House demolition campaign continues in Jerusalem … 5 Palestinian houses demolished in Beit Hanina and Shu’fat

Introduction:

During the last ten days of May, 2002, Israeli bulldozers demolished 5 Palestinian houses in the Palestinian neighborhoods of Beit Hanina and Shu'fat under the pretext of un-licensing. Early this year, 7 other Palestinian houses were demolished in these two neighborhoods during the months of January and February for the same reason. The latest demolitions took place in:

• AL- Ashqariya quarter of Beit Hanina close to the settlement of Reches Shu'fat which was established on Palestinian land confiscated from the villages of Shu'fat and Lifta.

• Tel Al-Ful in Shu'fat which has been surrounded by the settlement of Bisgat Omer which is an extension of Bisqat Zeiv set-up on Beit Hanina and Shu'fat land.

Demolition details

On May 21st, 2002, at about 07:00 AM, large numbers of Israeli military forces accompanied by Jerusalem municipality officials, bulldozers and digging machines attacked four Palestinian houses in Al- Ashqariya quarter in Beit Hanina. The whole area was put under siege preventing any one from approaching the scene of the attack. Having forcibly cleaned the targeted houses of some of the furniture the Israeli bulldozers started the demolition process. No official demolition orders were shown prior to demolition.

In an interview with LRC field worker, Mrs.Nabilah, the wife of Mr. Nabieh Kazim Burgan who heads a family of nine, including 7 children, said the following:

'While we were sleeping at seven o'clock in the morning we heard strange voices. We went out side and found dozens of Israeli soldiers, military vehicles and big bulldozers. We asked them: what you wanted? They replied:  we want to destroy your house. We felt stunned by this announcement, as we had no previous information about the intention to get our house destroyed. Three years ago we were fined 36 000 NIS [7500$] at an Israeli court for building without license. We paid 24 000 NIS [5000$] out of this amount. Nevertheless, they came and destroyed our house and made my seven children homeless while they were at school. When my children turned back from school they were shocked when they didn't find their rooms, books and toys. Now, My children are scattered between the houses of their aunt, their grand mother and the tent provided by the Red Cross''.

In another interview with LRC field worker, Mrs. Taghrid Musbah Sanduqa whose house was demolished on the same day gave the following account: ''Our family of 8 (including 6 children) had been living in their house during the period from 1998 until the date of demolition. In 1999, the Jerusalem municipality court imposed a fine of 40 000 NIS [8333 $] on the pretext of un-licensing. We have paid most of the amount. Yet, on 21.05.2002, the municipality destroyed our house after the children had left for schools early in the morning''.

Commenting on the demolition of his house, Taghrid's child, Amin ( 9 years old), said the following: ''I felt very sad because we lost our house. Any one has to feel the same way if Jews have destroyed his house. I had a place to sleep and study in. I had a space to put my toys.  Now, I have nothing. The second day I didnâ??t go to school''.

Mr. Hazim Abdul Mu'ti Al- Ja'bari, whose house was also demolished, said the following: ''At about 08:30 AM large forces of Israeli soldiers, police dogs, bulldozers and Korean workers arrived at our quarter and started to throw furniture out of the house. My family and I were detained 50 meters away from the house until the demolition process has finished. Today, I live with my family in this container in miserable conditions. Even, the Jerusalem municipality personnel informed us that they would come soon and take the container''.

In another development, the Jerusalem municipality destruction squads raided the house of Mr. Mohammed Zeib Mustafa on May 30th, 2002. The house, which was totally destroyed, located in Tel- Al-Ful area of Shu'fat.

Israeli house demolitions in Beit Hanina and Shu'fat on May 21st and 30th, 2002 by Owner name, location, area and number of rooms 

Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC