The Demolition of Shelters and Tin Shacks in Al Mua’arrajat area in Jericho Governorate
On July 9th, 2008 Israeli occupation forces distributed demolition orders to 3 Bedouin communities located on Al Mua'arrajat Road in Jericho Governorate. The threatened structures were tents and tin shacks in which 100 Palestinians were living. The orders indicated that the area must be vacated as it has become a 'Military Closed Area.' The orders did not specify a time interval during which the eviction must take place. As such, the Bedouin residents did not take the demolition orders seriously especially that they have lived in the said area between 20 and 30 years. They were, also, issued demolition orders in 1998 after which they hired a lawyer that managed to freeze the demolitions. As such, the residents of the area continued to live there as no additional demolition or eviction orders were issued against them. However, on September 20th, 2008 an Israeli occupation force arrived at the site and demolished a group of tents and tin shacks without giving the Bedouins any prior warning or a chance to remove the content of their shelters. The following list documents the names of the victims of the recent demolitions:
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The family of Mr. Hammad Ka'abneh (n=47)
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The family of Mr. Ibrahim Al Mahayna (n=50)
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The family of Mr. Ahmad Ibrahim Al Mahayna (n=37)
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Photo 1: Demolished tin shacks belonging to Al Ka'abneh family
Photo 2: Demolished tin shacks belonging to the Mahayna family
Past, and brutal, demolitions took place on July 20th, 2008 when the Bedouins were not present at their community as they have moved 2 kilometers away to their summer dwelling place. The demolition took place over a 5-hour period of time. Soldiers participating in the demolition did not remove any the belongings of the Bedouins before the bulldozers swept every structure in the community. In light of this demolition campaign, the resident of the community filed an injunction with the Israeli High Court requesting a halt on the demolitions in the area. A freezing order was issued by the Court within a week time that stipulated that no eviction of the Bedouins would be permitted until a final decision regarding their status can be issued.
It is worthy to note that the land upon which the Bedouins are currently living is a private property owned by Palestinians from the nearby village of Raqqoon. The Bedouins are living on it after gaining the permission from its owners. The owners of the tin shacks were astonished at the time of the demolition due to the fact that the lands in which they were living was a registered private property and the declaration of the Closed Area was also abhorred as the main Ramallah-Jericho Road crosses through the targeted area.
The financial damages caused by the demolitions surpassed NIS 45,000 distributed according to the following:
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The losses encountered by the family of Mr. Hammad Ka'abneh which reached NIS 15,000 as occupation forces demolished 5 zino tin shacks, 11 zino animal shelters in addition to 75-meter-long fence.
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The losses of the family of Mr. Ibrahim Al Mahayna estimated at NIS 14,000 as 6 zinco bruxes, 3 zinco shacks used as kitchens and 2 tons of fodder were demolished and otherwise damaged; and
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The loss encountered by the family of Mr. Ahmad Ibrahim Al Mahayna estimated at NIS 16,000 as 5 zinco bruxes, 3 zinco shacks used as kitchens, 25-meter-long fence in addition to the 3 tons of fodder were demolished or otherwise damaged.
Prepared by:
The Land Research Center
LRC
