Dec. 19th, Tel Rumeida
Yesterday an Israeli work crew accompanied by Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) soldiers attempted to install a new IOF surveillance camera in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Hebron, but one Palestinian family refused to allow the installation of cables for the camera across their rooftop. The work crew claimed to have a military order requiring the installation of the camera, but were unable to produce it. The family contacted Kiryat Arba Police, who attended, and after seeing no work order, supported the family’s objections.
Several other such cameras have been installed in the neighbourhood recently, but in each case the family whose roof was to house the camera received notification beforehand that there was an order for its installation.
Following a lengthy discussion between the Israeli military, police, local residents and the work crew, those present witnessed members of the family halt the installation process by tossing the camera cable off their roof onto the ground. International Human Rights Workers (HRWs) visited the scene later at night to find the discarded but valuable cable guarded by two very bored Israeli soldiers.