Israel escalates house demolition campaign in occupied Jerusalem

Introduction:

Israel escalated its policy of house demolition in Jerusalem district during the first half of the current year, 2003 by benefiting from the outbreak of the aggressive war against Iraq.

This policy is part of its repressive trend towards the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which aims at expelling all Palestinians out of their land. This year, in particular, Israeli took benefit of the war circumstances against Iraq in escalating the level of repression and aggression against Palestinians.

The city of Jerusalem and surrounding areas took its share of the Israeli demolition campaigns, which came as part of the Israelization of the city based on emptying it of its Palestinian inhabitants.

The following report of LRC/ Arab Studies Society based in Jerusalem sheds the light on the Israeli demolition, closure and seizure of Palestinian houses during the period from 1.1.2003 until 30.6.2003.

Facts and figures:

Israel found a good opportunity in the out break of the Anglo- American war against Iraq to commit more crimes of killings, assassinations, detention and demolition and closure of Palestinian houses and structures in all parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Concerning the city of Jerusalem, LRC field workers documented the demolition of 69 housing units under the pretexts of both un-licensing and security. The total number of rooms destroyed in these housing units reached 270. There are 467 Palestinian citizens including 248 children who were affected and became homeless. The total area of the destroyed units was 8780 square meters. The aforementioned number of the destroyed housing units almost equals the number of 76 housing units destroyed throughout the year 2002 under the same two pretexts.

In addition, 5 other structures – stores, basis, walls and cisterns- were destroyed during the first half of 2003 with a total area of 3779 square meters. As a result, 70 people were affected, amongst them 41 children.

In comparison, 12 other structures – stores, basis, walls, cisterns, a bus station and soccer club – were destroyed through out the year 2002. The total area of these structures is 3000 square meters. 

The following tables explain the above-mentioned numbers and comparisons:

Table No. (1): House demolition in Jerusalem under the pretext of un-licensing
During the period of (January 1st-June 6) – 2003

Source: Fieldwork by LRC

Comment: From the table above, one can notice that the Israeli occupation authorities demolished a total of 26 housing units during the 21 days of actual wartime against Iraq ( from March 20th until April 9th/ 2003) – an average of more than one house per day which is considered a record number in the history of house demolition in Jerusalem. This number reflects the Israelization of Jerusalem policy through the massive house demolition that has intensified during the wartime against Iraq. Table No. (2): House demolition in Jerusalem for security pretexts. During the period of (January 1st-June 6) 

Source: Field work by LRC

Table No. (3): Demolition of other structures During the period of (January 1st-June 6) 2003 

Source: Field work by LRC

Notice: to compare the above-mentioned totals with its counterpart for the year 2002, we confirm the destruction of 3000 M2 of different types of structures (stores, basis, walls, cisterns, farms, bus station, soccer club)  affecting about 500 people almost half of them are children (See annual report of Israeli violations in Jerusalem issued by LRC in June, 2003). 

General comparisons 

Due to the escalation of the Israeli attacks on Palestinians and their properties, particularly in East Jerusalem, a comparison between the Israeli house demolition attacks during the year 2002 data and the first half of 2003 data is shown in table 4: Demolition and seizure of houses and other structures by month and pretext  

Source: Field work by LRC
 

 Comment:

It is noticeable from the chart above the sharp increase in house demolitions during the two months of March and April 2003, the time when the war was being waged against Iraq.  Table No. ( 5): House demolitions in 2002 and first half of 2003 by pretext, number of housing units, rooms, family members and area  

 Source: Field work by LRC

 Comment: The table shows that the number of houses demolished and affected people during the first half of current year, 2003, under the pretext of un-licensing and security almost equals the number of houses destroyed for the same reasons through out the whole year of 2002. This shows the Israeli utilization of war- time to destroy as many Palestinian houses as possible. Detailed examples of house demolition attacks during the war against Iraq 

A destructive attack on one day against Sur Baher, Al zua'im and Qatanah

 At 8 AM, on the 3rd of April 2003, the Israeli occupation forces started the demolition of 13 Palestinian housing units, 10 of them in the town of Sur Baher, located at the south eastern part of Jerusalem district, one in Al Salam quarter in Anata village north of the old city of Jerusalem, one in Al Zua'im village east of the old city, and one in Qatanah village north west of the city. During the demolition operations, Israeli bulldozers also demolished walls and yards in the vicinity of the destroyed housing units. The total area of the destroyed housing units is 1610 square meters, while the total area of walls and yards is 2540 square meters. The demolition campaign was executed by a large force of border guards, police, 6 bulldozers and big digger machines.

