samad Ben Abdulatif Husseini<br />
•Jamal Eddine Al-Imam<br />
• Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn `Abdullah al-Dayri al-Khalidi al-`Absi<br />
• Omar Saleh Zain<br />
• Qadi Burhan al-Din Ibn Nusayba<br />
• Qadi Mahmoud al-Khalidi<br />
• Salah El-Rahal al-Sadi<br />
• Shaykh Ahmad Ali Dajani<br />
• Shaykh Said Abdullah Ansari<br />
• TajuDin Abul Wafa Mohammad Ben ‘AlauDin ‘Ali Ben AbulWafa Al-Badri al-Husseini<br />
• Uthman Suleiman al-Kurdi<br />
• Yousef & Ali Beks Hallak<br />
• Yousef H.A. al-Kurd<br />
Individual <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers (at 1 February 2010)<br />
First Name Middle Names Family Name Residence<br />
1 Amin Dia Eddin Akkari Jerusalem<br />
2 Mohammed Asem Ansari Jerusalem<br />
3 Rajai A. Ansari Jerusalem<br />
4 Hisham Jamal Dajani Jerusalem<br />
5 Raed Duzdar Jerusalem<br />
6 Ali Mohamed Hallak Jerusalem<br />
7 AbdulQader Faisal Husseini Jerusalem<br />
8 Adnan Ghaleb Husseini Jerusalem<br />
9 Aida Ahmad Zuhdi Husseini Jerusalem<br />
10 Awni Mahmoud Husseini Jericho<br />
11 Basel Ali Muheidin Husseini Jerusalem<br />
12 Diala Daoud Husseini Jerusalem<br />
13 Hani Ibrahim Husseini Jerusalem<br />
14 Hazem Sami Musa Husseini Jerusalem<br />
15 Hiba Ibrahim Husseini Jerusalem<br />
16 Jihad Mustafa Husseini Jericho<br />
17 Ma’an Mohammad Husseini Jerusalem<br />
18 Mazen Ali Muhiedin Husseini Amman<br />
19 Musa AbdulQader Husseini Amman<br />
20 Nafez Haidar Husseini A<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ns<br />
49
50<br />
First Name Middle Names Family Name Residence<br />
21 Rafiq Haidar Husseini Jerusalem<br />
22 Rashid Said Husseini Amman<br />
23 Samer Ibrahim Husseini Jerusalem<br />
24 Samiha Mustafa Husseini Jerusalem<br />
25 Sharif Khaled Husseini Jericho<br />
26 Tawfic Ibrahim Husseini Jerusalem<br />
27 Hadi Fareed Imam Dayt<strong>on</strong>, OH<br />
28 Haitham Fareed Imam Cincinnati, OH<br />
29 Hania Fareed Imam L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong><br />
30 Huda Fareed Imam Jerusalem<br />
31 Hania Adel Sabri Jaouni Jerusalem<br />
32 Jameel Talaat Abd-Rahman Jaouni Jerusalem<br />
33 Ziad Mahmud Taj-Elddin Jaouni Jerusalem<br />
34 Ahmad Samih Walid Khalidi L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong><br />
35 Amira Hussein Fakhri Khalidi Amman<br />
36 Asem Said Khalidi Jerusalem<br />
37 Bader Hasan Khalidi Manama<br />
38 Hasan Shukri Ragheb Khalidi Houst<strong>on</strong>, TX<br />
39 Imad Sami Khalidi Portland, ME<br />
40 Khalil Yousef Khalidi Jerusalem<br />
41 Leila Hussein Fakhri Khalidi Amman<br />
42 Maha Mohamad Khalidi Manama<br />
43 Mohamad Tawfiq Ghaleb Khalidi Amman<br />
44 Muhammad Safi Saleem Khalidi Jerusalem<br />
45 Muhammad Ali Tarif Khalidi Tor<strong>on</strong>to<br />
46 Munzer Thabet Khalidi Amman<br />
47 Najwa Muhyeddin Khalidi Amman<br />
48 Randa Ahmad Samih Khalidi Beirut<br />
49 Rashid Ismail Khalidi New York, NY<br />
50 Samir Muhyeddin Khalidi Amman<br />
51 Shirin Yousef Khalidi Jerusalem<br />
52 Walid Ahmad Samih Khalidi Cambridge, MA<br />
53 Hisham Mohamad Koloti Jerusalem<br />
54 Maher Suleiman Kurd Jerusalem<br />
55 Mustafa Kurd Jerusalem<br />
56 Salim K. Nusseibeh Jerusalem<br />
57 Sari Hazem Nusseibeh Jerusalem<br />
58 Yousef Ali Salah Jerusalem<br />
59 Hai’il Sandukah Jerusalem<br />
60 Mohamad Zain Jerusalem
Appendix II<br />
Affidavit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, Chief Excavator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli Antiquities Authority excavati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity – Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance”<br />
site in Mamilla cemetery, submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israeli<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court in 2009. Un<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial translati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
AFFIDAVIT<br />
I <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> undersigned, Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, holder <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> I.D. Card No. 53599999,<br />
having been warned that I must state <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> truth and that I shall be liable to<br />
penalties prescribed by law if I do not do so, hereby declare as follows:<br />
1. I have been an archeologist by pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong> since 1994, and have<br />
engaged in archeology since 1984.<br />
2. In 1990 I joined <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority and served as Supervisor<br />
in West Jerusalem until 2000. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this period I performed<br />
supervisory works to enforce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority Law, archeological<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s, archeological surveys and publishing archeological<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
3. I served as Director <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority Jerusalem District from<br />
2000 to 2005.<br />
4. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2005 I became an excavating archeologist <strong>on</strong> behalf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority, and served in this capacity until September 2008.<br />
5. My acquaintance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Tolerance Museum” began in 2004, when<br />
I was serving as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem District Archeologist in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities<br />
Authority.<br />
6. The entrepreneurs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Tolerance Museum” project <strong>on</strong> behalf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Wiesenthal Institute sought to erect <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> land <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim<br />
cemetery in Mammilla. Therefore, around 2004, about <strong>on</strong>e year prior to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> commencement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s, I accompanied <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project entrepreneurs from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> architects firm <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolker-Epstein, and<br />
we c<strong>on</strong>ducted a tour <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site designated for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> erecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project.<br />
51
52<br />
6.1 During <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tour, I clarified to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneur’s representatives that<br />
this was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a very ancient Muslim cemetery where no archeological<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s had ever been made, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore I know nothing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preservati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves. I added that it is possible to see graves<br />
adjacent to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot, both inside and outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> lot, and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tinuing into it.<br />
6.2 I stated to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m that I would not be able to decide <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
graves located underneath <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> asphalt <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot, since I assumed<br />
that many graves had been removed when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot was c<strong>on</strong>structed.<br />
6.3 In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, I demanded to make test trenches. This would<br />
be d<strong>on</strong>e by excavating narrow cross-secti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, in order to<br />
discover whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were any antiquities in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area designated for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project.<br />
6.4 In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, I issued a letter headed “Demand for Test<br />
Trenches” close to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above tour.<br />
6.5 Prior to commencing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> actual excavati<strong>on</strong>, around November 2005,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> test trenches were dug, from which it emerged that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire area<br />
“abounded with graves”, and that under <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> parking lot <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a crowded<br />
Muslim cemetery, c<strong>on</strong>taining three or four layers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves.<br />
6.6 The above informati<strong>on</strong> was given to representatives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum<br />
prior to actual commencement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
I should state that this discovery did not surprise me, nor did it<br />
surprise <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> senior ranks <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority. The Mammilla<br />
cemetery is known as an antiquities site and a burial site in Jerusalem ever<br />
since <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Crusades. It c<strong>on</strong>tinuously served as <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most<br />
important Muslim cemeteries from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ayub period (end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12th century -<br />
M.R.) until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20th century.<br />
7. I was put in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> managing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> and in December 2005<br />
I was appointed Chief Excavator <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project. In fact I was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supreme<br />
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al authority at that excavati<strong>on</strong>. Nobody but me made any<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re.<br />
7.1 At first I was required to perform a “limited test excavati<strong>on</strong>”. That is<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> customary procedure following positive findings in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> test trenches,
in order to find <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> depth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> layers, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> antiquities, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir<br />
period and importance.<br />
7.2 As part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> limited excavati<strong>on</strong>, three excavati<strong>on</strong> squares were<br />
opened at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> north-west part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> building site, and three layers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
antiquities were exposed.<br />
7.3 From <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se excavati<strong>on</strong>s we reached <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> burials<br />
were in traditi<strong>on</strong>al Muslim style, and that burials had been c<strong>on</strong>tinuously<br />
performed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re over a l<strong>on</strong>g period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time.<br />
7.4 In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> limited excavati<strong>on</strong>, my recommendati<strong>on</strong><br />
was to perform rescue works throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site or, alternatively, to<br />
perform a sample rescue excavati<strong>on</strong>, and to cover <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area<br />
without destroying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves.<br />
7.5 In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> end, my first recommendati<strong>on</strong> to perform rescue works<br />
throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area was adopted.<br />
8. Following <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> discovery that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area “abounded with graves”, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Antiquities Authority demanded to c<strong>on</strong>duct a full archeological excavati<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire site, before deciding whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r to release it for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
9. The excavati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery were <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest and most<br />
