5 Children Injured Following Israel’s Demolition Of
El Araqib Village For Ninth Time
By Recognition Forum
16 January , 2011
Uruknet.info
Previous demolition of El Araqib
Israeli authorities demolished the Bedouin village of El Araqib Sunday morning (16 January) for the ninth time in the past six months, and bulldozers from the Jewish National Fund (JNF) remain on the villager’s land, even though the demolitions are completed.
Right after the demolition, bulldozers proceeded to plow over the village land, while large number of police and special units are still present in the area. When the families of El Araqib tried to resist, the Israeli authorities shot tear gas and rubber coated bullets. Five children between the ages of 16-17 were injured.
The families of El Araqib claim that today’s demolition and plowing are in preparation for the Jewish Arbor Day holiday of Tu Bishvat this coming Thursday (20 January), on which hundreds of people are expected to come by invitation of the JNF to plant trees in the area.
A large number of Israeli security and special forces arrived at El Araqib at approximately 9.00 this morning and completely demolished the village. And unlike in previous demolitions, the Israeli authorities are currently clearing away all the debris from this morning’s demolition, leaving the villagers with nothing.
"This is a fitting Zionist response to the large demonstration held last night in Tel Aviv in defense of democracy in Israel," said Yaakov Manor of the Recognition Forum.
On 1 September 2010, the Bedouin residents of the "unrecognized" villages in Israel wrote an unprecedented appeal to US President Barak Obama, requesting his assistance in calling on Israel to recognize the Bedouin traditional ownership of land and to stop demolishing their homes – fundamental rights of all human beings.
The residents of El Araqib, many of whom are in mourning for the recent death of a family member, have already begun to rebuild the village.
Residents of El Araqib are particularly concerned about the ongoing presence of JNF bulldozers on their land, and are requesting that journalists and photographers come to the village to see.
For additional information:
Mumtaz: 050 7701118
Michal: 050 7701119
Samih: 050 7202236
Member organizations in the Recognition Forum: Association of Forty: For Recognition of the Unrecognized Villages, Gush Shalom, Association for Support and Defense of Bedouin Rights in Israel, The Social Television, Alternative Information Center, Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, Yesh Gvul, Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality, New Profile, Women’s Coalition for Peace, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights, Ta’ayush: Arab-Jewish Partnership.
Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality, mobile: 0507 701118-9, 08 6483804, POB 130, Omer, 84965 Email: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , website: www.dukium.org
Association of Forty: Tel.: 04 8362381, 04 362361;website: www.assoc40.org; email: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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