This shows Susiya’s location between two settlement blocs. Picture: UN OCHA
40% of Susiya could be destroyed in less than a week. That is the grim reality facing 160 of the Palestinians in this small village in South Hebron Hills. In Area C of the West Bank, Palestinians are prohibited from building on their own lands without obtaining permits from the Israeli Civil Administration. These permits are routinely denied, even though the Israeli government has a responsibility to provide for the schooling, healthcare and daily needs of people living in the occupied territories. Needing to provide for their families and children, the people of Susiya, with financial support from international aid groups, built structures that include tents for living, animal pens, latrines, a school, a clinic, and a green energy electricity generator. Israeli and international human rights groups like B’Tselem, Tayyush and EAPPI have had a long relationship with the families in Susiya and have helped raise awareness about the village that has kept demolition at bay. But the right-wing Israeli group Regavim wants Susiya village gone, so that the illegal Israeli settlement of Susiya (note they chose the same name) can expand and take over the hill top. They have petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice to have the “illegal outpost” of Susiya demolished (International Law deems the occupier’s settling of its inhabitants on the land of the occupied people illegal; this means that the Israeli settlement of Susiya is truly illegal).
This family regroups after their home was demolished in Amniyr (village across the road from Susiya); Picture: Amy K, May 2011
Currently the people of Susiya are working with legal counsel and Rabbis for Human Rights to work through the courts. They have been able to push back demolition for a short time, but legal avenues are running out. What is needed is to raise awareness in the Court of Public Opinion. If Americans and other members of the international community speak out against the demolition of Susiya and other Palestinian homes and villages in the West Bank, the chances are greater that the Israeli Civil Administration will stay the demolitions.
What you can do:
We encourage you to:
- Send this information to your networks.
- Inform your representative in government about what is happening in Susiya.
- Update news/media agencies (radio, TV & print) about Susiya’s dilemma.
- Contact (Preferably fax) the following officials and call on them to allow Palestinians in Area C to have their right to adequate housing and infrastructure without the threat of demolitions:
o Your Ambassador and/or Consul General in Israel
§ http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Sherut/ForeignInIsrael/Continents
o The Israeli Ambassador in your country
o Israeli Minister of Defense:
§ Ehud Barak
§ Ministry of Defence
§ Fax: +972.3.691.6940 / +972.3.696.2757 / +972.3.697.7285
§ Email: minister@mod.gov.il / dover@mod.gov.il / pniot@mod.gov.il
o Israeli Military Judge Advocate General:
§ Major General Avihai Mandelblit
§ Fax: +972.3.569.4526 / +972.3.608.0366
§ Email: avimn@idf.gov.il
o Israeli Military Chief of Staff
§ Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz
§ Fax: +972.3.691.6940 / +972.697.6218
September 9, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Israel National News:
Hundreds of Palestinian Authority Arabs have been assaulting a Jewish village in the Binyamin region since Saturday afternoon, Tatzpit reports.
Residents of the Jewish village of Esh Kodesh reported that the assault began when three men from the community were walking in one of the town’s vineyards on Saturday afternoon, during the Jewish Sabbath.
The men were attacked by a large Arab mob armed with clubs and sticks, residents said. The attackers apparently came from the nearby PA town of Kotzra.
A security team from Esh Kodesh was called to the scene, as were nearby IDF units. The responders encountered hundreds of PA men armed with rocks and other makeshift weapons, and were unable to stop the assault.
“Children in the village are crying,” community spokesman Aharon Katzuf told Tatzpit. “They can’t sleep because of the screams of ‘Yitbach al Yahud’ [Slaughter the Jews - ed.] and ‘Allahu Akbar.’”
As of Saturday night clashes continued. An IDF spokesperson said, “Security forces are at the scene, and the circumstances are being investigated.”
More at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/159758#.UE1hw1Hhd8B
‘Yitbach al Yahud’. Not “Slaughter the Israelis”, but “Slaughter the Jews”. Stories like this must warm your heart.
September 10, 2012 at 9:22 am
I discount the reliability of this “news” source. Perhaps this very brief account from Ynetnews.com sheds light on the fact that this was not a mass attack but one of the routine clashes that take place in the West Bank, where illegal settlements and outposts have sprung up on Palestinian lands and next to Palestinian villages. This is also indicated by the fact that other mainstream Israeli media, like Haaretz have no mention of what seems from this article to be some great assault orchestrated by the Palestinian Authority. If that were really the case it would be front page news for all of the Israeli news sources and probably the American ones too. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4278704,00.html
The article from the Israel National News calls Esh Kodesh a village, which is not true. It is an illegal outpost, of the kind that the Israeli army has been dismantling, like Migron. I also find the idea that the IDF with all of its armed vehicles, artillery and giant shield trucks, which I have seen firsthand, would not be able to stop this assault, as is indicated by the article from Israel National News. It is comical really to think that is a factual statement, particularly since Palestinians are not permitted to have guns, while Israeli settlers always have weapons at their disposal.
In addition, the fact that the settlers in Esh Kodesh have tried repeatedly to confiscate the land that belongs to Palestinian farmers might be cause for anger and frustration on the part of Palestinian villagers. http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/eight-months-after-bloody-olive-harvest-battle-still-no-justice-in-sight.premium-1.459838
As is indicated by this article, even though Israelis and Palestinians were assaulted by the settlers of Esh Kodesh, there has been no action against the perpetrators.
September 27, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Hello Amy, my name is Austen Smith and I am the Community Engagement Editor for The Dearborn Press & Guide newspapers. I was hoping to talk with you about your blog. Please contact me at asmith@heritage.com or call 734-246-0839. Thanks!