Plowing Huge Areas in Beit Ulla
Demolishing Structures and confiscating Equipment

On October 4, 2011, Israeli dozars An estimated number of fifty Israeli soldiers accompanied by 2 dozers, 2 trucks, and a number of Israeli Army vehicles broke into Beit Ulla town in areas known as ‘Attous, Al Baq’a, and ‘Arabadwan’.

 

 

1.     Mahmoud al ‘Akel: The Israeli dozers leveled around 10 dunums of recently rehabilitated lands, property of Mahmoud al ‘Akel; they also destroyed 700 meters of retaining walls and 300-meter-long fence that surrounded the land.

The have also confiscated a container which was used as a storage for agricultural equipment; an estimated loss of 17,000 ILS was recorded. In addition, they demolished a toilet which has been also loaded into the truck beside the container. The campaign here resulted in the uprooting of 150 olive trees, 150 almonds trees, and 400 grape seedlings which were all loaded into the truck as well.

 

It must be noted that the lands are located 400 meters to the east of the segregation wall; the lands have been the property of Beit Ulla people for centuries and the owner have deeds proving his ownership.The lands were rehabilitated through a project funded by the Netherlands Government.

 

The owner protested, in vain, by trying to prove his ownership and show the documents to the Israeli Military Officer in charge, nevertheless, the officer refused to speak to him or answer the calls of Beit Ulla Municipality and the concerned organizations representatives.

 

 

2.     The Islamic Charity Society – Beit Ulla: Afterwards, the Israeli destruction machines moved to 5-dunum-field, property of the Islamic Charity Society and destroyed a 100-m3-wel; losses estimated to be somewhere around 50,000 ILS.

 

 

3.     Yousuf al Atrash: the next target was a 20-m2-brick-storage and a rainwater tank; an estimated loss of 30,000 ILS.

 

 

 

The Israeli Occupation Army and the so-called Israeli State Properties Department have committed numerous violations in Beit Ulla, including:

 

1.     The lands where the aggressions took place are private property which the owners have deeds to prove their ownership.

2.     These lands are at least 1 km away from the lands declared as ‘state property’ in 1983.

3.     These lands are at least 850 meters away from the segregation wall; they are beyond the buffer zone of the wall which was ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice.

4.     The owner, Mr. Al ‘Akel, assigned an attorney of law from St. Eve organization to apply for a permit to construct an agricultural storage in his lands. The attorney presented all the needed documents before the Israeli Occupation Civil Administration which is, supposedly, in charge of organization in areas classified ‘C’ according to Oslo Agreement.

5.     The Israeli Occupation Army did not warn the owners or issued any type of legal warrants; they lacked the usual paperwork.

6.     The Israeli Occupation Army confiscated a closed container with all its contents; however, the receipt they provided included a container only despite the owner stating otherwise. This clearly presents an act of theft.

7.     The Israeli Army officers refused to even talk to Beit Ulla Municipality representatives or representatives of Civil Society Organization while threatening them, defying all the rules and showing improper conduct.

8.     The permit application is still being discussed at the Israeli ‘Objections Committee’; the demolition and bulldozing campaign is a violation of the Israeli racist laws and regulations.

 

 

Beit Ulla is located 12 km to the north west of Hebron; it is one of the Palestinian towns edging the armistice line. The town lost 9000 dunums in 1948 and was left with 24,000 dunums only. Recently it lost more than 2000 dunums to the segregation wall and 50 dunums to the stone crusher. 4000 dunums of the village lands are frequent targets for Israeli attacks. The town is administered by a municipal council; its organizational plan includes 5000 dunums and the town is inhabited by 11,000 people. It is connected to electricity, water, and phone networks.

 

The town is known for agriculture, olives, almonds, and vegetation as well as livestock holding around 5000 cattle and a number of chicken farms. It has a small local market, 8 private and governmental schools and a number of clinics. It is also known for hosting some industries, such as safety doors as well as steel, brick, and tile manufacturing facilities.The locals are known for their participation in the organizational work which is evident in 12 active civil society organizations.