Israel military officials stymied efforts by Palestinian and international volunteers to build a house for Um Fagarah villagers (South Hebron Hills) on 2 June. Acting on Israeli government orders, the military had demolished the village mosque and numerous homes in 24 November 2011. The displaced villagers have been living in tents since then.
Volunteer builders from four international organizations arrived to find the village surrounded by military trucks and soldiers. Faced with the prospect of arrest and immediate demolition of what they would build, the team postponed their efforts to another day.
The volunteers, from Christian Peacemakers Teams, Operation Dove, the Alternative Information Center and the International Solidarity Movement, spent their time instead clearing stones from the demolished homes and listening to villagers’ stories of life since the demolitions. The villagers expressed determination to stay on the land, which they have owned since the Ottoman Empire.
