Demolition of two structures in the Bethlehem village of Husan

January 5, 2015

Violation: demolishing a car wash and appliances shops

Date: 05/01/ 2015

Location: Husan- Bethlehem

Perpetrators: Israel Civil Administration and army

Victims: Firas Shusha and Mohammad Saleh

Details:

The Israeli occupation authorities on January 05, 2015 raided the area of Husan in Bethlehem and embarked on demolishing structures belonging to the following:

Firas Shusha: the Israeli occupation authorities demolished his car wash for the fourth time without any previous warning or notification. The 60m2 structure was demolished under the claim of lacking building permit. The car wash is the source of livelihood for 5 members including 3 children.

Citizen Shusha told a researcher from Land Research Center the following: " If I were there at time of demolition, I prefer to be buried under rubbles than moving ; the car wash is my only source of income. I will clean the mess and start up all again and I will not allow the occupation to defeat my will because I have a right and this is land is mine".

Mohammad Saleh : the Israeli occupation authorities demolished his two shops for Kitchen & Bath appliances, which cost more than 150,000 INS. The structures were built by concrete blocks and roofed with metal slap with a total area of 120m2. Demolition took place under the usual claim of unlicensed construction.

Citizen Saleh told a researcher form Land Research Center the following: " I started up this project to establish for my future life but the occupation came to destroy all my dreams and all I worked hard to accomplish"

Photo 1: the rubbles of the two shops for appliances

About Husan:

Husan is 10 km west of Bethlehem and is edged with Wadi Fukin (west) Nahhalin (south), Wadi Rahall (east), and Battir (north).

It has a total area of 7360 dunums, 801 of which are built-up area. The Israeli occupation confiscated 2759 dunums to build Betar Illit and Hadar Betar colonies. Besides, bypass number '375 devoured 180 dunums.

The Apartheid Wall destroyed 124 dunums of Husan lands and isolated 150 dunums.

According to the 2007 statistics, the village population is 5551 people.

According to Oslo Accords, 14% of Husan is under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security). However, most of the village lands (86%) is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). Here are the area in dunums: