Settlers perform Talmudic rituals outside a confiscated Palestinian family home

October 30, 2009

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC) -- Tens of extremist Jewish settlers celebrated outside the house they recently arrogated from a Palestinian family in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of east Jerusalem.

Local sources told PIC correspondent that in addition to singing and dancing in circles the extremist settlers performed Talmudic rituals outside the house of al-Ghawi family, who were evicted from their house by the Israeli authorities and their house given to Jewish settlers.

The extremist settlers celebrated under the protection the Israeli occupation police and special forces who also participated in the rituals.

The sources added that the Palestinian residents of the neighborhood responded by playing Quran tapes in their houses, cars and mosques.

The sources also said that a group of locals gathered outside the evicted family's tent to show solidarity with the family

Amal al-Qasem, member of the Sheikh Jarrah committee said that the prayers performed by the settlers "were a challenge to our sensibilities, as Friday is a holy day for Muslims around the world. I fear that in the coming days the Zionist police which protects those settlers will bar us from leaving our homes during their prayers and festivals."

"I hope they leave, because it was them who took over the house of al-Ghawi family. Their presence and their provocations from time to time will not lead to peace or security," she added.

She also said that the issue of Sheikh Jarrah is a just one, the residents are refugees housed under UN supervision and the UN should do something to help stop settlers from taking over the rest of the houses in the neighborhood.