Halt of construction orders in Khirbet Deir Sa’ida

March 13, 2009

A child setting at the door step of his threatened family house

The Israeli occupation authorities handed over a number of halt of construction orders against houses and barracks in Khirbet Deir Sa'ida south of Hebron city.

The orders were handed over on February 19th, 2009 by a group of employees at the so-called Israeli civil administration in the West Bank accompanied by military personnel. The affected people were told that the target structures are vulnerable to demolition if not licensed. Ironically, it is impossible to get any of these structures licensed under the pretext of being located in zone C ( under total Israeli security and civic affairs by Olso agreement ).

(copies of military orders A+B+C)

The affected people were asked to attend a court session to be held in this regard on March 12, 2009 at Beit Eil colony near Ramallah city.

Owner ship of target structures

All the target structures are owned by the extended family of Al Hawarin from adh Dahiriya town south of Hebron city. A number of nucleus families from Al Hawarin left the town many years ago and dwelt in their land in Khirbet Deir Sa'ida looking for graze and water for their cattle and for cultivating hundreds of dunums of fertile land with cereals and seasonal ground crops. They built for themselves structures made of bricks and asbestos and for their cattle a number of barracks and sheds. An International organization, also, provided toilets.

Table 1: Ownership of notified structures by name of owner, area, number of family members and type

#	Owner's name	Area in M2	# family members	Type of structure	Notes
1	Musa Sulieman Al Hawarin	30	5	One dwelling
2	Musa Sulieman Al Hawarin	150	0	Sheep barrack
3	Fayez Musa Sulieman Al Hawarin	70	8	One dwelling
4	Hija Abed Fallah Al Hawarin	250	14	One dwelling & WC
5	Hija Abed Fallah Al Hawarin	300	0	Sheep barrack
6	Milhim Al Hawarin and his brother Usama	40	9	Two dwellings & WC	See Photo 6 & Photo 7
7	Nidal Ibrahim Al Hawarin	150	9	One dwelling barrack
8	Nidal Ibrahim Al Hawarin	50	0	One fodder store and one sheep barrack	See Photo 9 & Photo 10
9	Hani Omer Al Hawarin	70	15	One dwelling barrack
10	Hani Omer Al Hawarin	50	0	One sheep barrack
11	Isma'il Omer Al Hawarin	50	6	One dwelling barrack
12	Isma'il Omer Al Hawarin	250	0	One sheep barrack
Total		1460	66

Israeli authorities keep an open eye on Khirbet Sa'ida

Citizens of the Khirbet confirmed to LRC field researcher that personnel from the so-called Israeli civil administration often enter the hamlet searching for new structures or additions and take pictures of them. These actions on the part of the Israeli authorities aim at keeping the local inhabitants under a state of constant fear and uncertainty over their future in that particular area.

In case the Israeli threats are put in actions far more negative consequences will be caused to local people in terms of loosing all the livelihood sources for their livestock, and, in turn, the main income for their families.

A glance on Khirbet Sa'ida

It is located in Wadi Al Khalil ( Valley Hebron) south east of ar Ramadin village at a hilltop close to the crossing terminal between the West Bank and Birsheva. It is facing Kibutz Mitar on the other side of the green line. It's total population is about 150 people, all from Al Hawarin clan in adh Dahiriya town. They totally depend on animal rearing and agriculture as main income. There is no infrastructure in the hamlet such as water, electricity, schools and clinics. Electric generators and mobile tanks are the only means to get power and water for domestic use.