When the Israeli forces reached the town of Sur Baher, they split into two groups: the first headed towards Wadi Al Humus where they demolished 6 housing units in four buildings. The second group headed to Al Muntar quarter where they demolished another 4 housing units.

LRC field worker said that on the same day other Israeli demolition squads went to Al Zua'im, Anata and Qatanah villages to demolish three other houses. 

House demolished for the fourth consecutive time

LRC field worker reported that the house which was demolished in Anata village, Al- Salam quarter, belonged to Mr. Salim Hasan Shawamreh. It was demolished for the fourth consecutive time under the pretext of un- licensing. In an interview held by LRC field worker with Mr. Shawamreh, he said the following: 'The real reason behind the Israeli determination to deprive me of building in this place is the Israeli plan to build a settlement road to link between the city center and the colony of Adem to the south east of the old city of Jerusalem passing by the eastern edge of Al Issawiya Palestinian neighborhood. Although the land is owned by Palestinians, no one is allowed to build on it and the Israeli authorities are reluctant to do any master planning to decide the built up area and the course of the projected road. It is clear that the Israeli authorities show no enthusiasm in this matter because the land in dispute is simply owned by Palestinians'.

Mr. Shawamreh went on to say: 'I am determined to build on the only piece of land I own, but the Jewish municipality of occupied Jerusalem denies me this right. This denial is very well reflected in the continuous demolitions of my house, the most recent of which was on the 3rd of April 2003. The previous demolitions took place on the following dates: 9.7.1998, 3.8.1998 and 4.4.2001.

A similar destructive attack against the Palestinian village of Issawiya

On the 6th of April 2003, Israeli bulldozers and digger machines demolished 10 houses in the village of Issawiya with a total area of 1310 square meter. As a result, more than 34 people of whom 20 children became homeless.

At 7:30 AM, a big Israeli demolition squad comprised of special task forces, policemen and border guards stormed the village of  Issawiya from its eastern entrance accompanied by two bulldozers and a big digger machine. Immediately after arrival they closed all the village entrances and started to knock down the houses of the families of Darwish, Muheisen, Dar and Dari.

It is worth mentioning that the four families had pursued legal process by objecting the demolition orders at the municipality court on 13.1.2003, then to the magistrate court, and lastly to the high court,  but, unfortunately, the demolition orders were issued under pressure made by the Jewish municipality of occupied Jerusalem. The four families didn't only loose their houses, but, they were ordered by the high court to pay for the court fees after it had lost the case. Additionally, the families have to pay the lawyers fees. The total value of material losses is estimated at 5.2 million NIS.

The demolitions took place under the pretext that the targeted houses were built inside the '' green area'' prohibited for building. However, this same '' green area'' is allowed for Jewish exclusive construction. 

The over all number of houses demolished in Issawiya alone during the period from 1.1.1986 until 6.4.2003 is about 63, in addition to 19 tent which means that the Palestinian construction in Issawiya is a prime target of Israeli governments because of the closeness of this village to Israeli residential and educational centers such as the Hebrew University and the French hill. 

Israeli forces attack Palestinian owners.

Live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters were used to quell Palestinian house owners in the two villages of Sur Baher and Issawiya who protested the act of demolition.  Israeli soldiers chased youths who threw stones at them and showed some resistance.  House owners in the two villages confirmed to LRC field worker that the attacking Israeli forces sought reactions from local inhabitants and owner by carrying out provocative and molesting attacks against them. 

Demolitions performed without showing written orders:

 LRC field worker who witnessed the demolitions confirmed that the Israeli occupation authorities showed no written material to house owners prior to demolitions. Instead, an Israeli army officer driving a jeep with plate number 65 was leading the operations and giving no attention to the objections, suffering and screams of owners. On the other hand, house owners informed LRC field worker that they had applied for building licenses through the Israeli civil administration, but all their efforts were in vain.

Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC