- Violation: demolition of a house
- Location: Al-Khadr village- Bethlehem
- Date: March 16, 2016
- Perpetrators: Israeli Occupation Forces
- Victims: Jawad Saleh
Details:
A massive force from the Israeli occupation army accompanied by military dozers raided on March 16, 2016 Al-Khadr village and embarked on demolishing the house of Jawad Saleh.
Saleh told Land Research Center the following: " Dozers broke into the location and embarked on demolishing my two floor house that was of 140m2 and was also still under construction. When the demolition operation was over, I went to the construction location to find out that my residence became rubbles. My dream of a house vanished"
He also said: " I was served a stop-work order on my house but decided to continue the construction works until the occupation came today and demolished it. I will re-construct it God's Willing"
Al Khadr:
Located 4 kilometer west of Bethlehem, Al Khadr village is surrounded by Beit Jala and Battir (north), Husan and Nahhalin (west), Ad Doha, Wadi Rahall, and Beit Jala (east), Wadi An Nais (south).
Al Khadr has a population of 9774 according to statistics conducted in 2007. It has a total area of 8279 dunums, 184 of which are built-up area.
The Israeli occupation confiscated 29 dunums of Al Khadr lands for Efrat and Daniel colonies. Efrat was built in 1979 and devoured 5.8 dunums of Al Khadr. It is inhabited by 7037 colonists. Daniel was built in 1982 and confiscated 23 dunums. 1073 colonists live in the colony.
Bypasses number 60 and 375 devoured more than 487 dunums. Not to mention the Apartheid Wall that destroyed 280 dunums and isolated 5638 dunums of the village. The Wall in Al Khadr is 2805 meters long.
According to Oslo Accords, 10% of Al Khadr is under Area A (PA has full civil and security control) while 6% is under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security). However, most of the village lands (84%) is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). Here are the areas in dunums:
- Area A (808) dunums
- Area B (475) dunums
- Area C (6996) dunums
Land Research Center sees houses and properties demolition as a clear-cut violation of all international conventions and laws:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 1 states: " All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
Article 17: " (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property."
The 1907 the Hague Convention
Article 23: " In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden
g. To destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war;"
The Geneva Fourth convention
Article 53: " 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."
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights:
Article 11.1 states: "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent".
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
