Ref: 138/2011

The Palestinian
Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns, in the strongest terms, the ongoing
policies adopted by Israeli occupation authorities aimed at creating a Jewish
majority in occupied East Jerusalem, the latest of which has been closing the
wooden bridge of Bab al-Maghariba (Dung Gate) under the pretext of maintaining
public safety.  PCHR is concerned that
the closure of the bridge may be a prelude to establishing an iron bridge and
changing the features of the area, especially given the Israeli authorities declared
intent to expand the yard adjacent to al-Buraq Wall and establish a multi-level
car park.  PCHR calls upon the
international community to immediately act to stop the policies adopted by
Israel in occupied Jerusalem and reiterates its call for the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligation under
Article 1 of the Convention to respect the Convention in all circumstances,
including pressuring other parties to respect the Convention.

According to information
collected by PCHR, on Monday, 12 December 2011, the Israeli occupation authorities
completely closed the wooden bridge to Bab al-Maghariba to civilian foot
traffic.  The bridges closure was ordered
by the Israeli municipality’s chief engineer in Jerusalem.  The engineer, Shlomo Eshkol,missued the order
to close the bridge in a letter sent to the so-called “Western Wall
Foundation”, who holds responsibility for the site.  Eshkol claimed that the bridge is in danger
of immediate collapse and was a fire hazard. 
A statement made by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem indicated that
“the bridge will remain open only for security services when
necessary.”

Spokesperson
for the Israeli municipality, Stephen Miller, confirmed the closure of the
bridge, stating that “the police and Western Wall Foundation decided to
close the temporary bridge of Bab al-Maghariba following a letter sent by the
municipality, which set a deadline of seven days to file a petition against the
engineer’s order” to demolish the bridge.

On 23 October
2011, the Israeli municipality requested the demolition of Bab al-Maghariba’s
bridge.  At that time, the municipality’s
engineer claimed that “this temporary bridge will be demolished in
accordance with the law, and it will then be rebuilt using non-flammable
materials under standards and criteria set by engineers.”  In late November 2011, the Israeli government
decided to delay the demolition of the bridge to avoid protests in the Arab and
Islamic Worlds.

This wooden
bridge was temporarily established in 2004 following the collapse of the main
bridge used by non-Muslims and Israeli security services to reach al-Aqsa Mosque.

PCHR reiterates
condemnation of all the Israeli policies aiming at the obliteration of Islamic
and Christian features in East Jerusalem, and:

1. Calls upon the international community to intervene to compel
Israel to stop all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt),
especially in East Jerusalem.

2. Confirms that East Jerusalem, which has been occupied since 05
June 1967, is an integral part of the oPt, and that procedures taken by Israel
following the occupation of the city do not change its legal status.

3. Asserts that all Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem
constitute a war crime according to international humanitarian law.

4. Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention to fulfill their legal obligations, and ensure Israel’s respect for
the Convention in the oPt, in accordance with article 1 of the Convention.  PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence
practiced by the international community encourages Israel to act as a state
above law and to commit more violations of international human rights law and
international humanitarian law, including efforts to create a Jewish majority
in occupied East Jerusalem.