CPTnet
July 20, 2003
HEBRON: Bombed building poses danger to children in Old City
By Paul D. Pierce
A building blown up by the Israeli army poses a danger to children as it
disintegrates in the Old City of Hebron. The Hebron Rehabilitation
Committee was restoring the three-story building until the Israeli army
ordered the committee to cease all work last week.
The Israeli army blew up the building on June 8th after two Palestinian
gunmen were found hiding in the unfinished structure following the killing
of an Israeli near the Ibrahimi Mosque. Israeli soldiers caught and killed
the gunmen .
Most of the structure was destroyed in the 4:30 am blast and the remainder
of the building is slowly falling apart. There is no way to stabilize the
building since the Rehabilitation Committee is unable to work. Anyone
caught working faces arrest by the military.
A spokesman for the Rehabilitation Committee said it is hard to see any way
to prevent the structure from deteriorating because his workers are forced
to stay home.
The building is located in the Casbah of the Old City of Hebron, where
structures date back 200-300 years. The Rehabilitation Committee was
restoring dozens of historic homes before their work was halted.
Deterioration of the Old City combined with army and settler harassment has
forced many residents and shop owners to flee the area. Israeli Settlers
have confiscated part of the old market area in the Casbah and cessation
of rehabilitation work will cause more Palestinian residents to leave. Four
hundred workers and their families in the old city are affected by the stop
work order.
The Christian Peacemaker Teams calls on the Israeli government to allow
rehabilitation to continue and provide workers the opportunity to stabilize
the bombed building so that injuries to children can be prevented.
Otherwise, children playing in the area, which is no longer protected by a
wall or other restraints, may be the victims of falling debris.
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