The Israeli Occupation Authorities handed 4 halt construction orders against 4 Palestinian houses located to the east of Yatta town. On February 1, 2010, the Israeli Occupation Authorities handed 4 halt construction orders, 3 in At Tuwani and 1 in Al Karmil villages.
The Israelis justified this act using the same feeble pretext of ‘no permits’. It must be known that the Israeli Occupation Authorities do not issue construction permits within areas classified ‘C’ according to Oslo agreement. Hafiz al Hreini stated to an LRC observer that the Occupation Authorities handed his parents a demolition order targeting his house.
Photo 1: Hafiz al Hreini House
He also said that the occupation Authorities handed him a halt construction order a couple of months earlier. Recently, they handed him a demolition order under the same excuse. Al Hreini added that the Israeli Occupation Army made clear to his parents that the house will be leveled within 10 days.
Al Hreini’s house is 200 m2 in area, built of concrete, and is still under construction.
Al Hreini is the sole supporter of an 8 member’s family that includes 6 children.
Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation Authorities has recently issued 3 other demolition orders in Al Karmil village. The orders specified a hearing session date in Beit El court on February 25, 2010. Moreover, it was made clear in the demolition order that the owners of the threatened houses can apply for permits but it does not guarantee them the right of obtaining ones.
However, it is known that the Israeli Occupation Authorities does not issue any permits for Palestinian structures within areas classified ‘C’.
The threatened houses are the property of:
No.
|
Name
|
Number of houses
|
Area (m2)
|
Family members
|
Number of children
|
Construction date
|
picture
|
1
|
Ashraf al Shamisti
|
2
|
220
|
7
|
4
|
2006
|
|
2
|
Hatim al Shamisti
|
2
|
250
|
7
|
5
|
2006
|
|
3
|
Amir al Shamisti
|
1
|
120
|
4
|
2
|
2007
|
|
Total
|
5
|
590
|
18
|
11
|
|
|
Mysterious fate awaits the families:
18 people including 11 children are waiting to unveil a dark future. Since they received the demolition orders, they have been living in fear and dread of the future without the house that used to shelter them and make them feel safe.
Mr. Hasan al Shamisti – the father of Ashraf and Hatim – expressed surprise when he received the orders. He said that the loss will be far more than the hundreds of thousands of shekels which were the costs of the houses.
Al Karmil:
It is located 4 km to the east of Yatta Town and is bounded by the by-pass road (60) from its eastern side. Al Karmil is inhabited by around 4000 people. The village affairs are handled by a village council. There are phone and electricity networks in the village.