Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Today we were called to Hares, a small village approximately 17 km (10.5 miles) south of Nablus, where a two-story home and a business were demolished this morning by the Israeli Army. The house had been five years under construction and the Sultan family was preparing to move in. No demolitions orders were issued, no warning was given – the Army merely showed up at 9AM, cut down an olive tree, and demolished the home!!! Then proceeded down the street to demolish a business. Illegal!!!! Egregious!!!!! Criminal!!! Disgraceful!!!! As one local Palestinian woman said: “Crimes against God.”
The reason the Army gave was that there was no permit for the building of the house. However, the permit was in process and there was documentation (though not at the site of the house) that the paperwork was in process. However, the Army had their orders and a permit in process was of no interest. The family is now living in a one-room home. Between the house and the business destroyed, approximately 20+ individuals were dispossessed. Local residents had to restrain three of the men affected by the demolitions who were crying out to the soldiers (one just married, one with 12 children, and one with 5 children) for fear that in addition to their home and business being destroyed, they would also be arrested and put in prison.
Please try to imagine – think if this were YOUR home that had been demolished – your home that you had saved for, and built, over the course of 5 years – because an occupying force said you did not have a permit – even though the permit was in process.
Things are heating up in this area – many say, and I agree, that the Israeli government is attempting to provoke a 3rd Intifada – Israel depends on armed resistance to maintain its mantle of victimhood and to manipulate world opinion. No matter that Israel is the aggressor and the provocateur.
Last night in Balata refugee camp, the Israeli Army escorted 600 settlers into the camp (ostensibly) to visit the tomb of Joseph. Such incursions and acts of hubris and intimidation are becoming more and more prevalent. This morning at 2AM in the village of Huwwara (very close to Nablus) settler colons from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar spraypainted the mosque, burned two cars, and uprooted 300 olive trees. Tonight, Rocky, Areen, and I will go to Balata camp and then tomorrow to Huwwara to follow up on the incursions and take testimonies.
Today we were called to Hares, a small village approximately 17 km (10.5 miles) south of Nablus, where a two-story home and a business were demolished this morning by the Israeli Army. The house had been five years under construction and the Sultan family was preparing to move in. No demolitions orders were issued, no warning was given – the Army merely showed up at 9AM, cut down an olive tree, and demolished the home!!! Then proceeded down the street to demolish a business. Illegal!!!! Egregious!!!!! Criminal!!! Disgraceful!!!! As one local Palestinian woman said: “Crimes against God.”
The reason the Army gave was that there was no permit for the building of the house. However, the permit was in process and there was documentation (though not at the site of the house) that the paperwork was in process. However, the Army had their orders and a permit in process was of no interest. The family is now living in a one-room home. Between the house and the business destroyed, approximately 20+ individuals were dispossessed. Local residents had to restrain three of the men affected by the demolitions who were crying out to the soldiers (one just married, one with 12 children, and one with 5 children) for fear that in addition to their home and business being destroyed, they would also be arrested and put in prison.
Things are heating up in this area – many say, and I agree, that the Israeli government is attempting to provoke a 3rd Intifada – Israel depends on armed resistance to maintain its mantle of victimhood and to manipulate world opinion. No matter that Israel is the aggressor and the provocateur.
Last night in Balata refugee camp, the Israeli Army escorted 600 settlers into the camp (ostensibly) to visit the tomb of Joseph. Such incursions and acts of hubris and intimidation are becoming more and more prevalent. This morning at 2AM in the village of Huwwara (very close to Nablus) settler colons from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar spraypainted the mosque, burned two cars, and uprooted 300 olive trees. Tonight, Rocky, Areen, and I will go to Balata camp and then tomorrow to Huwwara to follow up on the incursions and take testimonies.
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