Bedouin in Jerusalem village say neglected by PA

Bedouin in East Jerusalem's Zayem village say the Palestinian Authority is neglecting their struggle against eviction by Israel. Villager Mohamad Odeh Mousa Al-Saedi Jahalin said Israel had been trying to take control of Zayem since 1953. Fifteen families live in the village and they are continuously harassed by Israeli forces and issued demolition orders to force them from their land, he said. In 2011, Israeli forces demolished the tent-homes in the village but residents rebuilt them. Jahalin said Israeli authorities had offered him money to leave the area several times but he refused. Meanwhile, the PA announced that it would provide financial aid to the village but the money never arrived, he added. Speaking on behalf of families in Zayem, Jahalin appealed to President Mahmoud Abbas to instruct PA officials to support the village.