“What has changed these last years is the overtaking of the Jerusalemite identity over other aspects,” says Agmon-Snir. “Perhaps because of the security barrier, perhaps because of other things, like the geopolitical situation surrounding us, the understanding that they cannot rely on anyone else, the legitimate yearning for a decent life… all these together have finally ended up in a strong local identity.”
This is how JICC Director, Dr. Hagai Agmon-Snir, described the situation in East Jerusalem in the Jerusalem Post on May 14, 2020, and how it reacted to the coronavirus crisis.
East Jerusalem
Earlier in the article he described the kinds of activities:
“There are many such associations – firstly, the local councils and community centers spread out in all the Arab neighborhoods,” says Hagai Agmon-Snir, director of the Jerusalem Intercultural Center (JICC) on Mount Zion. “They do have some problem of legitimacy as they are perceived as representatives of the Israeli authorities – mostly the municipality – but they manage to work with the population nevertheless.”
Other associations make an impact, namely Bahag al-Kalak in the Muslim Quarter, a welfare organization for the needy; the Edward Said National Conservatory; MiniActive, a womens’ empowerment group; and perhaps the largest of them all – Atta’a, which means “giving,” an organization that focus on exercising the rights of workers in regard to the authorities and private employers, he noted.
“Above all these, there are many WhatsApp groups, a lot of them of parents of students, and the ‘Maqdissi’ – literally the ‘Jerusalemites,’ which also has a Facebook page and is very popular. For example, this social media outlet has been extremely helpful and active in explaining to the population the dangers of the coronavirus, so that the closure of the mosques – including al-Aqsa – has been widely accepted. While some of these associations are still strongly opposed to any contact with any Israeli authority, others admit that in order to have a relatively normal life, they need to take into account the presence of the Israeli representatives, and firstly, the municipality. It is important to note that the JICC is not the ‘owner’ of these groups and their activities, but rather serves as a very neutral platform, to enable a cultural competency for the city and its residents beyond their different identities.”
Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis the JICC has been and active leader in East Jerusalem, helping to lead efforts to combat the crisis. We are proud to be part of these efforts, and kol hakavod to civil society and its leaders and activists in East Jerusalem for leading the charge.
Many thanks to our partners who help us facilitate grassroots activism and civil society in East Jerusalem, including: The Jerusalem Foundation, the Natan Fund, the Russell Berrie Foundation, the Bader Philanthropies, the US Embassy in Israel.
