Combatants for Peaceย South Hebron Hills and northern Negev group invites you to:
Balloons for Peace in Susya
This coming Friday
we will visit a community faced with the threat of complete demolition.
Demolition orders have been issued for tents, tin animal-pens, and the
only permanent structure in the village: the elementary school, which
caters to 35 children living with their families in caves in Susya.
Supporting the continuity of life and peace, we will fly 300
heliumย balloons, carrying the message "Thou shalt not covet", as well as
drawings by children and adults.
Thou shalt
not covet, theย tenthย commandment, forbids tricking, scheming, and even
offering generous financial compensation in order to take something that
rightfully belongs to someone else. These schemes
includeย insistentย pleadings, pressure, and - of course - force.
Area C, which is under complete Israeli control, is
essentially the land reserve for the entire west bank population -
Palestinians and settlers. Constituting 60% of the west bank, and with
"merely" 70,000ย Palestinianย inhabitants, theย methodย for capturing
land in area C is to present difficulties to the most basic aspects of
Palestinian life, especially for the farmers, who use the lands.
Israel's planning policy prevents Palestinians living in area C any
option of building legally. Since the 1970's there has been a dramatic
decrease in the number of building permits given to the Palestinian
population. Whereas in 1972 Israel approved about 97% of requests for
permits (2,134), in 2005 only 6.9% (13 out of 189) were approved. These
numbers show that the decrease in the number of permits also led to a
decrease in the number of requests. This trend has continued, and
evenย worsenedย in recent years. in 2009 only six requests were approved,
and in 2010 - seven. On the other hand, Israel's discriminatory
demolition policy has also worsened. According to data from the Israeli
Civil Administration, between 2000-2007 about a third of the demolition
orders issued for Palestinians have been executed,ย compared to less than
7% of orders issued for settlements. Between 2008-2011, the Civil
Administration has demolished 1101 structures in Palestinian
communities. In those years, all zoning plans for Palestinians areas
submitted for approval were categorically denied. Recently, the Israeli
Supreme Court has ordered a freeze of all building in Susya, and so,
though indirectly,ย effectively orderedย Susya's next of numerous
demolitions.
Buses will leave from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva:
Tel Aviv - 9:00, from the Arlozorov train station, next to Shlomo sixt car rental terminal
Jerusalem - 10:00, from Gan HaPaamon, next to the gas station
(There will also be a bus from Beer Sheva, further information will be given with registration)
Please bring a hat, water, and something to eat
