“Home Front: Portraits from Sheikh Jarrah” by Just Vision

Sheikh Jarrah is a Palestinian neighbourhood north of the Old City in East Jerusalem. Situated in a strategic location, Israeli settler groups have made relentless efforts to have a strong Jewish presence in the neighbourhood. In the last several years, tensions have escalated as Israeli settlers have been trying to evict Palestinian families from homes that they claim were once Jewish-owned. These organisations have used the Israeli legal system in their favour to claim that these properties were once owned by Jewish families prior to 1948. A double standard in the Israeli legal system emerges as Israeli courts still refuse to recognise the rights of Palestinian refugees as well as Palestinian property lost in the establishment of the State of Israel.

The Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem is in violation of international law and has created miserable conditions for the Palestinian people living under such rule. In addition to evictions in Sheikh Jarrah, Palestinians are subject to continuous home demolitions throughout East Jerusalem and in parts of the West Bank (particularly in areas near illegal Israeli settlements). According to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), 28,000 homes in East Jerusalem have standing demolition orders. Restricted movement in the occupied Palestinian territory continues due to checkpoints, roadblocks, closures, and curfews, as well as a blockade of goods and people in the Gaza Strip, amongst other measures.

World Vision currently has 44,516 registered children, of which 35,492 are sponsored, and continues to work in Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza towards ensuring that all children are cared for, protected, and participating while advocating for a fair and just peace between Israelis and Palestinians.