Name of victim: Samieh and Faraj Mohammed Sh'aban Hirbawi.
Location: Wadi Qadum/ Jerusalem.
Area in m2: 270
Date of demolition: 11.6.2001
Number of family members: 15, including 11 children.
On June 11th, 2001, at 09:00, a big force of Israeli army estimated at 1000 soldiers, policemen, and security personnel accompanied by two bulldozers surrounded the house of brothers Samieh and Faraj Hirbawi in Wadi Qadum in the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem. In an interview with LRC field worker, Mr. faraj Hirbawi, co-owner of the house, gave the following statement: ''I left with my brother at 08:30 AM to our workplace at a carpentry workshop in the city. Half an hour later, my wife informed me by phone that the Israeli army was surrounding the house. Immediately, I left along with my brother and headed home. When we approached our house, we were stopped by the Israeli soldiers who prevented us from driving into our house. As a result, we left our car in the road and rushed on foot to se what was going on. We discovered that the house was besieged by Israeli troops, police and security men from all sides. We saw Israeli soldiers taking some of our belongings out of the house. Then we tried to go in but were blocked by the soldiers.
At 10:00 the two bulldozers started demolishing the house without evacuating most of its contents and furniture. In few minutes the house was leveled to the ground and changed into a pile of rubble amidst cries and shouts of our children sand women . During the demolition process, we tried, with the help of our neighbors, to resist but were exposed to a barrage of tear gas bombs. Consequently, a number of people were taken to hospitals for treatment from gas suffocation, including Mr. Saqer Al- Salaimeh''.
It is worth to mention that more than 12 house owners living in the same area had received demolition orders last year. The 12 threatened houses are owned by the families of Al- Salaimeh, Dandis, Abu-Swai, Abu- Rumuz, and Al- Zaru.
Hirbawi's demolished house comprised of two apartments built over a total area of 270 m2. Two families were living in it with a total population of 15 people, including 11 children. The house was inhabited by the two families in 1997. Prior to construction, the two brother applied for a building license to be taken from Jerusalem Municipality at the beginning of 1996, but the application was refused without clear reasons. Taken into consideration the need of their families for proper housing, the two brother decided to go ahead in their construction plans, especially after the Israeli refusal which left them with no other choice.
Later, an Israeli court ordered the cessation of building and imposed a 45000 NIS fine to be paid by the two brothers as monthly installments of 500 NIS each. Totally, 6000 NIS were paid by the tow brothers since the issuance of the court order. Moreover, the two brothers paid 5000 NIS as defense fees.
Added to the above mentioned expenses, the two brothers lost about 80 000 JD as construction money, not to mention the psychological and mental damage already done to family members, particularly children who witnessed the demolition action and found themselves homeless at the end of the day.
Hirbawi's demolished house comprised of two apartments built over a total area of 270 m2. Two families were living in it with a total population of 15 people, including 11 children. The house was inhabited by the two families in 1997. Prior to construction, the two brother applied for a building license to be taken from Jerusalem Municipality at the beginning of 1996, but the application was refused without clear reasons. Taken into consideration the need of their families for proper housing, the two brother decided to go ahead in their construction plans, especially after the Israeli refusal which left them with no other choice.
Later, an Israeli court ordered the cessation of building and imposed a 45000 NIS fine to be paid by the two brothers as monthly installments of 500 NIS each. Totally, 6000 NIS were paid by the tow brothers since the issuance of the court order. Moreover, the two brothers paid 5000 NIS as defense fees.
Added to the above mentioned expenses, the two brothers lost about 80 000 JD as construction money, not to mention the psychological and mental damage already done to family members, particularly children who witnessed the demolition action and found themselves homeless at the end of the day.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
