From Rabbis for Human Rights and Operation Dove – this article about the ongoing and systematic destruction of houses and structures in Area C of the West Bank – 38 persons lost their homes, including 21 children. The continuous displacement and loss of land and livelihood occurs on a daily basis in the West Bank, and as the Gaza massacre starts to fade from the media cycle, the opportunity to seize a thousand acres of land near Bethlehem is taken for expansion of settlements.
The following update on demolitions in Khirbet ar-Rahma comes Operation Dove, an Italian NGO that focuses on the South Hebron Hills. Khirbet ar-Rahma is a small and poor Palestinian village in Area C of the occupied territories. Since its location in Area C means it is under full Israeli control, the villagers are subjected to the Israeli military planning system that blocks almost every Palestinian attempt at building and developing within their village. Whatever is built, is demolished every now and again, as demonstrated by this most recent demolition. In the background of thephotos, please note the new Jewish settlement, some of which is illegal by the Israeli law, but nevertheless is permitted to stay intact. This is an example of institutionalized discrimination, and demonstrates why RHR submitted an appeal to the High Court of Justice to return planning authority to the Palestinians in Area C.
From Operation Dove:
UPDATE 2014-09-01: IDF DEMOLISHED 9 STRUCTURE IN THE VILLAGE OF KHIRBET AR-RAHWA
38 persons lost their home, 21 of them childrenKhirbet ar Rahwa – On 1st of September 2014, during the afternoon, the Israeli army and the D.C.O. (District Coordination Office) entered into the palestinian village of Khirbet ar-Rahwa, in the South Hebron Hills, and demolished 3 houses (tents), 3 animal shelters and 3 toilettes. No demolition order was delivered for these structures.
All the demolished structures were built with simple materials. Ar-Rawha that is located in area C, has no access to electricity, to the water pipeline and to any kind of facilities and services.
The houses belonged to the Altal family and to the Jabaarin family. Because of the demolitions, 38 persons, 21 of them children, lost their houses. All the families are waiting for humanitarian aid.The village of ar-Rahwa is surrounded by the settlement of Tene and the outpost of Havat Moor. This outpost received demolition order in 2000, but the D.C.O decided to not demolish any house until now. Also the outpost is connected with the electricity net and water pipelines, services that are denied for the Palestinians of ar-Rawha, who are the legal owners of the land where the settlement of Tene is located.
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