Israel Shuts Palestinian Coronavirus Testing Clinic in East Jerusalem

PALESTINE - ISRAEL, COVID19 - CORONAVIRUS, 20 Apr 2020

Nir Hasson | Haaretz - TRANSCEND Media Service

15 Apr 2020 – Clinic in Silwan raided, activists arrested because kits were provided by the Palestinian Authority.

Mondoweiss

Israeli police raided a coronavirus testing clinic in the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan and arrested its organizers on Tuesday [14 Apr] night because the clinic was operated in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority.

According to the clinic’s managers, there is a shortage of coronavirus tests in Silwan, where doctors say there are 40 confirmed cases and where overcrowded living conditions could lead to a rapid spread of the virus.

The clinic was opened in a hall at one of the local mosques. It was closed on Tuesday night because to the end-of-Passover curfew, but police officers nonetheless arrived, questioned neighbors and arrested four activists who were involved in setting up the clinic.

The coronavirus tests were meant to be processed by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. However, Israel prohibits any PA activity in Jerusalem and last month also prevented PA workers from disinfecting public spaces in the capital. In contrast, two weeks ago Israel allowed armed PA forces to respond to a violent dispute that took place in one of the Jerusalem neighborhoods that are beyond he separation barrier.

“You [Israeli authorities] are not helping us and are preventing us from getting help from others,” said one of the residents, Farhi Abu Diab. “For the first time, we have a common enemy, so let’s work together.”

Abu Diab said the Israeli government will respond after it’s too late, after the month of Ramadan, which he said will surely exacerbate the outbreak. “Instead of working together, [Israeli authorities] are bringing politics into this. I don’t care about who has jurisdiction. If something happens to my son I don’t care who tests him.”

On Monday [13 Apr], at the behest of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon and health professionals, the Israeli Health Ministry opened a testing clinic in Silwan, but it is only accessible to members of the Clalit health maintenance organization.

________________________________________________

• Coronavirus quarantine facilities in Israeli ultra-Orthodox city reach full capacity
• After weeks of warning, coronavirus spreading among Palestinians in East Jerusalem
• 24 hours in the Israeli Arab town hit hardest by the coronavirus
• Settlers in coronavirus quarantine attack Palestinian campers, torch their cars

Go to Original – haaretz.com

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

One Response to “Israel Shuts Palestinian Coronavirus Testing Clinic in East Jerusalem”

1. “How to Survive the Apocalypse? An Advice from a Friend” - Al Bilad English Daily says:

   28 Apr 2020 at 10:31

   […] prisons (and using them as guinea pigs to test drugs to profit its pharmaceutical industry). The regime shuts down a Palestinian clinic in occupied East Jerusalem (Silwan) that is fighting the pandemic. The “fined” people who were protesting (keeping distance) the […]