complex I had ever c<strong>on</strong>ducted in my pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al life. An enormous team<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> about 200 pers<strong>on</strong>s - archeologists, anthropologists, photographers and<br />
excavati<strong>on</strong> workers - was placed at my disposal.<br />
As archeologists we faced a tremendous task - we had to collect every<br />
item <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mammilla Muslim Cemetery, which c<strong>on</strong>sisted<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 3-4 layers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves each, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 12th and<br />
13th centuries.<br />
The fact that I was excavating and dismantling an ancient cemetery<br />
disturbed me, but <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r hand, to excavate such a cemetery was an<br />
extraordinary matter for me pers<strong>on</strong>ally, pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>ally and academically.<br />
The societies living in this regi<strong>on</strong> believe in life after death, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemeteries, by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> burial, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> objects that are or are not in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
graves, express <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir world <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> abstract beliefs.<br />
10. The task <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> managing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> was interesting and challenging,<br />
but not easy. From day to day, objecti<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
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Muslim entities increased, and for that reas<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project entrepreneurs,<br />
who were seeking to establish facts <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ground, exerted str<strong>on</strong>g pressure<br />
to complete <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works quickly. The entrepreneurs would come to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site<br />
<strong>on</strong> a daily basis, pressing for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s to progress quickly, to prevent<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims from halting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project.<br />
11. The Director General <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority, Mr. Shuka Dorfman,<br />
began pressing me to complete <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s as quickly as possible, and<br />
he even told me that ministers were pressing him to expedite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> work.<br />
12. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s, threats began coming in from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
entrepreneurs. The Regi<strong>on</strong>al Director in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority, John<br />
Zeligman, told me that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneurs were threatening that if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong> was held up <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would sue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority, and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pace must be quickened.<br />
13. Due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pressure <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entrepreneurs and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
management levels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority, we commenced working<br />
6 days a week, 12 hours a day, which made analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings even<br />
more difficult. The earth was muddy, and separati<strong>on</strong> between findings and<br />
periods became almost impossible. Never<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works c<strong>on</strong>tinued at<br />
an accelerated pace.<br />
14. The pressure did not cease, and at a certain stage I suggested to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director General to get an impressi<strong>on</strong> from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> enormous quantity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
skelet<strong>on</strong>s exposed, in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> belief that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extraordinary findings we found<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s would help him to understand <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>, and to be able to resist <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pressures exerted <strong>on</strong> him, until<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al entities <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site would be able to complete <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir work.<br />
However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Director General was not c<strong>on</strong>vinced, and said to me: “I have<br />
seen so many dead people that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se skelet<strong>on</strong>s have no effect <strong>on</strong> me.”<br />
15. The haste <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> senior echel<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority<br />
to complete <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> archeological excavati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site resulted in an<br />
“archeological crime”. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir haste to complete <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> senior<br />
echel<strong>on</strong>s destroyed an opportunity to study <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> history <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem over<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last millennium.<br />
The Antiquities Authority, as a public entity, violated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities<br />
Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which it is in charge, and under pressures <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
entrepreneurs and politicians, participated in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a valuable<br />
archeological site.
16. Even more serious, up<strong>on</strong> reviewing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment, it became clear to<br />
me that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority had distorted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> findings from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, and that it<br />
had filed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court a misleading and false resp<strong>on</strong>se c<strong>on</strong>cerning<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
17. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report I wrote <strong>on</strong> April 9, 2006, headed “Report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Entrepreneur, Excavati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mammilla Cemetery” (hereinafter - <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
“Report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Entrepreneur”), I described <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> course <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works in each <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> six excavati<strong>on</strong> areas I had performed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
Attached hereto is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Entrepreneur and a plan <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong> areas, Appendices A and B.<br />
17.1 I excavated and exposed six areas, marked A to D <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> attached<br />
map<br />
17.2 Excavati<strong>on</strong>s were completed in <strong>on</strong>ly in <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> areas, marked A1. It<br />
covered 225 sq.m. out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2500 sq.m. I should immediately emphasize<br />
that this is less than 10% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project.<br />
17.3 In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r areas, actually 90% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project site, excavati<strong>on</strong> was<br />
ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <strong>on</strong>ly partial or preliminary.<br />
17.4 In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> A2 area, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third, most ancient level was not excavated.<br />
17.5 In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> A3 area, graves were exposed but n<strong>on</strong>e were excavated.<br />
17.6 In Area B, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> largest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> areas - about 500 sq.m., <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first<br />
layer was excavated, and in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d and third layers many graves were<br />
exposed but <strong>on</strong>ly a small part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this layer was excavated. On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn<br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this area, an antique aqueduct was exposed from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Roman-<br />
Byzantine and early Arabic periods.<br />
17.7 In Area C, covering approximately 250 sq.m., <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first layer was<br />
excavated and removed; <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sec<strong>on</strong>d layer mainly sec<strong>on</strong>dary burials were<br />
excavated; <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> third layer many graves were exposed, but <strong>on</strong>ly a few<br />
were excavated. The fourth layer was not excavated at all.<br />
17.8 In Area D, covering 375 sq.m., <strong>on</strong>ly a shallow excavati<strong>on</strong> was made.<br />
Many graves were exposed but not <strong>on</strong>e was opened or excavated.<br />
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56<br />
17.9 A total <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 250 skelet<strong>on</strong>s were excavated, some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m from<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>dary burials, and ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 200 graves were exposed but not excavated.<br />
On <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above, I estimated that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are at least about 2000<br />
graves <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
17.10 In light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above findings, I recommended unequivocally: “The<br />
site cannot be released for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> without completing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>.”<br />
18. After reviewing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> supplementary notice given by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities<br />
Authority to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court <strong>on</strong> January 2, 2007, ostensibly based <strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which I was in charge, I was amazed to discover that<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority had chosen not to state <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> above particulars,<br />
but chose instead to give particulars that are totally c<strong>on</strong>tradictory to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
findings <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
19. I was amazed to know that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority had notified<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court that “almost <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire area <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong> has<br />
been released for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>, because it c<strong>on</strong>tains no fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r scientific<br />
data”. That is a factual and archeological lie. The archeological c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />
that should have been drawn, as I recommended in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Report to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Entrepreneur, is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unequivocal opposite, i.e. <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area cannot be released<br />
for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
As aforesaid, from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> date I composed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Report so<strong>on</strong> after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>s were disc<strong>on</strong>tinued in February 2006, in accordance with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
interim injuncti<strong>on</strong> issued by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works were stopped<br />
and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> situati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site did not change until <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works were resumed<br />
after <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment was rendered <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> petiti<strong>on</strong>s against <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum.<br />
20. I hereby declare that from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al aspect, when <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works<br />
were disc<strong>on</strong>tinued due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court’s interim injuncti<strong>on</strong> in<br />
February 2006, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s were <strong>on</strong>ly at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> initial stages. So in no<br />
way can it be said that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s had been exhausted <strong>on</strong> most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project area, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> statement that, except for <strong>on</strong>e area, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific<br />
findings <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site had been exhausted, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site was released, is not<br />
true.<br />
21. As aforesaid, up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> disc<strong>on</strong>tinuati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> works, I had succeeded<br />
in opening <strong>on</strong>ly about 200 graves, and I had exposed ano<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r 200 without<br />
opening <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m. Opening <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most important part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
excavati<strong>on</strong>. After all, if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves are not opened, 90% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> value <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> dig<br />
is lost, because <strong>on</strong>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> required pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al informati<strong>on</strong> obtained.
22. In January 2007 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority filed its supplementary<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>se to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court, to which it attached a schematic map<br />
dividing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site into 5 areas. It is a strange fact that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority chose to<br />
attach a map that I had not drawn and to c<strong>on</strong>ceal from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> court <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e I<br />
had drawn.<br />
23. After a review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> map submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court, <strong>on</strong> which<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment mainly relied, which states that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area colored purple is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<strong>on</strong>ly part not yet excavated, I hereby declare that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> map is misleading and<br />
does not corresp<strong>on</strong>d to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> real situati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
24. I hereby declare that between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> map I drew and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e submitted<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are disturbing and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ound differences,<br />
as set forth below:<br />
24.1 The area marked 1 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority’s map, which was released for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> because it was claimed that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Antiquities Authority had<br />
exhausted <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no c<strong>on</strong>cern for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> existence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
skelet<strong>on</strong>s”, includes areas that we never excavated and in which, according<br />
to my assessment, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re remain many graves.<br />
24.2 Area 2 <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority’s map, which was released for c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
because it was claimed that “all scientific data had been extracted”, includes<br />
extensive areas that were never excavated and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>refore no scientific data<br />
whatsoever were found, so it is not at all clear how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> can be<br />
reached that all scientific data have been extracted! In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> areas that were<br />
excavated, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s were not completed and no scientific data were<br />
extracted.<br />
24.3 In Area 3 <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s were very partial, mainly graves that were<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly exposed but not excavated, so hardly any scientific informati<strong>on</strong> was<br />
produced from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re.<br />
24.4 Area 5 was indeed not examined by me.<br />
25. The c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> is that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> archeological picture <strong>on</strong> Area 3, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> purple<br />
area, is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same as <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> project area.<br />
26. As aforesaid, we discovered hundreds <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim graves <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site.<br />
The positi<strong>on</strong> in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s were lying <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir sides and facing<br />
Mecca testifies that this is indeed a Muslim envir<strong>on</strong>ment. In paren<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ses I<br />
57
58<br />
shall state that if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s in questi<strong>on</strong> were Jewish <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> story would have<br />
developed in a completely different directi<strong>on</strong>. When <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s found are<br />
suspected to be Jewish, it is mandatory to notify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Religi<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
and its representatives may disc<strong>on</strong>tinue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s. It appears to me<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslim dead have nobody to defend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m.<br />
27. I should state that in that period a photograph <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> skelet<strong>on</strong>s<br />
from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s was published in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> press. The suspici<strong>on</strong> arose that<br />
<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> workers had taken <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> photograph with his mobile teleph<strong>on</strong>e,<br />
and from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>n <strong>on</strong> all workers were made to deposit <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir mobile ph<strong>on</strong>es at<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> start <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> day’s work. The site was also surrounded by high fences,<br />
cameras were installed and guards were placed around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, so that it<br />
looks more like a military camp, all with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> aim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> maintaining secrecy.<br />
28. The excavati<strong>on</strong> itself produced fascinating findings. It turned out<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bottom layer, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> earliest, is from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 11th century. This was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> residents <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> vicinity - men, women and children, very<br />
orderly, very crowded, which shows that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> society was very organized,<br />
with a great deal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mutual respect. The findings <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> headst<strong>on</strong>es show<br />
that this was a cemetery for militarily, religiously and politically elite<br />
Muslims. The earliest headst<strong>on</strong>e that was found was from 1278, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
latest were from 1928, and from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> beginning <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1930s.<br />
That is to say that this cemetery had been active for about 1000 years,<br />
up to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first half <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20th century.<br />
29. I hereby declare that in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> my career in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority -<br />
about 18 years - <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has never been a case where such a complex site<br />
was released without an overall excavati<strong>on</strong>. It was in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> interests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
science to c<strong>on</strong>tinue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
30. I hereby declare that nobody advised me <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to release<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance Museum. Although I was<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> chief excavator <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, nobody from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority requested<br />
explanati<strong>on</strong>s from me, and no c<strong>on</strong>ference was held to discuss <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> my report, so that I could not imagine that my unequivocal<br />
c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> not to release <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site would be totally altered with no discussi<strong>on</strong><br />
whatsoever in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Authority. The <strong>on</strong>ly pers<strong>on</strong> who sought to comment <strong>on</strong><br />
my report was Adv. Bar Sela, who called me and asked me whe<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r I could<br />
“alter my report”. At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time I did not understand why I should have to<br />
alter <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> report, and I replied that it would be impossible.
31. The first time I learned <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> decisi<strong>on</strong> to release <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site for<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> despite my c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> was when I read <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Internet. I must say that I read <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> judgment in a state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> shock. The<br />
positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority, <strong>on</strong> whose behalf I was in charge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducting <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excavati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site, is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> central <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>me throughout <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
judgment, but this positi<strong>on</strong> is light-years away from reality <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site. The<br />
positi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Antiquities Authority as submitted to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Supreme Court is<br />
an “archeological crime”, which is a pity. The Authority has lost all moral<br />
and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al validity for its work.<br />
This is my name and my signature, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>tent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> my Affidavit is true.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>firmati<strong>on</strong><br />
( _____________ )<br />
The Dep<strong>on</strong>ent’s signature<br />
I <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> undersigned, Adv. Dorgam Saif, hereby c<strong>on</strong>firm that <strong>on</strong> March 1,<br />
2009 , Mr.Gide<strong>on</strong> Suleimani, who identified himself by I.D. No.53599999,<br />
appeared before me, and, after I had warned him that he must state <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
truth, and that he would be liable to penalties prescribed by law if he did<br />
not do so, he c<strong>on</strong>firmed to me <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> truth <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> his above Affidavit and signed it<br />
in my presence.<br />
Dorgam Saif, Adv.<br />
License No. 21543<br />
( _____________ )<br />
Stamp and Signature<br />
59
Appendix III<br />
60<br />
Letter from Judge Ahmad Natour, President <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Shari’a <str<strong>on</strong>g>High</str<strong>on</strong>g> Court<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Appeals in Israel, to Gersh<strong>on</strong> Baskin, Co-Chief Executive <str<strong>on</strong>g>Office</str<strong>on</strong>g>r <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Informati<strong>on</strong>.
Appendix IV<br />
Certificate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Registrati<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem<br />
Land Registry, 1938<br />
Certificate registering <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> name <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trustee <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Islamic<br />
Waqf in Jerusalem, with a descripti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its boundaries, its area, and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r details.<br />
64
Appendix V<br />
Fatwa (Islamic religious ruling) by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Grand Mufti <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Occupied Palestinian Territory, Shaykh Ikrama Sabri.<br />
The fatwa avows <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> human beings, both alive and dead and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all<br />
religi<strong>on</strong>s and ethnic backgrounds, and affirms <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves to Muslims, a<br />
principle recognized by Islamic jurists. The fatwa pr<strong>on</strong>ounces that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> sanctity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
graves and human remains must be respected and protected, and that disturbing<br />
graves and human remains is prohibited.<br />
65
Appendix VI<br />
66<br />
Resoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Central C<strong>on</strong>ference <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> American Rabbis opposing<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> over <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery
Appendix VII<br />
Aerial Photographs and Maps <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery – Then and Now<br />
69
A. 1951 aerial photograph <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery showing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> entire<br />
cemetery intact, without any development <strong>on</strong> it.<br />
70
B. 2010 Aerial photograph showing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> original boundaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
cemetery and identifying <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> various encroachments <strong>on</strong>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla<br />
Cemetery, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fenced <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f porti<strong>on</strong> in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn secti<strong>on</strong> where<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Center for <strong>Human</strong> Dignity - Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Tolerance” is slated to be<br />
built, Independence Park in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> western porti<strong>on</strong>, and what remains visible<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> eastern porti<strong>on</strong>, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Pool. Satellite<br />
image obtained from Google Earth.<br />
71
C. A 1936 Survey Map showing Mamilla Cemetery as <strong>on</strong>e c<strong>on</strong>tiguous plot,<br />
without any modern structures built within its boundaries.<br />
72
D. 2006 map showing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla Cemetery divided into various plots,<br />
including 158, c<strong>on</strong>stituting Independence Park, 131 and 132, where a<br />
school and playing field have been erected, 139, where an underground<br />
