The Israeli Occupation Forces demolish 6 structures in East Jerusalem Bedouin community of Abu Nowar

January 7, 2016

• Violation: demolition of 6 structures
• Location:  Abu Nowar community- East Jerusalem
• Perpetrators: Israel Civil Administration and army
• Victims:  some Bedouin families

Details:

A massive force from Israel Civil Administration and army troops accompanied by two military dozers on January 06, 2016 raided the Bedouin community of Abu Nowar and embarked on demolishing five residential barracks and another for animals.

It should be marked that the demolition took place despite that owners obtained a injunction from Israel Supreme Court to halt demolition. This is to say that the occupation ignored the order made by its Supreme Court.  A number of families were rendered homeless as a result.

The community of Abu Nowar that is located on lands of Al-Eizariya town, southeast Jerusalem has been a constant target for the occupation attacks and violations that aim at displacing residents and emptying the area for the favor of Maale Adummim colony's expansion.

"Go make the Supreme Court stop me", said the Civil Administration officer to the chieftain of Abu Nowar, Dawood Jahalin, at time he tried to object to the demolition, using the injunction he obtained from the Supreme Court.

Dawood told Land Research Center that the "Israeli violations on the community are barbaric and inhumane. They are a violation of all international conventions and humanitarian laws. Despite all, we will build new barracks to shelter our kids from cold".

It should be marked that some residents were assaulted during the demolition operation and others were detained until the operation ended. The following table shows information about affected people :

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2016

A photo illustrating the demolition operation in Abu Nowar

Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all of the International conventions and Humanitarian laws including:

1. Article 17 of the (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating: “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.”
2. Section ‹G› of article 23 of the (1907) The Hague Conventions asserting: “In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.”
3. Article 53 of the Geneva Fourth Convention (1948) declaring: “Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.”
4. Section 1, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent."

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC