Israeli Occupation Forces demolish number of agricultural structures in Tubas governorate

January 15, 2016

• Violation: demolishing agricultural barracks and water tower
• Location:  Khirbet Ainon- Tubas
• Date:  January 14, 2016
• Perpetrators:  Israel Civil Administration
• Victims:  number of agricultural families

Details:

Eight km to the east of Tubas, Ainon hamlet witnessed a new attack carried out by Israel Civil Administration. A force from the occupation army raided on January 14, 2016 the area and embarked on demolishing four agricultural barracks, a residential tent and water tower. Noteworthy, the 200m3 water tower was built in 2013 with funds from World Union of Churches for the sake of providing the 190 residents of Ainon with drinking water.  The occupation justified the demolition on the claim of  "unlicensed construction".

Residents of the hamlet are now forced to buy drinking water from the neighboring village of Yarza. This will increase the price unit of water and will put a heavy burden on the shoulders of villagers.

It should be marked that the demolished structures have been notified of stop-work on February 2015. The orders were renewed on July 2015 and the structures were recently demolished as a result. Noteworthy, owners of structures tried to license their properties but the occupation refused granting Palestinians building permits on the claim of "construction on closed military zone". The following table shows damage resulted due to the demolition:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2016

It should be marked that the hamlet of Ainon witnessed, over the past two years, many violations and attacks carried out by the occupation forces and the so-called Israel Nature Authority. Attacks were represented in uprooting seedlings and trees, confiscating water trucks and demolishing agricultural and residential structures.

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC