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Israeli forces destroyed the dwellings of at least 500 Palestinians today in retaliation for the killing
of an Israeli settler. Last night Yair Har-Sinai (51) from the Settlement of Sussia was killed
outside of the settlement. Har-Sinai worked as a shepherd, and was shot while watching his
flocks. In response to this killing Israeli Forces in the Hebron district destroyed the homes of
many of the residents of this area.
The settlement of Sussia is one of a group of seven settlements that include
Yatah, Maoun, Beit Yatir, Lasefer, Adnael, and Carmael. The villages of Wad Rakhaim, Karbet al-Nabi, Kharbet
al-Sussia, Imnaizel, and al-Shatneh are located between these settlements. In 1982 an area of
86,000 dunums, including the area on which these villages and the settlements are located, was
declared a closed military zone by the Israeli government. All civilians, including the Palestinians
residing in the area, were forbidden from living in the area. The residents of the villages named
above refused to leave, but much of their land was confiscated, and was later turned over to
Israeli civilians by the Israeli government for use in building settlements. For years the Israeli
government and settlers in this region have been attempting to expel the residents of the district
from their homes. Most of the Palestinians in this area live in caves that have been used by their
families for generations. On March 29, 2000 the Israeli military expelled most of the residents of
this area, but 82 of the families expelled fought the expulsion order and the Supreme Court
eventually ordered that they be allowed to return to their homes. This morning the Israeli military
entered into these villages and blew up all of the caves in which most of the residents live. They
also filled in the villages wells. The families living in these caves have dwelled in these locations
for hundreds of years and have no alternative places to live now that their homes have been
destroyed. In addition to those left homeless at least 30 men were arrested. No final count on
the number of homes destroyed and the number of men arrested is currently available, but
al-Haq is following up on this case and will have more complete information in the coming days.
The Israeli militarys actions are a violation of the basic rights of the Palestinian residents of these
villages. The actions being taken constitute collective punishment, and qualify as a grave breach
of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 under Article 147, which states that, grave breaches
to which the preceding Article relates shall be those involving any of the following acts
extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried
out unlawfully and wantonly. The international community should thus take immediate action to
stop Israels grave violations of Palestinians rights, and should immediately demand that Israeli
forces halt their destruction of civilian Palestinian property. |