As the Anglo- American invasion of Iraq continues, Israel takes advantage by escalating its acts of killings, assassinations, arrests, house demolitions and land confiscation in various parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. In this regard, the house demolition campaign has been intensified since the beginning of the war in the city of Jerusalem and its surroundings as part of the Israeli efforts to Judaize the city by dismissing its Palestinian inhabitants and depriving them of the right to live and stay there.
LRC's human rights observer documented the demolition of 23 Palestinian houses in the city of Jerusalem and its surroundings since the beginning of the war against Iraq on March 20th, 2003.
The demolitions were carried out as followed:
1. On April 2nd , 2003: two houses were destroyed in the district of Beit Hanina , north of the city belonging to the families of Al- Demeiri and Al- Ghazali.
2. On April 3rd , 2003:
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8 Houses, one barrack, walls and yards were destroyed in the town of Sur Baher south east of the city belonging to the families of Amira, Attoun and Al- Shuweiki.
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One house was demolished for the fourth time in the village of Anata- Salam quarters north of the city belonging to Mr. Salim Shawamreh.
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One house was demolished in Al- Zua'im village east of the city belonging to the family of Abu- Juma'a.
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One house was demolished in the village of Qatana north of the city belonging to the family of Illian.
3. On April 6th, 2003: 10 houses were destroyed in Al- Issawiya Quarters north of the city belonging to the families of Al- Darweish, Muheisin and Dari.
The total number of people who became homeless as a result of the aforementioned demolitions is 144, including 75 children under the age of 16.
On the other hand, the total area of the destroyed houses is 3380 square meters, while the total area of the destroyed walls and yards is 2540 square meters.
LRC, while attracts the attention of public opinion to these Israeli demolitions, confirms that these practices are part of the ethnic cleansing crimes and apartheid policies being implemented against the indigenous people by the occupying power. LRC stresses the fact that these mal practices are contradictory to all international and humanitarian norms and conventions.
On this occasion, LRC calls upon all parties who care for the future of the Palestinian people to give enough attention and focus on what is going on in the occupied Palestinian territories at this very critical time. The Center calls upon all parties' signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention to reveal such Israeli practices with the aim of keeping international public opinion informed of the new Israeli eviction processes against the Palestinian people in Jerusalem.
LRC demands from all human rights groups and bodies in general, and The International Habitat Coalition ( HIC) in particular, to assume their responsibilities in defending the basic right of Palestinians to housing, and in using utmost efforts to impose pressure on Israel to stop its repeated aggressions against Palestinians and their properties before it is too late.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
