On Saturday, May 16, 2005, the Ship of Return anchored in Yaffa Harbor, and 80 Palestinians and Jews disembarked. An hour beforehand, it had sailed as part of Zochrot’s activities to mark the 67th anniversary of the Nakba and promote the right of return of Palestinian refugees. On board, Mr. Sha’ban Balaha described the expulsion of Palestinians from Yaffa in 1948, and how he managed to return to his home after two years.
After this symbolic return to Yaffa, we toured Ajami Neighborhood. We walked through its streets and alleys, relating its history before and since 1948, with particular reference to the way it was turned after the war into a ghetto where 3600 Nakba survivors from Yaffa and the area were concentrated. We marked houses of Palestinian refugees whose owners had lived here until 1948: the State of Israel prevented them from returning, confiscated their property and sold or leased it to others. We also discussed the gentrification-Judaization process currently underway the neighborhood. The event was attended by activists, families and Palestinian, Jewish and international journalists, as well as Member of Knesset Haneen Zoabi.
For more information about the project "Houses beyond the Hyphen"
Video
Filming: Ehud Shem Tov
Editing: Dmitriy Veysberg
Production: SocialTV
Language: Hebrew with Hebrew and English sbtitles