Date: February 17, 2011
Preface:
Khirbet Yarza is a small Bedouin community located in the heart of the northern parts of the Jordan Valley. It has always been targeted by Israeli occupation forces in a sustained effort to uproot it and use its lands for further colonial expansion under a number of pretexts. None of the structures in the Khirbet (including houses, bruxes, animal sheds, etc) have been spared Israeli-issued demolition orders under the pretext of being present in “Military Closed Areas”.
In the face of this sustained eviction policies, the 70 residents of the khirbet insisted on staying put in their lands as to cut short the Israeli plans of their eviction. Even the mosque was not spared. It was built out of wood and mud in mid 2010 with local efforts and funds to be a center for worship only to be given a Stop Work Order upon its completion. It was demolished on the 25th of December, 2010.
However, it was re-built once again only to be demolished once again on the 17th of February 2011. Yet, the second demolition was much more devastating as it targeted it from its bases and nothing was left of it. The demolition of the mosque is a clear indication of the racism that engulfs the Israeli occupation forces and its non-respects for the holy sites of the others.
Details:
At 12:00 PM on Thursday February 17, 2011, Khirbet Yarza was targeted once again with demolition as two Israeli military bulldozers accompanied by 8 jeeps raised havoc in it. All told, 7 bruxes were demolished along with the Khirbet’s mosque while an additional 8 bruxes were taken apart by their owners in an effort to save what can be saved. The affected Palestinian population is about 64 including 29 children.
In addition to the demolition, Israeli occupation forces issued and distributed 3 eviction orders against three families in the Khirbet. The eviction, according to the order, must be done within a period of 24 hours due to “the presence of the families in a Closed Military Area.” The heads of the targeted families are Mr. Fawzi Mahmoud Einabousi, Mr. Na’eim Hafez Masa’eid and Mr. Fayez Hamed Eid Shreida.
Pics of the demolitions on February 17, 2011.
The following table lists the names of the affected Palestinians and their relevant information:
|
Name
|
Bruxes
|
Toilets
|
Other
|
Family Members
|
Children
|
Notes
|
|
Khaled Mohamamd Mahmoud Masa’eid
|
2
|
|
|
8
|
5
|
Two bruxes were dismantled before being demolished
|
|
The mosque
|
|
2
|
1
|
|
|
The area of the mosque was 150 m2
|
|
Mohammad Mahmoud Ibraheem Daraghma
|
2
|
|
4
|
|
|
Two demolished bruxes
|
|
Na’eim Hafez Masa’eid
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
17
|
8
|
Two bruxes and a storage area was demolished by the occupation forces while an additional two bruxes were dismantled by the owner.
|
|
Sami Khaled Mahmoud Daraghma
|
1
|
|
|
5
|
3
|
Demolished by occupation forces.
|
|
Hasan Khaled Mahmoud Daraghma
|
1
|
|
|
6
|
4
|
Demolished by occupation forces.
|
|
Ameir Khaled Mahmoud Daraghma
|
2
|
|
|
6
|
|
One demolished by occupation forces while the other was dismantled by the owner.
|
|
Fawzy Mahmoud Einabousi
|
2
|
|
|
8
|
1
|
Dismantled by the owner.
|
|
Mahmoud Fawzi Einabousi
|
1
|
|
|
10
|
8
|
Dismantled by the owner.
|
|
TOTAL
|
15
|
3
|
2
|
64
|
29
|
|
Source: Land Research Center Field Work.
The Land Research Center sees that the Israeli policy of demolishing Palestinian houses and structures as a deliberate attempt to empty the land of its original Palestinian owners as to replace them with Israeli colonists.
The demolition of such structures is a stark violation of human rights and the articles of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention which stated in its Article 53 that “ Occupation Powers shall not destroy any private property and structures owned by individuals, groups, the Occupied State, public authorities, social organizations or cooperatives unless deems necessary for military purposes”
More information vis-à-vis Khirbet Yarza, please consult the following two links:
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
The Land Research Center
LRC
