Dahmash: See, Hear, Understand, and Act!
Dahmash is a village located within the municipal jurisdiction of the Emek Lod regional council in Israel. The village's inhabitants – 600 people in 70 households – live on private lands legally registered in their names. In 1948, the entire area was declared agricultural lands. In the following years, all the inhabitants of the area have petitioned to change the designation of their lands from agricultural to residential. All the requests, except those of the Dahmash inhabitants, have been accepted. While the requests of nearly all the area's inhabitants have been accepted, those of the people of Dahmash are still being argued in court.
All 600 Dahmash residents have the same address in the civil registry: HaHashmonaim St. #6, Ramleh. But the city council refuses to recognize the village inhabitants as residents of the city. The same goes for the city of Lod and the Emek Lod regional council. Dahmash itself has no municipal services. Today, there is no paved road in the village. Every winter the gravel road leading to Dahmash is flooded. Without a proper drainage system the water remains on the road and rises to knee level. The children's school transportation does not enter the village, and the puddles have to be crossed on foot. Waste disposal services do not exist. Dahmash literally drowns in piles of trash. The stated reason is the village residents' failure to pay their municipal taxes. But why don't they pay? The city refuses to collect the municipal taxes because it does not recognize their right to live in their homes. And without taxes, no municipal services are provided. Not to mention social or health services.
In 2007, the court agreed to stop the demolition orders on some of the houses, in the condition that the Dahmash residents present the county planning committee with a zoning plan which considers and regulates existing and future buildings in the village. The Dahmash residents have successfully struggled and raised the necessary funds, and the plan was submitted to the county planning committee. The committee has failed to handle or act in accordance with the plan since.
On 7/14/2010 the court will decide whether to let the houses stand or demolish them.
We, a group of young activists from Lod and Ramleh named Khutwah (Step), are worried about this coming decision so crucial to the fate of the neighborhood. In order to bring the conditions of the Dahmash residents to public attention, we have decided to hold a summer camp and a protest performance in the days before the court hearing. The summer camp will include a children's camp for the village kids and visitors in the mornings, tours in the village and in the Ramleh-Lod area in the afternoon, and joint cultural activities for volunteers and residents in the evenings. The highlight event will include a performance of Arab and Jewish Artists alongside the village kids' presentations.
What Can I Do?
You can volunteer: we need instructors for the children, assistance with logistics, drivers, cooks, media coordinators, etc. Volunteers can choose to spend the night in the neighborhood and participate in the evening joint activities. If you wish to join as a volunteer, please fill out the attached form.
Donations are welcome: we are building the summer camp from scratch, without the support of foundations or large donors, and we would therefore welcome any donation. You may donate ingredients and other supplies. For donations please contact Fida at 052-5787941 or email us at dahmash.donations@gmail.com
You are more than invited to participate in any of our activities, especially in the final musical artisitic performance – guaranteed to be a memorable experience.
Yours,
Khutwa and the camp volunteers.
