At 11:30 this morning large forces from the police joined municipal inspectors at a park in Jaffa where, for five months now, Da'ud Sawaf, his wife Ruweida, and their five children have lived in a tent. There have been, in fact, four tents since the family was first put out on the street in December 1998. Today, without explanation the police took down the latest of these, packed it up along with the family's possessions, and departed.
This occurred despite a letter dated April 13 from Deputy Mayor Michael Roeh to the family's lawyer, Idan Seidel, announcing "my readiness to work toward a solution for the Sawaf family, on condition that I can deal directly with you and the family, without interference from political elements." Attorney Seidel wrote back that the family would be glad of a permanent solution. "Unfortunately, in the light of the family's bitter and traumatic experience during the last two years, it is in a deep crisis of confidence, and it is not interested in leaving the tent except to a permanent apartment... The solution of a permanent apartment for the family is also acceptable to the Committee for Solidarity, and for this reason, I do not think that problems of partisan politics arise here." The city's barbaric response to this letter demonstrates that the cornerstone of municipal policy toward the people of Jaffa is eviction.
The family has no place to go, and therefore it will set up yet another tent. The family will leave the park only in exchange for a permanent solution. The Committee for Solidarity with the Sawaf family wishes to express its outrage at the city's behavior, and it announces that it will continue to stand behind the family and help it in every way it can. The Committee will keep appealing to the public to put pressure both upon the city (that it should cease its repeated attacks on the family) and upon Yosef Shiloah (that he should provide the Sawafs with a permanent dwelling, as he promised in the contract by which he gained their agreement to vacate their earlier home). The Committee places the whole responsibility for the repeated evictions on the mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Ron Huldai, of whom it demands: Stop abusing the Sawaf family! Faxes to the mayor should be sent to the following municipal number: 972-3-5216453. Copies should be sent to us at: 972-3-6839148
Email: oda@netvision.net.il
For further information, to make contributions (clothing, blankets, etc.), or to help in other ways, please contact Asma Agbarieh of the Committee for Solidarity with the Sawaf family: 972-3-6839145. Mobile phone: 051-540575. Also, Nir Nader, Mobile phone: 052-924135.
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