Violation: demolishing a electricity network

Location: Khirbet al-Taweel/ Nablus

Date: 29/09/2014

Perpetrators : the army of the Israeli occupation

Victims: residents of the Khirbet

Details:

Khirbet al-Taweel is an aggrieved community due to the extreme violations and assaults carried out by the occupation, targeting all life aspects in the area.

A complete demolition of  a electricity network despite pledges taken by the occupation not to:

It should be marked that on September 29th 2014, the Khirbet witnessed a large-scale demolition within a series of systematic targeting on the area. Around 3:00 am, a massive force of the occupation accompanied by three JBC military bulldozers raided the Khirbet from the eastern side, embarked demolition on 69 electricity poles and cut off more than 3300m of electricity wires.

Not only that, the occupation made sure to sabotage the poles and the wires by cutting them off from the middle, making it impossible to reuse them again in any possible way.

 

  

 

Photos 1-6: some of the targeted poles

 

The mayor of Aqraba Ayman Bani Fadel, about the Israeli crime, to the LRC researcher said the following: "This network is a means to pin down the Palestinian presence in the area of Aqraba town. In 2004, we obtained a fund from the Belgium representative office to establish a electricity network in al-Taweel. The project included setting up 85 "low tension" poles and 10 "high tension" poles to provide electricity for the Bedouin communities in Khirbet al-Taweel. The beneficiaries  of this project is 25 family residing the area who depend on animal husbandry as the main source of income and living".

He also added: " In 2008, the Inspection Sub-Committee of the Civil Administration notified the network with stop work. Jerusalem Center for Legal Proceedings applied for construction authorization in the so-called Beit El court but did not obtain it until the moment"

Ayman also mentioned that: " The occupation pledged to the Belgium representative office in 2004, not to interfere with the network. The occupation, as usual, did not keep its promise and demolished $70,000 dollars worth of poles and wires. As a result, the residents will remain without any source of power for a while".

Farmer Mohammad Bani Fadel (53) to the LRC researcher stated the following : "what happened is part of a displacement plan undertaken in the area of al-Taweel. In 2014, the occupation demolished a pool (for water catchment) and a residence owned by Mohammad Bani Fadel for fifth time in row. The demolition even reached an ancient cave in which the farmer and his family lived. In addition, the tents gifted by the Red Crescent were also confiscated. Now, the occupation destroyed the electricity network and confiscated the pastoral lands in the area, which were turned into military training camps"

Mr. Bani Fadel told the researcher that he was born in al-Taweel in 1961, which is before the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. His sons were also born there where they have been living peacefully until the occupation came to displace them and loot their lands.

Large –scale demolition and displacement:

It should be marked that al-Taweel underwent, until the date of this report, six demolitions carried out by the occupation. As a result, the town only mosque, three pools( for water catchment) and more than five residences were demolished causing 7 families to become homeless.

Land Research Center sees in these demolitions a clear-cut breach and contradiction with all international conventions and covenants such like:

International Conventions and agreements call for the protection of Palestinians:

 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Article 17:

• Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
• No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property."

The 1907 the Hague Convention

 Article 23:

• " In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden:

"To destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war;"

The Geneva Fourth convention

• Article 53:

"  Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations."

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:

• Article 11.1 states:

 "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent".

For further information about what Khirbet al-Taweel has went through during 2014, please read through the reports issued by the Department of Monitoring Israeli Violation – Land Research Center :

1. The occupation notifies a agricultural road with stop work in Khirbet al-Taweel on 05/01/2014 (Ar, Eng)
2. Notifying a number of residential structures wit stop work on 05/01/2014 (Ar, Eng)
3. Notifying the water and electricity networks with stop work in al-Taweel area on19/03/204 (Ar, Eng)
4. Demolishing al-Taweel mosque and a number of residential  and agricultural structures on29/04/2014 (Ar, Eng)
5. The occupation targets Khirbet al-Taweel with demolition for the second time in a week on 12/05/2014 (Ar, Eng)
6. The occupation turns a agricultural land into a military camp for training in al-Taweel on 15/05/2014 (Ar, Eng)
7. The occupation confiscates 3 residential tents from al-Taweel area on 18/05/2014 (Ar, Eng)
8. Demolishing old residences in Khirbet al-Taweel on 20/08/2014

 

 

Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC