Beit Jala and Hebron - Another Day Under Apartheid in the Holy Land

Beit Jala and Hebron:

justicewheels — April 11, 2010 — Another day in this apartheid system ruling over the holy land. Representing the popular committee against the wall and settlements in Beit Sahour, we joined with our friends in Beit Jala, a town which lost nearly half its land to Israeli Jewish-only colonial settlements over the past four decades. Now town residents are prevented from getting to additional areas near the apartheid walls and bypass roads (all to serve illegal Jewish colonies on Palestinian land). The weekly Sunday demonstration proceeded as expected: soldiers stretching barbed wire across the road, activists speaking to those present (including soldiers) in Arabic, English, and Hebrew. There was a poignant moment when a young German girl tried to speak to a soldier who even refused to look her in the eye.

We then drove to Hebron to show a visiting teacher from Denverwhat it is like to have 400 racist settlers ruin life for 150,000 Palestinians. The settlers took over some buildings, built a few other sites and make life in this largest Palestinian city hell for its inhabitants (Hebron is largest now because cities like Nazareth, Jerusalem, and Jaffa have had much of their Palestinain population ethnically cleansed). I am trying to get a steadier hand and better editing for youtube videos of these things. Below is my latest attempt which I end by a more mundane segment showing poor children who we took to a park ( they have not been to a park for 2 years). We fed them Knaffa (Palestinian dessert) at that time but I did not have my camera then so I show what Knaffa looks like in Bethlehem with our small group that visited Hebron earlier.



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Israeli military not complying with order to protect children

At-Tuwani - Tuba School Escort for 2008-2009 School Year:

"Children from Tuba and Maghaer Al-Abeed, villages located in the Palestinian territories' South Hebron Hills, attend primary school in the village of At-Tuwani. The children walk on a road passing between the Israeli settlement of Ma'on and the illegal settlement outpost of Havot Ma'on/Hill 833. Armed settlers have harassed and attacked the children on their journeys to and from school.

In 2004 the Israeli Knesset Committee for Childrens Rights affirmed the need for an Israeli military escort for the school children along the road from Tuba to At-Tuwani. Despite the escort the children have continued to be harassed and attacked by settlers."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Empowering Women: Women’s Co-op in Hebron

Powerful Women:

"Women in Hebron and surrounding villages have started a business for empowerment and self-dependence.

Read more at: palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip .php?article884"

Women’s Co-op in Hebron
Source: Palestine Monitor
Date: 25 March 2009

The city of Hebron is one of the most aggressive cities in the West Bank in terms of the relationship between the Palestinians and the Israeli settlers living there. The settlers along with the Israeli military have taken over the Old City—and this has had a very big impact on the lives of the Palestinians because the market is in the Old City.

The soldiers have blocked roads and created checkpoints within the Old City to discourage commerce and tourism. Now, there are even settlers living in the apartments above Arab shops and Israeli soldiers stationed strategically around the area to “protect” the settlers. However, it is the Palestinians who need the protection in Hebron.

The violent, extremist settlers constantly antagonize the Palestinians in an attempt to scare them out of their shops by throwing garbage, stones, and sewage water from their apartments down on to the shops and people below. The shop owners have actually had to put up a chain link fence above the streets in front of their shops to catch the garbage and stones—protecting themselves, visitors, and their products.

Because of this situation, the Old City shops are slowly disappearing. One attempt to combat this distressing trend was initiated by the Palestinian Solidarity Project. They have helped to create a Women’s Co-op that produces traditional embroidered products hand-made by Palestinian women in Hebron.

Their shop in the Old City sells embroidered products made by over 100 women from villages around Hebron and is exclusively managed by women. This is a good opportunity for the women to create an income for their families and to contribute to revitalizing the market in the Old City.

Fatima, one of the women involved in the project says that “the women in this country usually marry and stay in the home…the situation is very difficult here—no money, no jobs.”

In addition to creating an income for these women and trying to revive the economy in Hebron, another goal of the project is to create a market for their products in other parts of the world while at the same time raising awareness about Palestine.

The women say they “hope people abroad will help us by buying our products. We want to support ourselves, we do not want charity.”

See the Article and Related Photos, click here / Palestine Monitor

Also see The Women’s Co-op Website for traditional Palestinian items made by these women and which you can purchase directly from the website.



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Palestinians in Hebron complain of racism - 24 Apr 09

Palestinians in Hebron complain of racism - 24 Apr 09:

"In a controversial address at a recent UN conference on racism, Mahmoud Ahmadinajad, Iran's president, denounced Israel as a 'cruel and repressive racist regime'.

Al Jazeera's Clayton Swisher visits the West Bank city of Hebron and a nearby Jewish settlement, where Palestinians say racism is a daily reality."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Collective Punishment in Saffa, Palestine April 3, 2009

Collective Punishment in Saffa, Palestine April 3, 2009 Pt 1:

"Israeli Military declare a curfew on the area of Saffa, part of Beit Ommar in Hebron District, demanding that all women go into their homes and men gather in the mosque. They then construct a roadblock which is quickly dismantled by Palestinians and international supporters."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Settler Attack and military invasion in Saffa, West Bank April 8, 2009

Settler Attack and military invasion in Saffa, West Bank April 8, 2009 Pt 1:

Zionist settlers attack Palestinian village Kherbat Safa

Related Reports:
PCHR condemns attack by Israeli settlers and soldiers on Kherbat Safa and warns of potential increase in attacks under new Israeli government

Source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)

Date: 09 Apr 2009

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns a combined attack perpetrated by Israeli settlers and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), against Palestinian civilians in the Kherbat Safa area, northwest of Hebron. This pre-planned attack resulted in the injury of nine Palestinian civilians. Six civilians were injured by IOF, while three were injured by settlers.

PCHR's investigations indicate that at 06:10 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 April 2009, approximately 50 settlers from the Gush Etzion and Beit Ayen settlements gathered on the outskirts of Kherbat Safa. They were accompanied by approximately 10 IOF soldiers.

At approximately 08:00 a.m., the settlers – armed with pistols and machine guns – opened fired directly at Palestinian civilians and houses. The settlers and soldiers then advanced towards the houses, firing their weapons and tear gas. The Palestinian civilians responded with stones, in an attempt to prevent the attackers from entering the houses. Soldiers and settlers shot directly at Palestinian civilians, at distances ranging from 2 to 20 metres. The attack lasted for approximately 90 minutes, without interruption.

As a result, nine civilians were wounded by live and rubber bullets. Local witnesses report that three of the wounded were injured by settlers while the others were wounded by IOF soldiers. 26 Palestinians also suffered suffocation due to gas inhalation. The wounded were transferred to Hebron Ahli Hospital and to Hebron Governmental Hospital. Medical sources described the wounds of one civilian as serious. The names of the wounded persons are included in PCHR's Weakly Report published today, 8 April 2009.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of this joint attack by Israeli settlers and IOF soldiers against Palestinian civilians in Kherbat Safa, and warns of the potential for increasing settler attacks against Palestinian civilians under the current Israeli government.

PCHR also:

- Demands that IOF cease the practice of protecting and granting immunity to settlers. This policy encourages crimes against Palestinian civilians;

- Demands the immediate confiscation of settlers' weapons. As demonstrated, these weapons pose a serious risk to the lives of Palestinian civilians.

- Calls upon the international community to intervene immediately in order to ensure the State of Israel's compliance with international law. All settlements are illegal. Settlement activities must be halted.

- Reminds the international community that settlements are considered war crimes. Accordingly, all High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions must, individually or collectively, fulfil their obligations under common Article 1 to the Conventions, and take the steps necessary to ensure Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Hebron settlers throwing stones at Palestinians

Hebron settlers throwing stones at Palestinians:

"On Wednesday the 11th of March, a number of Hebron Israeli settlers pelted Palestinian children (aged 4 to 8 years) and two international activists with stones. The event took place during a settler-organized dancing event close to Avraham Avinu Settlement, presumably as part of Purim festivities. The settlers became aware of the Palestinian children and internationals, who were watching from a near-by roof, and proceeded to hurl stones from the car-parking lot below, despite calls of 'Stop'. The Israeli soldiers on guard at a military post within 30 meters surveyed the disturbance but provided no assistance."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Israeli soldiers harass Palestinian in Mufaqara

Israeli soldiers harass Palestinian in Mufaqara:

"Israeli soldiers harass a Palestinian, put a hood over his face and arrest him. They also comment that the children killed in Gaza would all have been terrorists in twenty years anyway."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

DN! Isreal Violence Against Palestinian Residents in Hebron

DN! Isreal Violence Against Palestinian Residents in Hebron:

"Unsteady Calm Following Settler Violence Against Palestinian Residents in Hebron

We take a look at the troubled West Bank city of Hebron, where the city’s Palestinian residents have been at the receiving end of a new wave of attacks from hard-line Jewish settlers. Violence flared last week after Israeli riot police forcibly evicted some 250 settlers from a disputed Palestinian-owned home that the settlers had occupied last year. Tensions have been high ever since an Israeli High Court ruling last month that ordered the settlers to vacate the building. We go to Hebron to get the latest."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Mosaic News - Settlers Escalate Attacks, Mass Arrests by Abbas Forces, Palestinian Inner Fighting Affects Pilgrims, West Bank Stories -12/05/08

Mosaic News - 12/05/08: World News from the Middle East:

"Indian Interior Minister Admits Security Lapses in Mumbai - Al Jazeera TV, Qatar 00:00
Settlers Escalate Attacks in West Bank - Palestine TV, Ramallah 02:55
Mass Arrests by Abbas Forces - Al Aqsa, Gaza 07:45
Palestinian Inner Fighting Affects Pilgrims to Mecca - Abu Dhabi TV, UAE 10:35
England Works on a Security Pact with Iraq - Dubai TV, UAE 14:10
S. Korean Troops Withdraw from Irbil - Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq 16:30
West Bank Stories 21:15

Produced for Link TV by Jamal Dajani"



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Aljazeera Video Shows Armed Settlers Shooting Palestinians After Settlers Eviction

Israeli settlers removed from Hebron house - 05 Dec 08:

"It was known as the House of Peace - a building Jewish settlers say they bought from a Palestinian in the city of Hebron. But then the deal went bad.

Now violence has broken out after Israeli police tried to enforce a court order telling the settlers to leave the building.

Clubs and tear gas were used to remove the settlers, prompting hours of running battles which left dozens of people hurt."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

The unpeaceful history of the 'House of Peace' - 4 Dec 2008

The unpeaceful history of the "House of Peace" - 4 Dec 2008:

"Hardline Israeli settlers moved into a house in the heart of the Palestinian city of Hebron in 2007.
They called it the house of peace, but there has been anything but peaceful at this house.
On December 4, Israeli forces stormed the building to remove the settlers.
Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari reports."

Related News:
Settlers Attack Palestinians and Clash With Israeli Military Forces Following Eviction of Settlers from Palestinian Home in Hebron
Source: The Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Date: Dec. 4, 2008

The Israeli military today evicted around 50-60 Jewish settlers from a Palestinian home in Hebron dubbed “The House of Contention,” which they have occupied since 2007. Subsequently, severe clashes erupted between settlers and security forces.

As of 16 November 2008, the Israeli High Court ruled that the settlers are free to leave the house voluntarily within the next 72 hours. However, if the settlers were unwilling to leave of their own accord, it was determined that they would be removed by force. What happened during the past two weeks, and especially during the past two days, was that settlers from outside of Hebron have been gathering to support the nine families living inside the house. The support of additional settlers was done in order to prevent the families’ eviction.

At around 4:00 p.m. today, soldiers arrived to begin removing checkpoints from around the building. Upon arriving, they were confronted by approximately 250 protestors that began to clash with the soldiers. Meanwhile, the main junction near the entrance to Hebron was barricaded by settlers to stop Palestinians from entering the city.

Ahmed Jaradat of the Alternative Information Center reported that some of the settlers began fighting with the soldiers whilst others attacked neighboring Palestinian homes, preventing Palestinian families from entering their homes or crossing streets.

So far, no weapons have been used by the settlers against the Israeli military. It has been reported, however, that the settlers have been assaults Palestinians with rocks. According to sources on the ground, the settlers have bee mainly attacking Palestinians. Moreover, Israeli soldiers have only been intervening intermittently to stop attacks against the Palestinians. According to Jaradat, soldiers also opened fire on Palestinians who started defending themselves against the settlers.

Up to the present, at least 10 Palestinian cars have been attacked and damaged. Houses are being stoned and damaged as well. Settlers have vowed to continue clashing with the military and Palestinians tonight and tomorrow.



Also, see this BBC video on those settler thugs burning and smashing Palestinian cars and property.




Also, desecrating mosques and Muslim cemetries



More violence



More History and a short interview with the rightful owner of the House Faiz Rajabi



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Clashes erupt in Hebron after settlers ignore deadline

Hebron mayhem:

"Clashes erupt in Hebron after settlers ignore deadline,' Al Jazeera English, Qatar 081202
[LinkTV/Mosaic]"

Related News:
Israeli Settlers Create More Chaos in Hebron
Source: The Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2008

Settlers have continued to protest against the November 2008 decision of the Israeli Supreme Court, ordering the eviction of nine settler families from the al-Rajabi family home in Hebron.

And tensions brewing in Hebron over the last two weeks have now spread to other parts of the West Bank.

Ahmad Jaradat of the Alternative Information Center reported that on 1 December, settlers attacked the Wadi al-Hussein neighborhood of Hebron. They came in the evening with dogs and stoned the houses, leading the dogs in front of the house windows in order to frighten the inhabitants.

According to Jaradat, Palestinian residents of the area are under daily attacks from extreme right-wing settlers, who generally begin their attacks in the evening hours.

The house in question, known as “Beit HaShalom (peace house) by the Israeli settlers, it is owned by the al-Rajabi family and has, since 2007, been occupied by settlers. The court-mandated date for the eviction order expired two weeks ago, yet the settlers continue to occupy the home as the Israeli military and police were afraid of violent clashes. This is also the reason why the military refuses to provide notice of when an evacuation operation may begin. Although the military is thus attempting to deny the settlers time to prepare, it is estimated that an evacuation operation would require a relatively large force that could be seen from a distance.

On 1 December, the right-wing activists occupying the al-Rajabi family home called on supporters to prepare for a 48 hour siege, while revealing the synagogue they have created in the building. In addition, the settlers claimed they are planning to open a religious seminary that will host thousands of pupils and their teachers.

During the night of 1 December, rumors spread that the Israeli military were ready to carry out the state order and evacuate the settlers from the al-Rajabi home. Using text-messaging, the settlers spread the message that “the eviction force has reached Beit HaShalom.” According to the settlers, police and border police forces were streaming towards the center of Hebron and so the settlers assumed that the evacuation would take place Monday night.

1,500 right-wing activists arrived in Hebron throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, leading to a spike in settler violence in the city. Palestinian houses and cars were damaged and like two weeks ago, an Islamic cemetery was vandalized. Right-wing youth started to bloc various transportations routes, in order to prevent the Israeli military and police from reaching Hebron. The extreme right-wing activists and local Palestinians started to throw stones and clashes emerged. Since yesterday evening and this morning, dozen Palestinians were injured, including at least three minors.

In other places in the West Bank, Israeli settlers also blocked roads and threw stones at Palestinian cars. Clashes occurred between right-wing activists and Israeli military forces near the West Bank village of Hawara, south of Nablus. Eleven right-wing activists were detained for allegedly attacking Border Guard officers. Two of the detained were minors.

The spokesperson for the Jewish community in Hebron said to the Israeli news portal Ynet, that what has been seen up to now, with the last week of riots and clashes, is just a soft version of what will happen if the eviction order is carried out (Ynet, 2 December).

Still, Defense Minister Ehud Barak is trying to avoid violence and clashes between the settlers and Israeli security forces. In recent days Barak has been meeting with the settlers in order to create a dialogue and convince them to evacuate voluntarily. Barak stresses, however, that if this does not happen, they will be forcefully evicted.

All in all, at least twenty Palestinian and eighteen Israeli security personnel and settlers have been injured during the last two days of violent incidents. And in response to the settlers’ actions, the Israeli Military has declared the area surrounding the disputed house as a close military zone. Israeli border police have taken control over the area and Israeli civilians are not allowed to enter Palestinian neighborhoods in the area. Despite these actions, extreme right-wing activists have continued to set Palestinian houses on fire.




Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Mosque and Muslim cemeteries Vandalised in Hebron

Mosque and Muslim cemeteries Vandalised in Hebron: "http://www.euronews.net Mosque and Muslim cemeteries Vandalised by Jewish settlers in Hebron"

Related News Item:
Settlers in Hebron write graffiti on mosque walls insulting Islam, calling for killing Arabs
Source: IMEMC
Saturday November 22, 2008 20:52

A group of extremist Israeli settlers wrote graffiti on the walls on the Al Ras Mosque, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, calling for killing all Arabs and insulting Islam and Prophet Mohammad. The settlers also dumped trash into the mosque and uprooted dozens of olive trees.

The recent attack was carried out as the settlers “were expressing” their rejection to evacuation a Palestinian house adjacent to the mosque. The settlers illegally occupied the property on March 19 and the Israeli Supreme Court recently decided that they should evacuate it. The house in question belongs to Al Rajabi family.

Local sources in Hebron reported that the settlers also desecrated graves in the Islamic Graveyard and hurled stones at dozens of Palestinian vehicles and homes in the city.

Most of the attacks were concentrated in Al Ja’bary neighborhood, Wadi Al Nasarah, Wadi Al Hasseen, and Jabal Jalis.

Several residents in Hebron complained that they became imprisoned in their homes, cannot leave them as they will be subjected to assaults and abuse by the settlers.

Hebron governor Dr. Hussein Al A’raj demanded the Israeli occupation forces to implement the Israeli court’s ruling and evacuate the settlers from the house of Al Rajabi.

“This is unimaginable; the settlers are desecrating the graves, writing graffiti insulting the prophet and insulting Islam”, the governor stated, “the high court issued several rulings to evacuate the house, to reopen roads the army and the settlers closed, but the army does not care and continues to protect the settlers who are attacking us, our graves, our homes, holy sites and lands”.

The settlers yet continue to ignore the decision of the Supreme Court as it stated in its last week’s ruling that they should voluntarily evacuate the four-story house within days.

A statement issued by the office of the Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilnai, said that the court ordered the evacuation of the settlers from the Palestinian house but the settlers ignored the ruling.

Consecutive Israeli governments traditionally avoid taking action against the radical and armed Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. This issue enabled the settlers to keep and even expand dozens of illegal settlement outposts.




Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Israeli Police and Settlers Prevent Diplomats from Touring Hebron

Clashes in the West Bank town of Hebron.:

http://www.euronews.net Clashes between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron After A visit of Palestinian Foreign Minister [Accompanied by International Diplomats.]

Related News Item:
Police Order Diplomats to Cancel Hebron Walking Tour
Source: Haaretz
Date: Nov 12, 2008

Israeli Police on Wednesday forced about 20 foreign diplomats to cut short a walking tour of the Israeli-controlled sector of the tense West Bank city of Hebron, the visitors said.

The diplomats were from Europe, Latin America and the Far East, said Jose de la Cruz, a representative of Chile. The group was escorted by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki.

Hebron, the West Bank's largest city, is divided under an Israeli-Palestinian interim deal. Israeli forces control the center where several hundred settlers live. Palestinians often complain about harassment by settlers and say Israeli security forces tend to look the other way or side with the settlers.

De la Cruz said that even though Wednesday's trip was cut short, "it was very useful to a diplomat, as a foreign observer, to see the reality on the ground."

Other foreign visitors have encountered problems in Hebron in the past.

In April, seven German lawmakers said they were insulted and threatened by settlers during a Hebron tour, but Israeli security forces refused to step in. Israel's ambassador to Germany apologized for the incident. In July, a delegation of human rights activists from South Africa complained of being harassed by settlers in Hebron. Police at the time said the visitors had entered a restricted zone.

Wednesday's incident began when the diplomats, accompanied by the Palestinian governor of Hebron, were walking through downtown Hebron. At one point, several settlers and Israeli security forces arrived.

De la Cruz said police then told the visitors they could not proceed.

"They simply put a number of people and cars across the road, so we couldn't continue, and they didn't accept our credentials as diplomats," he said in a telephone interview.

De la Cruz said the group was then told to return to the Palestinian-controlled sector of Hebron.

The Israel Defense Forces said the tour had been coordinated with Israeli
authorities.

The Foreign Ministry initially said the tour had not been coordinated,
and then said permission had only been given for a visit to a holy shrine in Hebron.

Israe Police issued the following statement: "About 100 Palestinians and
left-wing activists were walking ... in the center of Hebron. Police and
Israeli Defense Forces personnel diverted those who were walking to the
neighborhood of Jabel Joha [in the Palestinian-controlled part of Hebron]."

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said two Palestinians were arrested after attacking police officers.


Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Palestinians vs Israeli soldiers in Hebron, West bank .

Palestinians vs Israeli soldiers in Hebron, West bank .:

"Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers in Hebron after people gathered for Arafat's death anniversary."

Related News:
Israeli army injures eight in Hebron as they attack march to mark the anniversary of Arafat’s death
Source: ISM
November 12th, 2008

On the 4th anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death, a march commemorating his life in Hebron was confronted by the Israel army in Bab Azzawaya near the Gilbert checkpoint. The area is in H1 and considered to be under Palestinian Authority control.

According to local people interviewed by ISM volunteers, a group of 20 young people started a spontaneous memorial celebration near the entrance to the Old City. As the demonstrators approached the checkpoint, eight soldiers started to shoot tear gas towards them. This shooting of tear gas provoked clashes between young locals and the Israeli army.

There was a similar spontaneous demonstration in an other part of the city, with 200 participants. Many of these demonstrators joined the twenty in Bab Azzawya where the Israeli army was clashing with local youth.

At least eight people were taken to the closest hospital for medical care. Five were injured from rubber coated steel bullets and three from tear gas. At least five people were detained by Israeli army. It was reported that those detained were being identified based solely on having dust from rocks on their hands.

When clashes began the Palestinin Authority’s security forces left the area, which is supposed to be under their supervision.

After two hours of clashes Israeli returned to area officially under their supervision. PA troops soon came to prevent Palestinians from getting close to the Israeli checkpoint in the border of their jurisdictions.


Hebron Related Reports:
Source: Amnesty International

Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Forced Eviction/ health concern
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 15/043/2008 30 October 2008
UA 303/08 Forced Eviction/ health concern

ISRAEL/OPT 45 residents, including 30 children, of Umm al-Kheir village

The Israeli army demolished six homes and other structures on 29 October, leaving 45 Palestinians homeless in the village of Umm al-Kheir, in the Southern Hebron Hills region of the occupied West Bank.

The demolished properties were home to brothers Ali and Salem Muhammad al-Hathaleen, their families and the families of Suleiman and Salem ‘Eid al-Hathaleen. Much of the families’ furniture was damaged by the workers contracted by the Israeli army to clear the homes prior to the demolition. Other non-residential structures were also demolished, including an animal pen that housed the villagers’ herds. The villagers of Umm al-Kheir mostly depend on goat herding for their livelihood.

The health and security of these homeless families are a growing concern with the onset of winter, which brings cold temperatures and rain. The residents have been provided with tents and other emergency supplies by the UN Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who visited the village immediately after the demolition.

Background Information
The Israeli army last demolished homes in Umm al-Kheir on 14 February 2007, when it destroyed six homes. For years it has been exerting pressure on the village’s Palestinian residents to abandon the area even though the villagers have lived there for generations. In recent years several other families in Umm al-Kheir and neighbouring villages have had their homes and animal pens destroyed and hundreds more have demolition orders pending on their properties.

Residents of Umm al-Kheir and neighbouring villages are concerned that further demolitions will be carried out and more families will be made homeless. The Israeli army claims that the demolished homes and other structures that are under threat of demolition have been built without building permits, but at the same time the army has consistently refused to grant building permits to Palestinians living in “Area C”, an area which covers 60 per cent of the occupied West Bank.

At the same time, Israel continues to expand hundreds of Israeli settlements, illegal under international law, on occupied Palestinian land illegally confiscated in the Southern Hebron Hills and elsewhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). To enable the expansion of Israeli settlements, the Israeli army forces Palestinian residents out of the areas by refusing them building permits, demolishing their homes, denying access to water, electricity and other essential services and imposes stringent restrictions on their movements in the area.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Hebrew or your own language:

- condemning the demolition of the homes and other non-residential structures, including an animal pen, in Umm al-Kheir on 29 October;

- urging the authorities to allow the villagers to rebuild their homes immediately and be protected against further demolition and harassment;

- urging that any other existing demolition orders against Palestinian homes and properties in the area be immediately revoked;

- calling on the authorities to place a moratorium on house demolitions and forced evictions in the occupied West Bank until the law is amended to bring it into line with international standards;

- calling for the restrictions imposed on the Palestinian villagers in Umm al-Kheir and the rest of the Southern Hebron Hills area to be lifted, in particular for them to have access to water, electricity and other essential services, and for them to be allowed to move freely within the area, and between there and the rest of the West Bank;

- calling for responsibility for planning and building regulations in "Area C" of the West Bank and elsewhere in the OPT to be removed from the Israeli military authorities and placed solely with the local Palestinian communities.


APPEALS TO:

Ehud Barak
Minister of Defence
Ministry of Defence, 37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv 61909, Israel
Fax: +972 3 691 6940
Email: minister@mod.gov.il
Salutation: Dear Minister

President Shimon Peres
President of the State of Israel
The Office of the President
3 Hanassi Street, Jerusalem 92188, Israel
Fax: +972 2 561 1033 or +972 2 566 4838
email: public@president.gov.il president@president.gov.il s_peres@netvision.net.il www.president.gov.il
Salutation: Dear President


Major General Gadi Shamni
Commander, West Bank
Central Commander Office 64, Military Mail 02367 – IDF, Israel
Fax: +972 2 5305741
Salutation: Dear Major General Shamni

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Israel accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 11 December 2008."
-End-

Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Palestinians struggle in divided city of Hebron - 7 Nov 08

Palestinians struggle in divided city of Hebron - 7 Nov 08:

"Palestinians have ended a week-long solidarity campaign against the Israeli authorities closure of the old city of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros reports from Hebron on what that closure has meant for the city's Palestinian residents."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Mosaic News - Israel Rejects Arab League's Participation in Mediteranean Union, Hospital Shut Down in Hebron -11/3/08

Mosaic News - 11/3/08: World News from the Middle East:

Obamamania Everywhere - Al Jazeera TV, Qatar @ 00:00
Is Obama Better for Israel? - IBA TV, Israel @ 04:00
Qadafi Visits Russia - Dubai TV, UAE @ 07:10
Israel Rejects Arab League's Participation in Mediteranean Union - Al Arabiya TV, UAE @ 09:40
Iraq: The Ball is in Washington's Court - Al Jazeera English, Qatar @ 13:10
The Train Returns to Iraq - Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq @ 16:35
Salafis in Lebanon - New TV, Lebanon @ 19:15
Hospital Shut Down in Hebron - Palestine TV, Ramallah @ 25:35

"Produced for Link TV by Jamal Dajani"



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

On the Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, Al-Khalil [Hebron] Palestinians cry out for help

Al-Khalil Palestinians cry out for help
Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:05:11
Shireen Yassin, Press TV, Al-Khalil


(Requires Windows Media or Real Player)


Also see this other News video

Palestinians Demand Access to Hebron



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

De Facto State of Lawlessness

De Facto State of Lawlessness:

"This video documents Israeli settler violence against Palestinian residents of Tel Rumeida, a neighborhood in the West Bank city of Hebron."