Newsweek - USA (2019-08-09)

NEWSWEEK.COM 37

EAST JERUSALEM

But Jerusalem lacks hotel rooms and space to accom-

modate the desired influx of guests. In 2018 the gov-

ernment announced that it would spend $13 million

to excavate the City of David and an additional $ 54

million to connect the City of David to West Jerusa-

lem via cable car in an effort to build tourism that

will “reflect the national heritage of the Jewish people.”

“Within East Jerusalem, the government is devel-

oping ambitious plans to build tourism infrastruc-

ture in Palestinian parts of the city,” reads a report

published by Amnesty International this year enti-

tled Destination: Occupation. “Hundreds of Pales-

tinian residents are threatened with forced eviction.”

Saleh Higazi, deputy regional director for Am-

nesty’s Middle East division, toldNewsweekthat

American companies like TripAdvisor and AirBnB

are profiting from this expansion.

“It is alarming to see tourism and online booking

companies such as TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Ex-

pedia, and AirBnB being part of this,’ he says. “By

listing and promoting settlements as destinations,

including in Silwan, these companies benefit from

an illegal situation.”

TripAdvisor and Expedia both say they are only

in the business of providing travelers with informa-

tion. “We aim to provide travelers with an apolitical,

accurate and useful picture of all accommodations,

restaurants and attractions that are currently open for

business around the world,” Brian Hoyt, a TripAdvi-

sor spokesman, said. Booking.com did not respond to

requests for comment. Airbnb declined to comment.

At present there seem few legal options open

to Palestinians in East Jerusalem facing eviction.

Nonetheless, no one Newsweekk interviewed had any

plans to leave. Moraya, who says his house could be

demolished any day, lives with fifteen family mem-

bers in a home erected in 1998. His uncle’s house

across the street has already been torn down.

“When our house is demolished, we will sleep in

tents,” he says.

TOURIST HAVEN?

Clockwise from left:

Hamza Moraya; the

construction of a Jewish

settlement; searching

for antiquities; and

Israeli Prime Minster

Benjamin Netanyahu,

President Donald Trump

and Vice President Mike

Pence in Washington.

nsactional. “when our house isdemolished,we will sleep in tents.”