Ecology Scape

Ecological Scape

A strong language of the division is presented surrounding the olive grove site through the use of landscaping. Towards the northeast, natural barriers are created through the use of densely forested areas, shielding the elevated Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood atop of the northwest hill. This provides an effective buffer to segregate this public and high-class community and also presents an image of power to separate itself from the Palestinian neighborhoods below. Opposite along the west, forestation is also present on Mt. Scopus, beginning from the height of the Hebrew University flooding down to the pit of the valley located south where Palestinian neighborhoods such as Wadi Joz are located. The language of strict division through barriers is present in both these scenarios, guarding the Israeli public buildings located on both hills from the conditions that meet to the centre below. The use of trees and vegetation can be traced back to the national myth of tree planting being a Zionist ritual, contrasting with the deserts and wastelands associated with the Arabs. In response, the Palestinians began to plant olive trees, which symbolizes the enduring roots in the land and village of Israel. Our site is located on an olive grove, which happens to also be sandwiched between both heightened and heavily forested areas.

Aside from forestation, barriers in landscape are also present through the use of large open fields allowing no construction. These areas in Jerusalem are often indicated ‘green space’, a term used by the Israeli municipality for breathable communities and maintaining the primeval village appeal of many Palestinian neighborhoods. In reality, creating these areas of green space severely restrict the areas of development for Palestinians and the desire for village appeal stands as a justification to suppress the Palestinian population. It is planned by the Israeli municipality that 40 percent of East Jerusalem is considered green space, most of which being in Palestinian neighborhoods. The product of this plan has been the severe restriction of needed Palestinian community development and access to natural resources. Approximately 3400 Palestinian homes have been threatened by demolition due to these green space zoning laws and lack of building permits. These green areas have not only become empty spaces in every case but have also transformed into Jewish neighborhoods, specifically Abu Ghneim and Rekhas Shuufat.

A clear example of these green spaces as buffering fields is present southwest of our site between two neighborhoods. The lower neighborhood is Wadi Joz, a mixed community filled with auto repair garages, shops and underdeveloped housing units. Landscaping is not considered in this area, where the rare tree would be used as an extension of a wired property fence. This area uses what they need, through the demolition of vegetation to create paved streets, and exposed crumbling rocky hills. Neighborhood boundary markers aren’t necessary, for the surrounding Israeli neighborhoods clearly represent their boundaries through forestation, height and the forceful construction of retaining walls. North of Wadi Joz is a field considered No Man’s Land which divides the two neighborhoods physically, and also puts a strain on the differences in living conditions. This field is an extension of the south portion of our olive grove site, strewn with rubble and grass and is vacant from any construction. On opposing sides of this field are two different neighborhoods, which both have different uses and associations of this field. The lower class Wadi Joz houses to the south line it’s perimeter with extended gardening, animals, storage and play areas for their children, but on the other side of the field where the higher class Palestinian neighborhood resides, elements of fencing and borders are present through an abrupt stop in the rolling hills and forestation and use of retaining walls at the edge of the field. This community expresses a contrasting sentiment to Wadi Joz, where landscaping through forestry and vegetation is key to provide the image of a charming rustic community set within a forest, but is conserved strictly within it’s borders. These planning policies are contrived and planned carefully by the Israeli municipality to express a certain sentiment associated with the desired image of Israel, which calls for the suppression of Palestinian land. The only release from these severe separations is present on our site in the form of a cultivated and ordered olive grove, choked by the surrounding hierarchy and divided neighborhoods.