Picture 1: structures that were recently completed to attract new Jewish families
to the colony of Ma’ale Hazetem – Ras al ‘Amoud
to the colony of Ma’ale Hazetem – Ras al ‘Amoud
Violation: 66 Jewish families moved to Ma’ale Hazetem colony.
Date: November, 2010.
Victims: Husein al Ghoul family and others.
Perpetrators: Ma’ale Hazetem colony.
Details:
During November, 2010, 66 Jewish families moved to reside in Ma’ale Hazetem colony, a colony built over Ras al ‘Amoud lands. According to the Israeli Channel 10, 250 Jewish families reside in the colony after the completion of its second part. The establishment of the colony started in March, 2009; nowadays, it consists of 60 residential units that are built close to Silwan Sports Club.
Picture 2-3: Ma’ale Hazetem close by Silwan Sports Club
Jewish families has began moving to the colony since the US invasion of Iraq. The Jewish Colonial Societies started the establishment of the colony in 1999 over 14 dunums of Palestinian lands. The project as funded by the Jewish US citizen, Miskovitch, who sponsored financially the take over of many Palestinian lands and properties especially in the Old City. The colony has been expanding over Palestinian lands with full support and encouragement of the Israeli Government and Police; the Police who evacuated the previous Jordanian Police station for the sake of expansion. Also, the Police intends to evict the remaining Arab families in the area.
In addition, the Police is proceeding its aggressions against Silwan Sports Club; the most recent aggression was demolishing the Basketball court wall and taking over parts of it.
The Jordanian Police Structures were added to the colony area:
in September, 2008, the Israeli Police evacuated its 5-structure-compound located in Ras al ‘Amoud. The largest of the compound structures used to be the highest command office of the Israeli Police in the West Bank which is in charge of the civil Police. In addition, the Israeli Intelligence had previously used one of the building for interrogating Palestinians.
Israel has seized the compound after its conquest of Jerusalem in June, 1967. the previous Jordanian regime took over the land, built the compound, and turned it into a police station. The adjacent building was a public veterinary clinic before the Occupation. In addition, the compound consisted of a large officers residence which was not used.
the Israeli Police conspired with El Ad colonial society to leave the compound for the sake of their colonial plans. The Israeli Police asked for the construction of a new Police compound in At Tur, over confiscated lands, in return.
In September, 2008, the Israeli Police evacuated the compound, removed the signs, and cleared its contents before handing it to the colonists. The Israeli Police have started using the new compound, Mevseret Adummim, 3 months earlier. The compound became part of the colony after claims from “Miskovitch” that he bought it.
The Israeli Occupation Government measures are a shameless violation of the human rights; on the one hand, the Government does not own the location, so, it does not have the right to sell it. On the other hands, the colonists are assailants and they cannot claim buying the site. The site was specified as public property meaning that the site should be returned to the neighborhood and its indigenous owners.
Article 17 of The Universal Declaration of Human rights states:
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(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
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(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Moreover, the Geneva Fourth Convention, Article 53 states: ‘ 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.’
