Jerusalem Bureaucrats Go After Arab Children’s EU-supported Summer Camp

[Little Tich]

The camp, for children ages five to 16, has been repeatedly visited for the past week by city inspectors and Border Police.

Residents of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan are operating a free summer camp for local kids, but have come up against harassment by the authorities.

The Madaa Silwan Creative Center, a community center run by residents of the Wadi Hilweh section of Silwan, have been operating the summer camp for hundreds of children ages five to 16 for a full decade. Parents pay nothing; the money comes from a fund to which local residents contribute and is supported by the European Union.

Although the camp operates out of an information center that is active politically against the Jewish settlers of Silwan and against the occupation, the camp’s directors say the camp is apolitical and includes sports, art and music.

For the past week the camp has been visited repeatedly by city inspectors and police. Four days ago the inspectors wrote a citation for 475 shekels ($126) because a rope had been strung across two low concrete posts at the entrance to the center. The rope was placed there after two children who came out of the center were struck by passing cars. One of them suffered a broken leg.

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