Demolition Warnings for Palestinian Houses in Beit Kahil Village

Introduction:

Demolishing Palestinian houses is considered to be a firm policy of the Israeli occupation that stems from a colonial strategy aimed at evicting the Palestinians from their houses and lands. This policy is manifested on daily basis as the so-called Israeli “Civil Administration” in Bet El issues house and structure demolition orders in bulk threatening the presence of hundreds of Palestinian houses throughout the West Bank. The pretext used to issue such orders is always the same; building without a permit in Area C. The IDF considers this pretext as its weapon in depriving the Palestinians from their right to housing, shelter and their right to live in dignity. Issuing a building permit by the Israeli authorities for structures in Area C is a virtual impossibility due to the stringent conditions set by the “Civil Administration”. This fact comes at a time that the Olmert government is building thousands of housing units in colonies throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem to provide homes for Israeli colonist while depriving the Palestinians from their natural right of living on their lands.

Stop Work Orders Issued Against Palestinian Structures in Beit Kahil – Hebron Governorate:

On May 6th, 2008 Israeli occupation authorities issued and distributed 18 Stop Work orders against Palestinian structures in the locations of Heilat Sa’ood and Mishmas Al Siwwad in the town of Beit Kahil in accordance with the following table:

As such, the ghost of eviction and homelessness is currently haunting 10 Palestinian families with its 61 members. It also destroys the dream of 3 families along with its 24 members that are waiting for their houses to be finished to provide them a dignified shelter. The future for these families is unknown to say the least. Moreover, a number of commercial structures have received similar orders. The following table lists the targeted structures:

In case the demolition orders were carried out 25 workers will become unemployed and tens of families will be added to the long lines of the poor and the needy. Moreover, the demolition will deprive the residents of Beit Kahil from the services provided by these commercial establishments.  

Demolition Ghost Haunts the Family of Mr. Fahim Bayyari:

Mr. Fahim Bayyari is a resident of Battin area in Ramallah who moved to the city of Hebron along with his Hebronite wife. Mr. Bayyari expressed the following to LRC’s field researcher: ' I live along with my 7-member family, 3 of which are children, only in a part of our house as its construction was not completed as of yet due to low income. I work as a construction worker and I can hardly get a steady daily income. We finished the second part of the house after encountering a large debt. We were surprised on May 6th when Israeli soldiers came to our house and delivered to us a house demolition order. If the house was demolished I wouldn’t know what to do or where my family and I would go.'

Mr. Isam Al Hirbawi is also among the residents who received the Stop Work orders. He indicated the following to LRC’s field researcher: ' I live in my house along with my wife, children and my brother Faraj. We have bought the land in the Mishmas Al Siwwad region of Beit Kahil and built our house atop it. As both of us are working as laborers at a local factory, we went into debt in order for us to make part of the house suitable to live in it. In case the demolition order is carried out we will be homeless and penniless as we own no other land than this piece to build on.'  

The following pictures are of threatened houses in Beit Kahil:

Photo 1: The house of Mr. Abdullah Muheisen Attawna

Photo 2: The house of Mr. Nawwaf Abdullah Attawna

Photo 3: The house of Mr. Waleed Attawna

As for the following pictures, they are of the threatened commercial structures:

Photo 4: The factory of Mr. Khalil Mohammad Abdel Rahman Osaily

Photo 5: The under construction workshop of Mr. Abdel Karim Owaiwi

Beit Kahil: General Information

The town of Beit Kahil is located 7 kilometers northwest of the City of Hebron. The area of its lands is 5,795 dunums. The town is surrounded by the towns of Halhul, Tarqumiya, Beit Ula, Tafooh in addition to the City of Hebron. Its 2007 population is estimated to be 6,026. A number of clans reside in the town including the clans of Al Attawna, Al Assafra, Al Zuhoor, Al Judi, Barham and Al Khateeb.

Prepared by:
The Land Research Center
LRC