CPTnet
March 14, 1998
HEBRON: Countering Israeli Government propaganda concerning Home
Demolitions

The Hebron team would like to thank all those on CPTnet who have
responded to the Urgent Action we put out on behalf of the Al Atrash
family. Several of you have passed on the Israeli government's
e-mail response to your query. We have consulted with Israeli and
Palestinian organizations about the material presented within the
Israeli response and suggest you counter the Israeli propaganda as
follows:

1) The bulk of the Israeli government response deals with house
demolitions and building in Jerusalem. Point out that you are
writing regarding the Al Atrash family who live in Qilqis, south of
Hebron. Ask why they were not permitted to build on land for which
they have deeds dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

2) Ask why soldiers threatened to shoot 3 year old Ra'ed Al Atrash
if his mother, Zuhoor did not come out of her house and why they
threw her in a ditch after they forcibly removed her. Ask why her
brother, Anwar, is facing a 1-3 year prison sentence for attempting
to come to the assistance of his sister.

3) Ask why building permits are NEVER issued to Palestinian families
living near settlements or bypass roads in the West Bank (These
areas are referred to as Area C under the Oslo Accords.)

4) If you wish, ask the Israeli information bureaus to respond to the
following statement by the Israeli Committee Against Home
Demolitions:

"Pressure to keep vast tracts of West Bank land "vacant" has
increased as Israel inches towards final settlement with the
Palestinians. "Area C," the 70% of the West Bank Land still under
Israel's exclusive control, is the focal point of Israel's efforts.
It contains the vast majority of Israeli settlements which Israel
aims to unite--with each other and with Israel proper--through an
expansive system of highways, bypass roads and industrial areas.
Control of "Area C" will also allow Israel to isolate the Palestinian
population in three or four disconnected enclaves or "Bantustans" (a
plan known in Israel as "Allon plus"), thus foreclosing any
possibility of a continuous Palestinian state."

Those of you wishing more background on the issue of home demolitions
may write to Jeff Halper of the Israeli Committee Against Home
Demolitions at halper [at] iol [dot] co [dot] il. Ask him to send as an attachment
his "Campaign of House Demolitions Against Palestinians: Background
Information."

Those wishing a point by point refutation of the Israeli government's
claim that it does not discriminate against Palestinians when it
comes to issuing permits in East Jerusalem may write the CPT Chicago
office at CPT [at] igc [dot] org. Ask for "Boilerplate Demolition Feedback."