Demolishing Barns and Chicken farms

Violation: demolishing shacks.

Location: Khallit al Ward – eastern Hebron.

Date: May 1, 2012.

Perpetrators: the Israeli Occupation Civil Administration.

Victims: sons of Mohammad al Rajabi.

Details:

On May 1, 2012, the Israeli Occupation Civil Administration demolished barns and chicken farms in Khallit al Ward, eastern Hebron.

The structures were the property of Al Rajabi family. Iyad al Rajabi said that an Israeli force accompanied by officers of the Israeli Occupation Civil Administration besieged the area before two jackhammers and a dozer embarked on demolition.

He said that the shacks are owned by the brothers Imad, Sharif, Mahmoud, and Iyad al Rajabi and they are considered as the source of income for their families, amassing around 50 people. He said that they received stop-work orders in 2008 which was followed by a demolition order later. He pointed that they assigned an attorney of law to defend their case and issue construction permits. He said that he told the officer who was in charge of the demolition that there is an ongoing case in Court and that the judges have not yet make their mind. The officer replied by saying that the Court sent its reply to the lawyer via fax at midnight.

Table 1: demolished structures:

No.	Victim	Area (m2)	year	Structure	Usage	remarks
1	Iyad al Rajabi	100	2001	Shack	Chicken farm	No notification
1	Iyad al Rajabi	200	2008	Shack	Chicken farm	notified
2	Mahmoud and Sharif al Rajabi	400	2005	Shack	Barn	notified
3	Imad al Rajabi	1300	2005	Shack	Barn	notified
4	Sharif al Rajabi	200	2012	milker	Feeding and milking cows	No notification
Total		2200

*source: Filed visits – Israeli Violations of Human Rights Monitoring Unit – LRC

Picture 1-3: demolished chicken farms

Picture 4-7: ruins of barns

Picture 8: remains of the milker

The barns were built of iron rods topped by metal slabs; Mahmoud’s barn had 30 cows while Imad’s had 90. The chicken farmers were built of cement blocks topped with metal slabs; their maximum capacity was 3000 chicken. Fortunately, they were empty by the time of the demolition. They placed the animals in some sort of tents which they placed nearby the scene. However, the Israelis handed them an eviction order on the same day.