Israeli Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied City of Jerusalem Jun ,2012

Annex to the monthly report on Israeli violations in the occupied city of Jerusalem Jun 2012 Prepared by Land Research Center Land and housing monitoring unit Jerusalem In cooperation withThe Civic Coalition for Defending the Palestinians Rights in Jerusalem July 2012 Round 6 of the Sixth Year

Preface:The Israeli Occupation have escalated their attacks on Palestinians and theirproperty in the Occupied City of Jerusalem during the month of June, 2012.A large-scale demolition campaign was carried out in the city; 21 structures including6 in Beit Hanina were targeted.4 sheds were demolished in Jabal al Mukkaber; one of the sheds was used as a barnand sheltered 150 goats while the rest were used to store hay and yeast.In Beit Iksa, the Israeli Occupation Authorities forced a Palestinian family todismantle a barn and demolished another structure.5 residential structures were demolished in Anata; the structures sheltered 29people including 19 children. In addition, a barn was knocked down.On the other hand, Israeli colonists attempts to seize Palestinian property areunstoppable; colonists captured the roof of Al Qeisi shop in Aqbat al Saraya in a steptowards capturing it.Colonists carried out several attacks against religious sites while benefiting from fullprotection of the Israeli Army. Raiding al Aqsa Mosque have become a trend lately.Also, colonists set Zayd ibn Haretha Mosque in Jaba alight; consequently, all of thecontents of the mosque were consumed by the fire.Various types of attacks took place in the Occupied City; all to drive the Palestiniansaway from the city. The Israeli Police harass the Palestinians with "penaltiescampaigns" against passer bys and cars.An unknown group of Israeli colonists launched an attack on Palestinian cars,blowing the wheels using melee weapons.Whereas any Palestinian activity is faced with a great deal of obstacles andlimitations; the Jewish population of the city were allowed to organize the "lights ofJerusalem" festival in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Thecelebrations lasted for nine consecutive days were loud music and flashing lightsfilled the city. 1

The Right to Residency…House DemolitionsDemolition 6 Commercial Structures in Beit HaninaOn June 12, 2012, Israeli dozers knocked down 6 commercial shops (one buildingwith a total area of 350 m2) located in Beit Hanina to the north of the Occupied Cityof Jerusalem.The demolition was justified by unlicensed construction.The building is the property of Usama al Malhi and Taleb Idris who bought it fromNabi al Rishq.Table: victims of the aggression:No. Victim Structure Area (m2) remarks1 Walid al Kir Cab company 502 Yacoub al Rajabi Barber shop 503 Taleb Idris (co owner) Coffee shop 200 Losses estimated to be around 50,000 ILS4 Ulayyan restaurant Meat storage 50Usama al Malhi said: "we bought the building in 2006 from Nabil al Rishq who builtit in 2002. Soon afterwards, we received a 500,000 ILS penalty for building withoutpermit followed by 3 demolition orders.We applied for a permit and paid 160,000 from the penalty amount.Despite all this, they demolished the structure without even letting us clear thecontents.Two dozers raised the building with all its contents.One of the workers was sleeping in the building; if he didnt wake up, the buildingwould have collapsed over him.The Municipality ordered us to clean the rubble within a week or further penaltieswill be imposed.In addition, we are ought to pay for the demolition costs, more than 50,000 ILS.The total number of victims is 25 people." 2

Picture 1-2: demolition ongoingDemolishing 4 shacks in Jabal al Mukabber:On June 12, 2012, the Israeli Municipality in the Occupied City demolished forshacks; the largest is 350 m2 in area and was used as a barn sheltering 150 goats andsheep.The others were 100 m2 each and used to store hay and yeast.The shacks were the property of Aziz Jabees and were demolished on the pretext ofno construction permit. 3

Picture 3-4: rubbleThe owner said: "the construction of the shacks was completed in 2002. They werebuilt over a 1-dunum-plot which I owned for the benefit of my cattle. In 2010,Municipality officers showed up and stuck demolition orders on the shacks; they gaveme a 35-day-respite to either dismantle the buildings or acquire a permit.I assigned Zyad Qiwar, an attorney of law, to follow up my permit application andbrought a surveyor to provide official maps. My application cost me a total of 40,000ILS.Several hearing sessions took place and every time my lawyer tried to stall. In the lastsession, it was decided that another one is ought to take place in July, 2012.However, today, at around 7:30 am, I was shocked to see all the Police cars and thedozer.They told me that I have ten minutes to clear the contents of the shacks.While moving the cattle away, the dozers embarked on the demolition; three headswere buried under the rubble while over 20 tons of hay, yeast, and cattle food withan estimated value of 50,000 were buried.The demolishing lasted for three hours; when there were done, the officer demandedthat I clear the area and remove all the rubble within 3 days or they will confiscatethe cattle ". 4

Picture 5: shelter-less cattleHe added: "I do not know what am I supposed to do now, the cattle is my only sourceof living and they are now under the burning sunbeams without a shelter; in addition,if I did not remove the rubble they will impose more fines on me which I cannot affordor even worse, they will confiscate the cattle".Aziz is married and have 8 children, the oldest is 17 years of age. 3 of his children arementally impaired. Picture 6: Aziz children around the wreckage 5

The Israeli Occupation Authorities force a family to demolish their ownfarm:On June 17, 2012, the Israeli Occupation Authorities forced Al Qayanya family in beitIksa, north west of Jerusalem, to demolish an under-construction 190-m2 farm aswell as a 35-m2 residence on the pretext of unlicensed construction in area classifiedC according to Oslo despite the fact that the structures are located in area classifiedB according to Israeli maps.The farm is property of three brothers: 1. Shareef, 37, married and have two children 2. Mohammad, 46, married and have 4 children – unemployed. 3. Khalil, 48, married and have 5 children.Khalil said: "in 2010, we started the construction of a barn over aa plot that myfather owned in order to enhance our income.We submitted a license application for the Higher Organization Council at thePalestinian Authority, considering that it is in charge of the village administrativeaffairs.The construction lasted for a year.In March, the director of Organization in Beit El Civil Administration Office, knownonly as "Mekha" showed up with a force of the Border Police and stuck a demolitionorder for the residence and the farm.Consequently, we assigned a lawyer to follow up the case.Ten days before the demolition date, Mekha showed up alone and ordered mybrother Mohammad to demolish the residence and the farm within 48 hours unlesshe wants him to bring in the dozers and add the burden of demolition costs on him.The next day, we gathered a number of young men and embarked on dismantlingthe structures.The Israelis are fighting us in our sources of living, we built the farm over our ownland to improve our income; we built it over an area classified B according to Osloand the maps prove that". 6

Picture 7-8: dismanteled structuresDemolishing 5 structures and a barn in Anata:At midnight, on June 8, 2012, the Israeli Occupation Army demolished 5 residentialshacks (built of metal slabs) in addition to barn justifying that by "illegal presence inthe area".Table: victims: 7

Victim Area Family Children m2 membersYousuf Jahaleen 45 6 4Khader Jahaleen 40 6 4Taleb Jahaleen 55 7 5Mousa Dawaheek 50 5 3Mohammad Dawaheek 55 5 3Total 245 29 19The barn was 60 m2 in area.Yousuf Hajaleen stated to an LRC observer: "we have been living here for 5 years; wetook refuge in the area after we were expelled from our homes decades ago.3 months ago, we received a demolition notification which was justified by theillegality of our presence.Yesterday, a large Israeli force showed up accompanied by staff of the IsraeliOccupation Civil Administration and two dozers.They ordered us to immediately evacuate the shacks and pushed us away.They broke into the shacks and threw the contents out and released the cattle in thebarn.Moments later, the dozers demolished the shacks, the barn, and five water tanks,105 m3 in volume.We will rebuild our homes as we have nowhere else to go and if they do not like it,they shall leave themselves". 8

Picture 9-10: demolitions in AnataThe Right to Residency…Seizure AttemptsIsraeli colonists break into a Palestinian shop:Israeli colonists attempts to seize Palestinian property are unstoppable; colonistsembark on new methods to sneak into Palestinian houses and shops every day whilebeing granted full protection from the Israeli Occupation Army.Israeli colonists broke into the roof of Husein Al Qaisy (51) shop in Aqbat al Saraya inan attempt to capture it while taking advantage of his absentees.The colonists took advantage of the owners trip to Hebron where he went to checkon his grandparents place which was seized by the Israeli Occupation Army androbbed.The owner said: "the Israeli Police is trying to make troubles for me in order to forceme to drop looking for my grandparents place.As soon as I went back to my shop in Jerusalem, the shop where I spend a lot of timein to protect it from the colonists, I felt that something was wrong. 9

I found out that the colonists have made a 50 * 50 hole in the wall and broke into theshop. They sneaked from the upper floor which used to be inhabited by Al Kurd familybefore they were kicked out.3 months ago, I was called by an Israeli Court to respond to a case filed by thecolonists against me; the colonists claimed that I start fire in the shop and that thesmoke hurts them.The judge ruled in their favor, unjustly, and ordered me to stay away from my shopfor a period of a month.However, the lawyer followed the case up and he managed to cancel the firstsentence 22 days later.Eli, an Israeli colonist who took over the building, offered me an amount of 1 millionUSD to sell the shop and I told him that I will never do even if you pay me 60 million;but that proves that he does not own it".LRC warns of the documents foraging and the use of phony documents to take overPalestinian properties. It also warns of buying property from those who claimownership while Israeli Authorities neglects such counterfeiting to facilitate seizingPalestinian properties all around the Occupied City.Aggressions against Religious SitesColonists set a mosque ablaze:On June 19, 2012, Israeli colonists set Zayd ibn Haretha mosque in Jaba ablaze afterbreaking its windows and sneaking into it.They also wrote some slogans on the walls of the mosque, the likes of "payback" and"Lenova colony".Shihda Kadam, a member of Jaba Village Council, said: "at around 1:30 am, flameswere seen rising of the mosque; the villagers rushed to put the fire down.Slogans were written on the walls of the mosqye, the likes of "payback" which is thename of a group which has been responsible for several attacks against Palestinianproperties all around the West Bank and call for murdering Arabs and expellingthem.I called the Israeli Police and asked them to send a fire truck from the nearby colonyof Adam; however, they refused and told me to call the Palestinian Civil Defense.Meanwhile, the flames were consuming the contents of the mosque.At 4:00 am, the head of the Village Council called the Palestinian Coordination Officeurging them to call the Israeli side and make them send a fire truck. 10

An hour later, the Israeli Army Commander in the area showed up with a large Israeliforce and ordered us not to touch a thing until the "Crime Scene Investigation Unit"arrives.The unit arrived at 9, asked some questions, took some testimonies and ordered us towipe the slogans off which we refused in order to leave a mark of the Israeli racismand hatred". Picture 12: offensive slogans Picture 13: flames consumed the mosque from within… nothing remained 11

Raids and Closures:A new Israeli Penalties Campaign:Unreasonable penalties are the price Palestinians have to pay when moving aroundthe Occupied City of Jerusalem; occasionally, the Israeli Municipality in the OccupiedCity officers and Police officers place random checkpoints around the city and lookfor the slightest of reasons to write Palestinian tickets.In the past, such campaigns took place in Saladin and Al Zahara roads but extendedto cover various parts of the City.Palestinians are harassed during such campaigns and sometime abused orally andeven physically.Samer Mheisen was furious because of a penalty that was imposed on him so heyelled at the officers.They responded by cold-bloodedly called the Police which arrested Samer andaccused him of obstructing the officers work.Such measures are intended to force the Palestinians away from the city center andthe commercial heart of Jerusalem in order to weaken it and gradually emptying it. Picture 14: Municipality officers 12

For the fourth year in a row, the Lights of Jerusalem Festival, anotherJudization project:The Israeli Municipality in the Occupied City and the Israeli Ministry of Tourismorganized the Jerusalem Lights Festival in cooperation with a number of Israeliorganizations.The festival lasted for 9 days were flashy lights and loud music and parties roaredaround the city.The Israeli government seeks the attraction of tourists and presenting the "Jewish"side of the city.The festival includes light-reflection shows as 28 devices spread all around the oldcity beams light all around the city; in addition to concerts at Herods gate,slideshows in Damascus Gate, movies in Solomons caves, and various "artistic"works spread in and around the Old City.Without a doubt, the purpose of such a festival is presenting the Jewish side of theCity while completely neglecting the centuries-old Arab and Islamic culture.The festival was condemned by a number of organizations and figures who called forincreasing the Arab activities in the city as a counter measure.Aggressions on IndividualsIsraeli colonial groupravages Palestiniancars:On June 15, 2012, Israelicolonists broke into Ard alSamar neighborhood inthe Occupied City ataround midnight andpunctured the tires of 6cars parked in the areausing melee weapons.The assailants retreated without leaving any traces.On the next night, the same group attacked Al Sahel neighborhood and puncturedthe wheels of ten other cars. This time, they signed out by writing offensive sloganson the walls.It must be noted that this is the second attack against Ard al Samar in two years; thefirst attack ended with a complaint being filed to the Israeli Police which did nothingto handle the issue. 13

The negligence of the Police encouraged the colonists to launch more attacks on thehelpless Palestinian population in the city.LRC views such racial attacks as a breach of the International Law and theInternational Humanitarian Law which urges the occupier to provide civilians withprotection. Obviously, the Israelis got it all wrong as protection and support is beinggiven to the assailants. Picture 15-16: damaged cars 14

Israeli Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied City of Jerusalem Jun ,2012

by Khaled Sharqawy on Jul 10, 2012

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