parking lot and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r structures have been c<strong>on</strong>structed, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unmarked<br />
area just south <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> plot 139, where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> boundaries <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site are highlighted. The eastern porti<strong>on</strong> is marked “Muslim<br />
Cemetery,” which is what remains visible <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ancient cemetery and its<br />
historical structures, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla pool in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> center.<br />
73
Appendix VIII<br />
A. Photographs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> desecrati<strong>on</strong> being committed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> “Museum <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Tolerance” c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site.<br />
1: <strong>Human</strong> b<strong>on</strong>es <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals buried in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery that were<br />
disinterred <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site reveal fresh new breaks. This photo shows<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> uncerem<strong>on</strong>ious and disrespectful manner in which <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> remains were<br />
dug up and placed in boxes. The locati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se remains is currently<br />
unknown.<br />
74<br />
2: A complete human skelet<strong>on</strong><br />
exposed <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site.<br />
This particular grave bel<strong>on</strong>ged<br />
to an important individual, as<br />
evidenced by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> m<strong>on</strong>umental<br />
walls <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> tomb.
3: An exposed human<br />
skelet<strong>on</strong> with a cracked<br />
skull <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site.<br />
4: The excavati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum site showing workers digging with<br />
large pickaxes at <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves, indicating a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cern for<br />
destructi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and human remains.<br />
75
5: This photograph <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site shows <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
heavy equipment in an area replete with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves and remains <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
thousands <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Muslims.<br />
1: The tombst<strong>on</strong>e in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> foreground reads: “Al-Fatiha; al-Shaykh Badr<br />
al-Din Mustafa Zayn Rests Here; Died in 1261 Hijri, 1845 AD; To Him<br />
we bel<strong>on</strong>g and to Him we return.” Mohamed Zain, a present <str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>er,<br />
is a direct descendant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased. This tombst<strong>on</strong>e is a more recent<br />
additi<strong>on</strong> to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> grave, as are those atop <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> graves in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> background <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> photo.<br />
76
2: The gravest<strong>on</strong>e pictured here reads: “Al-Fatiha; The deceased, Shaykh<br />
Ali bin Mustafa al-Shibli; Died 247 Hijri; To Him we bel<strong>on</strong>g and to Him we<br />
return.” This gravest<strong>on</strong>e was also more recently renovated.<br />
3: This renovated gravest<strong>on</strong>e was placed in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery in 2005 in h<strong>on</strong>or<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> deceased, Ahmad Agha Duzdar, who was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem<br />
in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 19th century,<br />
1838-1863. His<br />
descendant and<br />
<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> present<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Petiti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g>ers, Raed<br />
Duzdar, renovated<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> headst<strong>on</strong>e with<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> help <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Turkish c<strong>on</strong>sulate.<br />
The new headst<strong>on</strong>e<br />
was vandalized and<br />
shattered into pieces<br />
shortly after it was<br />
erected.<br />
77
A group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem notables and Islamic Waqf <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficials ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ring remains<br />
disinterred and strewn around <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> site during Israel’s c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a<br />
parking lot in Mamilla cemetery in 1967. Palestinians have c<strong>on</strong>sistently<br />
opposed and resisted Israeli encroachments <strong>on</strong>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> cemetery. This<br />
picture appeared in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> last Jordanian governor <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Jerusalem, Anwar al-<br />
Khatib’s memoirs, With Saladin in Jerusalem, published in 1989.<br />
1: What remains visibly intact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Mamilla cemetery abuts <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> fence<br />
surrounding <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Museum c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> site. Photograph by Michael Ratner.<br />
78
2-4 : The Museum site is kept highly guarded, with barbed wire, cameras<br />
and high fences. Photographs by Michael Ratner.<br />
79
Appendix IX<br />
A. United Nati<strong>on</strong>s General Assembly Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 303(IV), December 9, 1949<br />
80
B. United Nati<strong>on</strong>s Security Council Resoluti<strong>on</strong> 476, June 30, 1980<br />
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