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AMMAN (Quds Press) - Some Palestinian villages are using the technology of the World Wide Web to keep their heritage and history alive.
Ain El Karem is one of these villages. Its residents, who currently live in Jordan, decided to reminisce upon 52 years of occupation by bringing its original name to life through the Internet. The website for the village of Ein Karem (see Related Link) includes within it the Arabic names of all geographic sites which were given Hebrew names after the occupation. The site chooses to pay homage to the village by reviving the old village name, as it was when Palestinians were forced to leave the area. The villagers themselves decided to draw maps of their homeland as they remembered it, and put all the original names as they once were. Many places were renamed during the occupation; Oukoud mountain was changed to Hertzel mountain, and Beer Elkaf became Hadassah, where a hospital bearing the same name was built by the occupying authority. Ein Karem residents who were ousted out of their homes in 1948 signed a declaration last year asserting the importance of keeping their Arab identity. The declaration also includes statements calling upon the residents to defend their right of return to their homeland despite the results of any accords that may be brokered. Villagers also state they would refuse any compensation for their land offered in lieu of returning. The Internet site includes information in both Arabic and English about the village and their declaration. Names and biographies of men and women who died more than half a century ago in defense of the village are also recalled. The site also contains old photos of the village, and related international documents, agreements and accords. The efforts of the people of Ein Karem has encouraged residents of other villages to take the same step in observing the Arab identity of illegally appropriated Palestinian land through the use of the Internet. |
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