6 August 1997

On 5 August, Israeli military forces arrived early in the morning to demolish three houses in the Sa’ir and Bani Na’im areas near Hebron. The demolition of these homes, which lay near the settler by-pass roads of the Hebron area, left some 24 people homeless.

In Bani Na’im, Hassan Gheith’s home was destroyed, leaving 8 people homeless.

In Sa’ir village, the home of Mohammed Fayez Shaker Jaradat was demolished, leaving 7 people without a home. Mr. Jaradat had submitted an appeal against the demolition in August of 1996, but heard nothing more until the bulldozers arrived yesterday. The house was over 4 years old.

These two homes were demolished in Area C for having no permit, although both lay near the settler by-pass roads of the Hebron area.

In an even more tragic development, the home of Tahe Abu Sneineh in al Buweira village near Hebron was destroyed by mistake. His home lies in Area B, an area where the Palestinian Authority has civil control, and the PA had issued him a permit to build. Nine people lived in this home.

LAW once again reiterates its complete condemnation of the Israeli government’s policy of ethnic cleansing. Voice your opposition to this ongoing and inflammatory policy to: Israeli Prime Minister (972) (2) 566 4838, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Levy (972) (2) 530 3506, Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai (972) (3) 691 6940. Electronic mail to: Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu: pm@pmo.gov.il, the Office of the Prime Minister: feedback@pmo.gov.il, the Israeli Government Press Office: gpo@pmo.gov.il, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: ask@israel-info.gov.il.

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.