Shoulder to Shoulder: Let’s Pray and Do Something
I received two urgent announcements related to
the small village of Susya in the South Hebron hills sandwiched between Israeli
settlements and an archeological park this week. One was from the Advocacy Officer
from the Jerusalem EAPPI office and the other one from the Sabeel Wave of
Prayer. One asked for prayers. The other asked for action. So, Lord in your
mercy hear the cries of your people about to lose their homes and livelihoods
again. Hear also the cries of outrage that these sins are being done in our
name with our tax dollars and with the help of American companies like Caterpillar.
The village of Susya has received yet again demolition
orders from the Israeli Civil Administration Court to destroy homes and
property. On June 13 the ICA identified three areas within the village where
the demolitions will take place. There are a total of 51 structures, which
include animal pens, water cisterns, and a solar-powered electrical system, a
school, a health clinic, and cultural center. Over 60 people will be made
homeless in one day and a whole community wiped out.
It is ironic and tragic that the mainline
churches are having debates over whether or not we should invest or divest when
whole villages are being wiped off the map, when structures funded by
international aid groups and ministries of Foreign Affairs in partnership with
Palestinian organizations are scheduled to be destroyed. What further proof do
we need that investment without the dismantling of the Occupation and its
unjust laws is non-sustainable? What should “engagement” with corporations that
profit from this atrocity look like?
And I am not even
talking about the breaking of international laws. Specifically
article 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907 which clearly states
that, “It is especially forbidden for the
Occupier to destroy or
seize the enemy’s property, unless such destruction or seizure
be imperatively demanded by the "necessities of war.”
Well, there is a war going on---a war
against the
Palestinians to leave their lands in Area C which is 62% of the West Bank
and the bantustans of areas A and B.
Article 53 of the
Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 also states “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 pubic authorities, or tosocial or cooperative
organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is
rendered absolutely necessary by military
operations.” Ah,
“military operations.” Since Palestinians have no rights and are
tried, if at all, under military laws which state that there can
be no structures built without a permit in
Area C after 1967. And
oh by the way, you can’t get a permit.
On top of all this the
rights of Susya’s Palestinian residents over the land in which
they reside has been legally acknowledged by the
Israeli authorities. They have deeds that date back to the
Ottoman Empire! But these deeds mean nothing when
organizations like the right wing Regavim want the land to expand their
settlements, dig for lost cities. And the military authorities
under the veil of the Court are more than delighted to comply.
And the icing on the cake is the Regavim says Susiya must be
removed because it is an “outpost”---a
settlement calling a
Palestinian village who owns deeds to the land an outpost?
On Friday June 22
concerned people of Palestine and Israelwill stand shoulder to
shoulder with the residents of Susya in a protest and support
vigil. They are calling for a No to the fifth
demolition of Susya!
NO to the throwing of people from their homes and tents! And
NO to the silent transfer of the Palestinian population
out of Area C.
So what can we do, we
who live miles way Here are a few
suggestions. We can tell others
what is happening through our networks and
Churches. We can
contact these folks directly in Israel:
Israeli Minister of
Defense:
Ehud Barak,Ministry of Defence
Israeli Military Judge
Advocate General:
Major General Avihai
Mandelblit
Email: avimn@idf.gov
Israeli Military Chief of
Staff
Lieutenant-General
Benny Gantz
We
can also contact our Ambassador Daniel Shapiro directly to step in to recind
these demolition orders. Here is a sample letter. This letter could also be
sent to your local newspaper.
You may use the sample letter
below or draft your own:
Dear Ambassador
I urgently call upon you to
rescind all demolition orders that were issued by the Israeli Civil
Administration to the village of Susiya, in the South Hebron Hills. For many
years, the inhabitants of this village, half of whom are children have faced
severe repression by Israeli soldiers and settlers, and repeated
destruction of homes and infrastructure.
I also call upon you to dismiss
Regavim’s petition, HCJ Case 1556/12, which calls for the destruction of this
village, as Regavim’s petition is a violation of Article 23 of The Hague
Convention of 1907 and Article 53
of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and denies the many protections
afforded to the people of Susiya under international law.
Contrary to Regavim’s opinion,
Susiya is not an outpost, but rather a community that out-dates its surrounding
Israeli settlements, and which is inhabited by its rightful owners. The
residents of Susiya have the right to live peacefully in their homes!
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
So pray this Friday for a miracle to save this small
village and work for real justice to prevail which means an end to the
occupation and the theft of people’s rights and lands. And let us also pray
that our own leaders be not afraid to speak up for human rights too.
Resources
Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSDC_xUtf8o
(colonial settlers attack an elderly couple)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPYmp9iIaQ4
(settlers attack farmers
harvesting olives)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG6uU4ZYvHc
(Settlers training their
children to be thugs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJdWT_cz0vw
(Susya film trailer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIf_vdzcup4
(renewable energy project)
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