Israeli Occupation Forces Demolish 13 Palestinian Structures in the Jordan Valley and Qalqilyah Governorate

On March 14th, 2008 Israeli occupation soldiers, backed by Israeli Border Police, bulldozed a number of Palestinian houses and structures in a number of locations north of Jordan Valley and in the Governorate of Qalqilia. The structures, 13 in total, included houses, tents and bruxes in the khirbats of Humsa, Al Hadidiya, the village of Froosh Beit Dajan located north of the Jordan Valley, the village of Arab Al Ramadien Al Shamali, the village of Izbat Al Tabib as well as a mobile warehous in the city of Qalqilia. Moreover, the occupation forces have submitted demolition orders in the khirbets of Jabara and Al Ras in the governorate of Tulkarem.

The following table lists statistics relating to the demolished structures and the demolition orders distributed by the occupation forces in the north of the West Bank.

The Demolition of Four Houses in the North of the Jordan Valley:

Israeli occupation forces raided the Bedouin community of Khirbat Al Hadidiya and demolished 4 houses in which 33 Palestinians resided including at least 10 children. In addition, these forces demolished 4 animal pens. The houses belonged to the following:

• Mohammad Fahed Bani Oudeh and his family (n=11)

• Mohammad Ali Bani Oudeh and his family (n=8)

• Ali Mohammad Mifleh Bani Oudeh and family (n=5)

• Omar Aref Mohammad Bisharat and family (n=9)

Photo 1 : The targeted houses in Khirbat Al Hadidiyya

Arab Khirbet Al Hadidiyya:

The Arabs living in Al Hadidiya have originated from the town of Tammoun in Tubas Governorate. Their family roots trace back to the families of Bisharat and Bani Oudeh. A large number of them migrated to the area of Al Buqei’a east of the Governorate of Tubas due to the presence of large quantities of water and open grazing areas. Currently, the Arabs of Al Hadidiya own around 10,000 sheep as herding is considered to be their only profession. However, living has becoming increasing difficult in the region after the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and the inception of the settlement movement in the area. The new wave of demolitions is the third time the residents of the khirbet face eviction and demolition of their housing structures under the pretext of, according to Israeli claims, the “illegality of their presence in the area.”  

Structures Demolition in Froosh Beit Dajan:

Israeli bulldozers raided the area of Froosh Beit Dajan north of the Jordan Valley and demolished five housing structures sheltering 31 Bedouins; two of those structures were tents owned by Mr. Shihda Ibrahim Abu Awwad and his married son, Mohammad, along with their 15 family members. In addition, three more tents were also demolished belonging to Mr. Jibreel Mohammad Hasan Al Saray’ah, his brother and their mother. The three tents used to house 16 Palestinians and have been demolished for the second time in 2008. It’s wroth noting that 90% of the lands of Froosh Beit Dajan are classified as Area C meaning that most of the structures and houses in the village are prone to demolition by Israeli forces due to “lack of permit.” A large number of dunums of the villages’ lands were confiscated earlier by the Israeli occupation authorities and used in establishing Al Hamra checkpoint. Procedures and harassment carried out by Israeli soldiers manning the checkpoint have negatively affected all aspects of Palestinian life in the village to the degree that the Palestinian presence in the village has become threatened.

Photo 2: One of the housing structures demolished in Froosh Beit Dajan.

Tents of Arab Al Ramadien in Qalqilia Targeted by Israeli Bulldozers:

Israeli occupation forces raided the area of Arab Al Ramadien Al Shamali, isolated behind the wall in Qalqilia, and demolished two tents belonging to Mr. Abdullah Sa’eed Hasan Al Ramadien and his married son, Adel, leaving 10 people homeless.

Arab Al Ramadien: An Introduction

The community of Arab Al Ramadien Al Shamali consists of about 100 housing and animal shelter structures. Around 200 Palestinians live in the community. Herding is the only profession and source of income for the residents of the community who depend largely on the city of Qalqilia to receive their essential needs and services.

It is worth noting here that when the construction of the Israeli Racist Isolation Wall ended in 2004, Israeli occupation forces handed out 12 “Stop Work” orders under the pretext of building the structures “without permit.” That was despite the fact that the residents were in their current location even before the Israeli occupation in 1967. The residents were stunned in March 2008 to be handed over final demolition orders against five of the threatened twelve structures.

Izbat Al Tabib was not Spared Israeli Demolitions:

On Marc 14th, 2008 Israeli occupation forces demolished a 100 m2 agricultural brux in the village of Izbat Al Tabib located east of the city of Qalqilia. The brux, owned by Mrs. Hirba Tayayha, was one of 22 housing and agricultural structures threatened with demolition in the village.

It is worth pointing out that Israeli occupation authorities have issued on January 3rd, 2007 a military order (number 531 including a map number 927/2) that indicated the presence of a plan to open a new colonial road through some of the houses of the village. The new road is planned to be connected to the nearby colony of Alfe Minshe. The military order, signed by the “legal” advisor of the so-called ‘Civil Administration”, pointed out that the threatened houses are illegal and that its residents can move to the Palestinian village of Azzun located 2 kilometers south of the village. Israeli occupation authorities have contended that up to 2015 the village of Azzun is capable of hosting 76% of the residents of Izbat Al Tabib in addition to the natural growth of the residents of Azzun itself. Moreover, the military order also stipulated that there was no need to work on issuing a Master Plan for the village as its buildings and structures were established in manner that was illegal and in contradiction of Israeli rules and regulation.

Photo 3: The house of Mrs.Hirba Tayayha

The Demolition of a Warehouse in Qalqilia Governorate:  

In addition to what was stated above, Israeli occupation forces have demolished a mobile warehouse used to store agricultural tools and materials. The warehouse was owned by Mr. Abdel Halim Al Joeidi and it was located near the military checkpoint established on the eastern entrance of the city upon the finalization of the Wall in 2002. Currently, the Wall surrounds the city from all four directions with only two entry points which isolates the city from its immediate Palestinian environ and transfers it into virtually a ghost town.   See Map 1 & Map 2 

Prepared by:
The Land Research Center
LRC