CITY OF DAVID & SILWANAndrew M. Reside

9/4/14

Outline Background of City of David and Silwan Change from Palestinian/Jordanian to Israeli

control Arab village despite Israeli control Importance of the City of David to Jewish

tradition Archaeological Excavations: Elad Effects on residents of Silwan Arab-Jewish conflict & Protests The City of David and Silwan representing

conflict in modern-day Israel

Location and Control The City of David,

or Silwan, is located just outside the Old City walls in East Jerusalem

Before the 1948 War, Jerusalem was controlled mostly by the Arabs

Change in Control

City of David/Silwan changed from Arab control, to Israeli control after the Six Days War in 1967

Arab Village under Israeli Control Despite Israeli rule, Silwan

remained a heavily populated Arab village similar to the rest of East Jerusalem

In fact, Israel’s population is made up of 21% Arabs

This percentage is even higher in Jerusalem, especially East Jerusalem where Arabs are the majority group

This is also the case in Silwan

East Jerusalem, with Israeli West Bank barrier in the background

City of David & Elad Important to Jews to link them

to the land of their ancestors The Ir David Foundation, or

Elad, is an organization largely fueling these excavations

Elad Founded in 1986 by David Be’eri Lead excavations of the City of

David Purchase homes and land in

Silwan Encourages tourism Returns Jews to homes in Silwan

Findings at the City of David Warren’s Shaft Sir Charles Warren Shaft that connected the Gihon Spring to

the top of the hill and Shiloahs Pool Helped discover the tunnel system that

helped residents get water (Hezekiah’s Tunnel)

Shiloah Inscription Inscription on the walls of the tunnel

showing where the diggers of the tunnel met as they dug from opposite sides

Mikveh Found a small pool where people used to

clean themselves before entering the Temple

Spring House Excavation Ronny Reich and Eli Shukron Found remnants of a large fortress

surrounding the spring Excavation is still ongoing

Effects on Silwan Housing laws and land purchases have led to negative effects on

the Arab residents of Silwan Elad has been purchasing homes and renting them out to Jewish

families They have also claimed some property through the Absentee

Properties Law, which is an Israeli law favoring groups like the Elad Palestinian families have been evicted from their homes 100 Jewish families living in Silwan due to these efforts The excavations and tourism also take a toll on the residents Some homes have been damaged or demolished as a result of the

excavations, as the digging often takes place next to or underneath homes

Also, the City of David attracts many tourists and a lot of attention, which is unfavorable in the minds of many Arabs living in Silwan

Conflict in SilwanOn one hand, there are Jews who believe they are entitled to the land that links them to their religious tradition and rights to the

Land of Israel.

On the other hand, Arab residents, who are also Israeli citizens, are annoyed with the

actions of Elad and simply want to live peacefully.

Protests On August 26, 2010, a violent clash broke

out between Jewish and Arab residents of Silwan

There was supposed to be an Elad-Sponsored Conference about archaeology in Silwan

However, a few groups and Arab residents of Silwan began a demonstration to protest the conference

Nobody was killed, but the police were allowed to use physical force, and protesters were repeatedly thrown to the ground and arrested on the spot

The protest went on for hours, and spread throughout the village of Silwan. It was regarded as a successful demonstration, as it showed the Arab discontent with the works of the Ir David Foundation

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCOwQL7w_Rg

Conflict in Modern-Day IsraelSilwan

The Arab-Jewish conflict in Silwan relates to the broader conflict in Israel

In Silwan, many Arab residents were forced to leave their homes

Arabs in Silwan believe they are being treated unfairly and simply want to live in peace

Jews want the City of David for religious and ancestral ties to the land

Results in conflict and anger between Jews and Arabs

Israel Fighting stems from control of the Holy

Lands Jerusalem is a holy place for Jews,

Muslims, and Christians; which results in conflict

“Promised Land” by God for Jews The Prophet Mohammed’s “Night Ride”

and ascension into Heaven Many Arabs were removed from their

land after the Six Days War Arab outrage comes from being removed

from their land in Israel Radical Islamic Terrorism and hatred of

Jews is tied to this idea Arabs want to force the Jews out of Israel

and reclaim the territory as Palestine Jews believe they have a right to the land

for religious purposes

Works Cited"Archaeology." City of David. The City of David and Ir David Foundation. Web. 20 Aug. 2014. <http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en/archeology>.

Bartal, Shaul. "The Battle over Silwan: Fabricating Palestinian History." Middle East Forum. Middle East Quarterly, 1 Sept. 2012. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.

“City of David.” Bible Walks. 27 July 2014. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.<http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/CityOfDavid.html>.

Dana, Joseph. "Israel vs Israel: A Protest in Silwan against Settlements." 972 Mag. 972 Magazine, 5 Sept. 2010. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.

Klug, Lisa A. "Where Jerusalem Began; the City of David Brings the Bible to Life." The New York Jewish Week, Manhattan edition ed.: 6. Oct 15 2004. ProQuest. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.

Laskin, Dafna. "Shake-up at City of David." JPost. The Jerusalem Post 1995 - 2014, 14 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.

Selfa, Lance. "How the Six Day War Changed the Middle East." Socialist Worker. International Socialist Organization, 8 June 2007. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.

Stahl, Lesley. "Controversy in Jerusalem: The City Of David." CBS News. CBS Interactive, 14 Oct. 2010. Web. 20 Aug. 2014.

"The Partition Plan: Background & Overview." Jewish Virtual Library. American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Web. 20 Aug. 2014. <http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/partition_plan.html>.