For More Information, Call:
Land and Water Establishment For Immediate Release: Tel: (972) (02) 812364/824559 6 April, 1995 Fax: (972) (02) 811072
ISRAELI AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO DEMOLISH HOUSES
CASES IN HEBRON AREA AND IN JERUSALEM ITSELF
The Israeli Authority in Jerusalem and the West Bank are issuing an increasing number of house demolition orders, claiming that these houses are built without permits. Many of the house owners have come to the Land and Water Establishment for legal protection.
The demolition in Jerusalem serve to promote the elimination of a significant Arab presence in East Jerusalem and, to prejudice the final outcome of the negotiations on the city.
On 26 February 1995 Mohammed Zuhdi Idkadic who owns a house in Beit Hanina, and works abroad,. received a demolition notice for his house. The case was taken to a local court in Jerusalem by LAWE. On 29 March 1995 the court postponed the demolition for 6 months, until Mohammed obtains a permit, which is usualy rejected by the Israeli Authority. Mohammed's wife feels insecure with the court decision. She is facing the threat of finding herself and her seven children, out in the streets with no shelter. Idkadic is not the only victim of the Israeli policy. Many families are facing the same fate, the whole neighborhood, that was built before 1967, is threatened to be demolished too.
Further north of Jerusalem, Nabil Izhaq Al-Shawish and Ghalib Hassan Gaith from Ar-ram received also a demolition notice. Their houses are located in a neighborhood of 60 houses built 10 years ago. According to Ar-ram skeleton plan this area is specified for building houses. LAWE realizes the threat of destroying neighboring houses as well and is concerned about the future of the families living there, therefore lawyers from the Establishment submitted a protest to the "Construction and Inspection Committee".
In A'nata,.three residents, Mohammed Abed Al-latif , Sa'id Ad-deen Ahmed Qaq, and Hussain Mura'ib, received a .notice from the military Authority on demolishing their houses.A chicken farm of 2200m2 in the village will be also demolished.
Issuing house demolition notices continues. In Hebron and Halhul 22 families received the notice, The houses will be destroyed to clear the way for the settlers road #60. This road will bypass Palestinian population centers and link all Jewish settlements south of Jerusalem all the way to Negev
Lawyers from Land and Water Establishment investigated the case of Halhul and found out that the people there are facing another problem. In 1982 the Israeli Authority have requested a redrafting of the municipality borders to fit their plans. The case is still in the court, but until now. no decision has been taken concerning the city borders. The houses threatened to be demolished are located within the municipality borders. Yet. according to the Israeli Authorities' .skeleton plane, the houses are located outside the city borders.
Land and Water Establishment has adopted many cases for citizens in Halhul. Lawyers are trying to help them get the compensations they deserve for their losses. The Israeli company working in the road #60 is using explosives very close from residential areas. These explosives caused the destruction of many houses. Some of these houses are not good for living any more.
In Hebron, many Palestinian houses, aged 20 years and more, and serves families. consisting of more than 10 members , are going to be demolished in Al-birkah and Um-al-A'in to serve the construction of the settlers road #6. The road will bypass Palestinian population centers causing the demolition of thousands of houses, and the confiscation of thousands of dunums.
Land and Water Establishment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. Their activity concentrates on land confiscation, property destruction and environmental issues.