Stop-work orders on a number of structures in Hebron

January 15, 2014

Violation: Issuance of stop-work and construction orders
Location: Jawret al-Khail, Sa'ir- Hebron governorate
Date: 15/01/2014
Perpetrators: The Israeli Civil Administration
Victims: Members of al-Shalalda family

Details:

On January 15, the Israeli authorities served members of al-Shalada family residing in Jawret al-Khail, east of Sa'ir town in Hebron, orders to stop work (construction) on their agricultural and residential structures under the pretext of unlicensed construction in an area classified "C" according to Oslo Accords.

Ziad Shalalda (45 years ago) informed LRC field researcher that a patrol of the Israeli army accompanied by officers of the Civil Administration (C.A.) broke into Jawret al-Khail where the C.A. officers penned the orders, placed them on the targeted structures, and took pictures before they left.

The orders demanded an immediate halt of any construction work and set 12/02/2014 for a court session of the Inspection Subcommittee to consider whether to "demolish the structures or return them to their previous status." The orders also stated that "owners can apply for a building permit at the District Planning Department but that does not ensure they will be granted one." The following table gives information about the structures threatened of being demolished in Sa'ir:

.	Name	Family	Structure	Area	Year of construction	Status	Notification	Picture
1	Ibrahim Shalada	12	House	80 m2	2007	Under construction	A	1
			Barrack	100m2	2004		B	2
			Cistern	120m3	2013		C	3
2	Waleed Shalada	8	House	50m2	2006		N.A	4
3	Ahmad Shalada	6	Cistern	120m3	2007		D	5
4	Mustafa Shalada	2	Cistern	80 m3	2007		E	6
5	Ziyad Shalada	8	House	40m2	2010	Inhabited	F	7

It should be mentioned that al- Shalada family owns about 1500 dunums, divided between agricultural land and pastures in Jawret al-Khail area where around 40 members of the family reside. They depend on animal husbandry to make a living and on rainwater for agricultural purposes.

The owners of the threatened structures had inhabited the area over which Asfar colony was built and they had to leave as a result, especially after the Israeli authorities had seized their lands for the colony which overlooks the eastern part of Jawret al-Khail.

The citizens now fear they will endure another displacement as the Israeli occupation might demolish their structures and residences and force them out.

Picture 8: Part of Asfar colony

Regarding legal matters, LRC has provided citizens with consultations and brochures about the legal mechanism as well as showed them the right way to object the orders.