CPTnet
September 16, 1998
JABBER FAMILY HOME DESTROYED TWICE IN ONE MONTH
by Jamey Bouwmeester

This morning at 9:30 the Israeli military destroyed the home of Atta and
Rodeina Jabber. Today's demolition comes only 27 days after the razing of the
Jabber's previous home. This tragedy also follows close on the heels of the
uprooting of 2.5 acres of fruit and olive trees on the Jabber family's land,
only five days ago.

During the demolition, Atta Jabber was taken into police custody and is
currently being detained. Three CPTers, along with Abdel Hadi Hantash and
Moussa Mahamry of the Palestinian Land Defense Committee went to the police
station to check on the situation. We were informed that Atta is being held
pending an investigation of charges that he assaulted a soldier.

Mr. Mahamry was allowed to speak with Atta. Atta was handcuffed and his
shirt was torn. He complained that he had been struck on his forearms and
wrists. When asked about Atta's physical condition, the police spokesperson
said that he had been examined by a medic and was fine. To be sure, CPT
contacted the Red Cross and requested that a doctor come to the station and
see Atta.

The house destroyed this morning was a small two room structure with no
bathroom. It was hastily erected in the wake of the last demolition, in order
to give the family some shelter.

It posed no threat to anyone. On the contrary, today we have seen again how
vulnerable it and other Palestinian homes are.

This morning's reckless and callous action by the IDF comes in the context of
continued talks between Dennis Ross and the respective leaders of Israel and
the Palestinian Authority regarding a further pullback of Israeli troops from
the West Bank.

Israel had said that it will not agree to any further action until The P.A.
cracks down on Islamic militants. Only yesterday, the Associated Press quoted
Benjamin Netanyahu saying, "[Yasser Arafat] has to understand that the
agreement enables the Palestinian Authority to fight terrorists, not merely in
words but in deeds."

It is time for Netanyahu to realize that terrorists come in many guises.
Today's demolition that has left five people homeless for the second time in
less than four weeks, and Israel's policy of home demolitions in general are
nothing
but state terrorism.