This is big news. The State Department is telling Israel to back off from Susiya, the village in the Hebron Hills that was targeted for demolition to make way for Jewish settlers.
From the briefing yesterday:
QUESTION: Do you have a reaction to reports that Israel may demolish part of a village called Susiya in the West Bank for expanding settlements?
MR [JOHN] KIRBY: I do. We’re closely following developments in the village of Susiya in the West Bank, and we strongly urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions in the village. Demolition of this Palestinian village or of parts of it, and evictions of Palestinians from their homes would be harmful and provocative. Such actions have an impact beyond those individuals and families who are evicted. We are concerned that the demolition of this village may worsen the atmosphere for a peaceful resolution and would set a damaging standard for displacement and land confiscation, particularly given settlement-related activity in the area. We urge Israeli authorities to work with the residents of the village to finalize a plan for the village that addresses the residents’ humanitarian needs.
Great. A sign of things to come? State’s intervention follows a fantastic letter from Anna Eshoo, the Silicon Valley congresswoman, to the Secretary of State, saying clearly, Save these people. Eight congresspeople signed the letter.
Dear Secretary Kerry,
We write to you with great urgency to express our serious concern about the recent decisions made by the High Court of Israel to allow the demolition of the Palestinian village of Susiya, and deny the planning rights of Palestinian Villages in Area C of the West Bank.
The Palestinian village of Susiya, located in the Hebron Governorate in the south of the occupied West Bank, is currently home to 55 families who have been living in this location for decades and hold undisputed title to their land. Half of the homes of these families and all the community’s public structures are located in Area C where Israel maintains full control over planning and zoning.
Susiya submitted a professionally developed master plan to the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) but on October 24, 2013, the ICA rejected it. In their rejection, ICA stated the villagers would be better off living somewhere else.
With the help of the non-governmental organization Rabbis for Human Rights, the villagers petitioned the High Court of Israel to allow reconsideration of their master plan. On May 4, 2015, the High Court of Israel refused to issue a temporary injunction against demolition, paving the way for the village to be demolished before their appeal is to be heard on August 3rd.
We are especially concerned about this village because on June 9th the High Court of Israel denied the right of Palestinian villages in the West Bank’s Area C to plan their own communities, leaving all decisions on zoning and planning to the ICA, with no direct Palestinian representation when it comes to the future of their towns.
We urge you to take immediate action to prevent the demolition of the Palestinian village of Susiya and prevent the continuing demolition of Palestinian neighborhoods, farmlands, and olive orchards in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and in Israel.
We hope your intervention, amplified by the concern of citizens and countries throughout the world, will assure the safety of the Palestinian Village of Susiya.
Most gratefully,
Donna Baranski-Walker of the Rebuilding Alliance was circulating the letter. Here’s her pitch for it yesterday. Signatures closed today.
It’s working. Eight Representatives have signed-on to Representative Anna Eshoo’s letter. Senior foreign policy staff, Hannah Murphy wrote, “So far I have Representatives Eshoo, Ellison, Rush, Capps, Carson, Pingree, McDermott, McGovern, and Conyers. I will keep it open until tomorrow morning because a lot of offices are interested. Tell them 12pm – Noon.”
Please set your alarm and call your member of Congress Friday morning to urge them to sign-on to Reprentative Eshoo’s letter by noon Friday. Have them contact Hannah Murphy <hannah.murphy@mail.house.gov>. Let’s in the hope of stopping the demolition of the Palestinian Village of Susiya.
There is not much time. According to Rabbi Arik Ascherman, President and Senior Rabbi of Rabbis for Human Rights,
“On Sunday, July 12th, top Israeli Army brass showed up in the South Hebron Hills Village of Susiya to tell them that sometime after the Moslem holiday of Eid El Fitr ends on Sunday night and before a scheduled High Court Hearing on August 3rd, the army will demolish homes. We received the list last night, and IT INCLUDES SOME 32 STRUCTURES, HALF OF THE STRUCTURES IN SUSYA. On Sunday, the officers openly admitted that they were preempting the High Court because of settler pressure.”
Your Representative’s signature must be in by Noon Friday. Once you make your call, click Count Me In, on our Crisis Prevention Map to show how many people care about Peace and care about Susiya — it might help.
Sincerely,
Donna Baranski-Walker
Founder and Executive Director, Rebuilding Alliance
Will the New York Times and the JTA call up Ascherman and Baranski-Walker and Eshoo to find out how this happened? Let’s hope.
Donna Baranski-Walker of the Rebuilding Alliance has been tireless on this! An amazing effort has come to bear some fruit and hope. Thanks to Anna Eshoo and the valiant 8.
“MR [JOHN] KIRBY: I do. We’re closely following developments in the village of Susiya in the West Bank, and we strongly urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions in the village. Demolition of this Palestinian village or of parts of it, and evictions of Palestinians from their homes would be harmful and provocative”
Why is nobody mentioning that this is ILLEGAL in very many ways? Now, about those other illegal settlements, illegal ‘settlers’, illegal home demolitions and displacement of the indigenous Palestinians…
As for “ICA stated the villagers would be better off living somewhere else.”
What patronizing filth!
I’m sorry I did not know about this earlier. I would have made another call today. Ah well.
~and~
“Netanyahu and Abbas talk for first time in over a year
Netanyahu, who phoned Abbas to wish him a happy Eid al-Fitr, said citizens of Israel want peace. Abbas reportedly called for an agreement within a year.”
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.666591
Uh- huh.
Thanks, Phil!
O/T, but why didn’t Belgium take care of these racist hoodlums?
“Police hold Beitar Jerusalem fans suspected of rioting in Belgium
Sporting Charleroi beat Beitar Jerusalem 5-1 in a match that was repeatedly disrupted by Beitar fans who threw smoke bombs and injured Charleroi player.
Six Beitar Jerusalem fans were detained at Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday after arriving on a flight from Belgium.
The four were held for questioning over a riot during a football match in Belgium on Thursday that resulted in injury to the goalkeeper of Sporting Charleroi, the opponents of Beitar Jerusalem, and lengthy disruptions of the game.
The office of the state prosecutor spent much of Friday looking into the legality of arresting Beitar fans suspected of being involved in the riot. According to Israeli law, suspects in crimes committed abroad can only be arrested with the approval of the attorney general.
After a lengthy discussion, the prosecution gave the police the go-ahead to detain the suspects temporarily but not to arrest them. …
… Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday called on the police to fight violence and racism, saying that those who rioted in Belgium would not be allowed to besmirch the country’s image.
The European football governing association, UEFA, is said to be preparing to take disciplinary measures against Beitar due to the behavior of its fans
The Israel Football Association, meanwhile is concerned that the behavior of the Beitar fans in Belgium will impact the ongoing FIFA investigation into whether Israel discriminates against Palestinian footballers. …”
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.666586
Another little thump. So, now this:
“Beitar Jerusalem owner to sell club after fan hooliganism in
Belgium
Eli Tabib ‘ashamed’ of team’s supporters who threw smoke bombs, flares onto pitch at Charleroi game, injuring goalie
… Fans from the opposite team chanted anti-Semitic slogans at the Israelis, Belgian media reported.
Beitar lost the match, in which Charleroi goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau was hit by a hard object thrown from the crowd, which forced a delay.
“I am ashamed … I have decided to end my involvement with Israeli soccer and am returning to the United States … I will appoint a trustee to run the club until somebody is willing to buy it,” Tabib said in a statement.
Beitar’s fan base is a bastion of Israel’s political right wing. A group of supporters known as “La Familia” that the club has been unable to control has been openly abusive to Israel’s Arab minority. …
… Beitar coach Slobodan Drapic said Beitar’s fans had been provoked, although he did not explain why some had come to the match with the flares and smoke bombs. It was unclear how so many devices were smuggled into the stadium.
Beitar fans have by far the worst disciplinary record in Israel’s Premier League and over the past decade the team has faced about two dozen hearings and received various punishments, including points deductions, fines and matches without audiences.
Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev said on her Facebook page Thursday that a “small group of thugs” had defamed Israeli soccer, and called on Israeli police to cooperate with their Belgian counterparts.
Israel Radio quoted Belgian police officials as saying that Israeli police had not adequately forewarned them of possible trouble-making.
Beitar is due to host Charleroi in the return leg at Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek Stadium next week. Regev said security, which is always heavy at Beitar matches, would be tightened further.
Regev said Beitar fans should be banned from attending, and told Israeli radio on Friday that she would explore the possibility.”
http://www.timesofisrael.com/beitar-jerusalem-owner-to-sell-club-after-hooliganism-in-belgium/
It’s rich that Racist & Inciter Regev is calling out the racist Beitar fans. Wonder what “anti-Semitic slogans” were chanted, by who, and if they were held accountable…I’ve looked but cannot find a source.
Well it is hardly surprising that Israel completely ignores international law when it shows such complete disrespect for it’s own legal system.
Israel acts as a lawless nation using it as a club to beat ut’s victims while they are down.
i agree, VERY BIG NEWS
i urge people to call their congress rep and tweet about it. here’s mine: