JERUSALEM, September 9, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli information
center for human rights, B’Tselem, said during August alone, the Israeli Civil
Administration and military went on a demolition rampage in 29 villages and
communities throughout Area C, under full Israeli military control.
In a report
issued by the center on September 2015, B’Tselem said the Israeli authorities
demolished 101 structures in the aforementioned communities, including 50
residential structures, which were home to 228 people, 124 of them are minors.
“Many of these demolitions were carried out in small shepherding
and farming communities where residents are constantly subject to threats and
ongoing Israeli attempts to drive them out of their homes and also remove them
from Area C, as part of the Israeli policy aimed at minimizing Palestinian
presence in Area C,” stated the center.
Between 5 and 31 August 2015, B’Tselem documented demolitions
carried out by the Civil Administration and the military in nine communities in
the Jordan Valley, including in al-‘Aqabah, ‘Ein al-Meyteh, Khirbet Yarza,
Khirbet Humsah, Abu al-‘Ajaj, Fasayil, Khirbet 'Einun, Khirbet Samrah and
Khirbet a-Deir, where the authorities destroyed 22 residential units, rendering
100 people - including 50 minors – homeless.
Over the years, Israeli government and military officials have
openly spoken about the intention to keep the Jordan Valley under Israeli
control even under a future agreement with the Palestinians, said the center,
stressing that, “The recent demolitions are part of this policy.”
The center said Israel has never drafted master plans for these
communities and residents living in tents and shacks, without running water or
a connection to the power grid, under the constant threat of imminent
demolition and expulsion.
“Along with demolitions, Israel also uses other measures to
inconvenience residents and ultimately make life in the area impossible,
including such steps as declaring 46% of the Jordan Valley a firing zone,
temporally forcing families out of their homes to make way to enable military
training and confiscating water tanks.”
August also saw Israeli authorities demolishing structures in five
communities in the Ma’ale Adumim area, including in a-Sheikh ‘Anbar (a-S‘idi),
Bir al-Maskub, Wadi Esneisel, Abu Falah and al-Khdeirat. “Like the Jordan
Valley communities, these communities are not officially recognized either,”
noted the center.
The center considered these extensive demolitions as part of
Israel’s overall policy toward Area C – which comprises 60% of the West Bank –
based on its perception of Area C as meant primarily to serve Israeli needs.
Israel works to establish facts on the ground, creating a reality that would be
difficult to change as part of a future agreement.
At the same time, in pursuit of a policy practiced by successive
Israeli governments, Israeli authorities take action designed to force out and
expel Palestinian residents from Area C, citing flimsy legal arguments such as
“illegal construction” – an argument that holds no water given that there is no
real possibility of building legally, stated B’Tselem.
“These arguments are meant to obscure the fact that Israel is
ignoring its duties as an occupying power, namely allowing West Bank residents
live their lives without disruption and ensuring the development of their
communities to a level that allows them to live in dignity and meets their
needs.”
This government policy, which has been systematically implemented
for years, constitutes the forcible transfer of protected persons inside an
occupied territory, be it directly – through the demolition of their homes – or
indirectly, by creating an intolerable reality, concluded the center.
T.R/M.H
