Work-stop notices of homes and commercial establishments in the village of Al-Rafa’iya, east of Yatta,  Hebron Governorate

• Violation: notices of suspension of work.
• Violation date: 7+15/6/2022.
• Location: Al-Rifa’iya village – Yatta / Hebron Governorate.
• The perpetrator: the so-called civil administration of the Israeli occupation  of the West Bank.
• Affected party: A number of citizens of the village of Al-Rifaiah.

The violation details:

On Wednesday, 15/6/2022, the Israeli occupation authorities issued notices to stop work and construction in the homes and facilities of a number of citizens in the village of Al-Rafa’iya, east of Yatta town, south of Hebron, under the pretext of lacking licensing.

Mr. Mahmoud al-Amour, a member of the village council of Khallet  al-Maiya and al-Rifa’iya explained that a force from the occupation army and the so-called Civil Administrationhad raided the village, and upon arrival the Israeli building inspector issued work-stop notices and attached them to the threatened buildings, and took pictures of them.

Al-Amour confirmed that some of the houses which were targeted by the occupation authorities have been inhabited for several years, and the latest Israeli measure came as a continuation of the policy of tightening the noose around the village and preventing urban expansion in it.  This policy began few years ago during which a number of homes and facilities have been demolished in the village.

In its notices, the occupation authorities demanded a full stoppage of all construction works under the pretext of un-licensing, and said that a hearing session will be held soon to discuss what they called “the demolition of the buildings or the restoration of the place to its previous state.” Table (1): Work-stop notices by owner name, No. of family members, structure type, area, construction year, notice number:

In relevant information, on 7/6/2022, the occupation authorities notified Mr.  Jibrin Muhammad Mahmoud al-Adra to stop work in a stone workshop which is located in the western part of the village under the pretext of un-licensing.

The work-stop notice bears the number of 40456. The threatened stone workshop was built on a 1-dunum piece of land about two years. It contains a tin building with stone saws and electric tools used for cutting and shaping the stones. This workshop is the only income for a family of 8 members, including 5 children under the age of 18. It is, also, a source of livelihood for one employee who supports a family of 4 members, including 2 children.

Photo of the work stop notice No. 40456 targeting the stone workshop

Picture 8+9: The target stone workshop

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC