NOVANEWS
In November 2008, we reported to you about demolition orders, issue
by Israel’s Civilian Administration of the Occupied Territories, against
eleven structures in Umm-Al-Kheir (including stone and tin residential
structures, lavatory structures, tents, and a tin storage structure).
The structures are located in two residential clusters in Umm al-Kheir that
are home to five extended families (over 100 children and adults). Thirty
years ago, these families have had the misfortune of the Israeli settlement
Carmel settling right on top of their lands and living quarters.
The continued expansion of Carmel means continued demolitions and evictions
for Umm-Al-Kheir.
Following the demolition orders of November 2009, the families of Umm al-Kheir
began a judicial fight to have the orders annulled. The two lawyers conducting the
fight on the locals behalf have succeeded in postponing demolition in the northern-
most cluster, that is, the cluster whose residents had been recognized by Israeli
courts in the early 1980s as the legal owners of their lands. As for the southern-most
cluster, where the courts did not recognize the residents’ ownership of the lands
(notwithstanding their legal purchase of the lands under Jordanian rule), all judicial
objections have now been overruled, and the court has upheld the demolition orders.
The last chance left of overturning or postponing the demolition of our homes is the
appeal submitted recently by the lawyer representing us to Israel’s High Court of
Justice. The residents of the southern cluster in Umm Al-Kheir appealed to for help
in financing the appeal to the Supreme Court. Israeli individuals with the mediation
of the Villages Group contributed most of the money needed to cover the cost of the
application (approximately $800).
Among the structures facing demolition is the home of Eid Hathelin, a local artist.
You can see Eid, his family and his work in
the final extended version of David Massey’s unique video “Eid”.
Eid’s wife, Na’ama, gave birth last week to their second daughter Lin (sister to Sadin).
In the meanwhile, young people from both at-risk clusters erected (with the help of
Israeli and international volunteers) a new tent which they designate to become a center
for many educational, artistic and other activities. This is indeed a very special initiative
that comes from within, one that can bring new light of hope for one of the most persecuted
communities in the West-Bank.
