Tag: Hebron

Israeli forces demolish Hebron water reservoirs

8 June 2009

On the 8th of June 2009, at 8 am, a bulldozer, escorted by 5 police and army cars, destroyed a Palestinian reservoir in Al Bueri, north of Hebron.

Mohammed Radi Sultan, the owner, had built the reservoir three years ago in order to irrigate his vineyard, but he could not acquire a permit from the Israeli occupation authorities. Residents of Al Bueri are not allowed to build anything on their land, which is completely surrounded by settlements and an outpost.

On Thursday, June 4th, Mohammed received a court order to demolish the reservoir but the order was not to be implemented for 10 days. Ten days were given to allow him the option of appealing the demolition decision.

A bulldozer and police cars arrived to demolish the reservoir at 8am. Ten Palestinians tried to stop the demolition, but were beaten by the police. One Palestinian was arrested.

There are severe consequences for Sultan family as a result of the demolition. They will be unable to rebuild the reservoir because it is a very expensive structure (it was 6 meters deep). Also,  the lack of water will negatively impact the growth of the vines and the grape harvest this year.

In addition to the reservoir, some vines were destroyed as well as half of a surrounding wheat field. In the near area of Al Baqa seven other reservoirs were destroyed on the same day.

Settler documented firing in Hebron won’t be tried

Aviad Glickman | YNet News

8 June 2009

The Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office plans in the coming days to renege on an indictment filed against Ze’ev Braude, who was accused of firing at an Arab family during the evacuation of a disputed building in the West Bank city of Hebron in December 2008.

Ynet learned on Monday afternoon that the decision was made following the State’s refusal to disclose evidence defined as classified information during the trial.

Braude, who has been under house arrest in the past few months, was indicted for shooting and injuring two Palestinians during a clash with an Arab family living in Hebron. Part of the incident was documented in a video published later by several media outlets.

About three months ago Braude’s lawyer, Attorney Ariel Atari, appealed the Supreme Court, asking to receive classified information from the State Prosecutor’s Office. About a month and a half later, the State Prosecutor’s Office informed the court that it was unable to disclose the information or reveal any further details on its content, as this could endanger the State’s security.

The classified material was revealed in a Supreme Court discussion presided by Justice Elyakim Rubinstein. The judge ruled that “a proper procedure cannot be held where there is material which the defense cannot be given the opportunity to use for its own needs. Revealing the material for the sake of doing justice is preferable than the interest in not revealing it.”

According to Rubinstein, the secret information does not appear to damage the State’s stance, but may change the ruling on the matter under certain circumstances.

However, the State Prosecutor’s Office did not give up, threatening to renege on the charges filed against Braude should Rubinstein order it to reveal the material.

B’Tselem: Violent settler evading punishment

Following the threat, the judge announced that the State had decided that the price of revealing the material overpowered the public interest in holding the trial, and that therefore there was no longer a need to reveal the classified information.

The Justice Ministry said in response, “The court made its decision, and we are studying and examining it.”

Attorney Atari said that “canceling the indictment against Braude does real justice with the defendant. Braude acted out of self-defense, and the material in the State’s possession could have established his acquittal. Therefore we welcome the decision.”

Following the decision, the B’Tselem human rights organization demanded that the State Prosecutor’s Office go back on its decision.

“It’s intolerable that a violent settler would evade punishment and be allowed to continue risking lives, although his crime has been caught on tape. If the State refuses to reveal the investigation material, it must find alternative ways to judge Braude according to the letter of the law, but canceling the indictment is not a legitimate alternative.”

Left-wing activists evacuated from tent built opposite outpost

Anat Shalev | YNet News

6 June 2009

IDF troops forcibly removed dozens of left-wing and Palestinian activists who were trying to erect a tent in South Mt. Hebron with a Palestinian family claiming ownership of the land. The family says that it owns the land near the Susya settlement on which an illegal outpost has been built. Settlers called the outpost Givat Hadegel.

The activists, members of Combatants for Peace, were successful in erecting their tent but were removed from the area a short time later by IDF troops alerted to the scene. A confrontation ensued between the two sides, culminating in the dismantling of the tent. The outpost still stands.

Ofra Ben Porat, a member of Combatants for Peace: “We came here in cooperation with Palestinian residents of Susya to protest the establishment of the outpost called Givat Hadegel, near Susya. This is a specific example of the reality in South Mt. Hebron. Week after week the settlers steal more and more lands, suffocating the Palestinians and their livelihoods, restricting their movement to the absurd point where their flocks can’t graze in the pastures they own. We came to the hill where the outpost was built and decided to build a tent on the Palestinians’ territory to assert their presence.”

Ben Porat accused the military of declaring areas claimed by the settlers as closed military zones and blocking entry to left-wing activists and Palestinians.

“The soldiers cleared us, 200 people, aggressively. There’s no law, everything is done according to the soldiers’ will. We know that even filing a complaint with the police won’t accomplish anything. When Peace Now turned to the military about this outpost, they were told that this outpost isn’t recognized. The policy is deliberately fuzzy, the soldiers set the policies and there’s complete lawlessness when it comes to the Palestinians,” she said.

The IDF has yet to respond to the protestors claims.

Settlements continue to expand in Hebron

25 May 2009

North of Hebron, in a Palestinian village named Al Bueire, settlers had built an outpost over one and a half months ago. When Israeli forces finally removed the illegal outpost on 25 May 2009, settlers coordinated attacks on the Palestinian residents.

Around 4pm, settlers began to throw stones at the house of the Palestinian resident who owns the land upon which the outpost was built. Several Israeli solidarity activists were present at the scene and pressured the Israeli army and border police to prevent another attack from the settlers.

During the night on 25 May 2009, a road which leads to the village was blocked by settlers with big rocks. However, the Palestinian residents were able to remove the rocks in the morning. Additionally, settlers hoisted Israeli flags at the site of the outpost.

26 May 2009

At 10am on Tuesday, 26 May 2009, settlers from Karmel settlement came unto remaining land from Umm Al Kher with bulldozers to clear the Palestinian land. The inhabitants of Umm Al Kher tried to go out to prevent the settlers, but were stopped by Israeli border police.

In an hour, some 20 residents alongside an UNRWA official who happened to be in the area went to the land. Shortly thereafter, the Israeli occupation forces declared the area a Closed Military Zone and forced the Palestinians away.

Settlers from Karmel are continously trying to expand their illegal settlement with structures to de-facto annex Palestinian land. Residents from Umm Al Kher are frequently harassed by settlers and are not allowed to build new homes, connect to an electrical circuit or connect to a water system.

Israeli soldiers detain and harass Hebron residents at checkpoint

30 May 2009

Harassment of Palestinians at checkpoints happens regularly in the West Bank. Several of the abuses against Palestinians by Israeli soldiers in Hebron were documented by international solidarity activists from the ISM.

On the afternoon of 26th of May, Israeli border police stopped five young Palestinian men in a temporary checkpoint in the old town. The men were not given a reason for their detainment but were lined up against the wall for some time. After an hour, international solidarity activists arrived and 2 of the men were released. Eventually, 6 international solidarity activists were present and arguing with the soldiers. Another 2 men were released and given back their ids 15 minutes later. The border police took the remaining detained Palestinian to a closed off area near the Ibrahimi Mosque, stopping the internationals from following them. He was released within 10 minutes but with a written order to arrive at the Israeli police station for further interrogation.

At 7:30pm on the 27th of May, a young Palestinian man was stopped at a checkpoint. He was held for one hour and managed to call his father. His father and 2 brothers arrived at the checkpoint and the Israeli soldiers took their ids as well. According to the father, Adris, the Israeli soldier who stopped his son is known to be a settler from a nearby settlement and is frequently harrassing Palestinians. This Israeli settler/soldier has called family members and other settlers to encourage them to come to the checkpoint and harrass Adris and his 3 sons. According to Adris, he and his sons were held for 2 hours as the settlers and soldiers spoke abusively about Adris, his family and Islam. Additionally the settlers used physical violence against the Palestinians, kicking Adris in the lower leg. Adris explained that he tried to call the police but they never showed up.

According to the United Nations, there are 14 checkpoints, 13 iron walls and fences, 44 roadblocks, 13 road gates and 5 observation towers in Hebron city.