1300 PALESTINIANS DISPLACED FROM THEIR LANDS IN HEBRON
Al-Khalil, Hebron, 26 Ramadan 1434/3 August 2013 (MINA) – Israeli military forces seek to expel 1300 Palestinians from their villages to the south of Hebron southern the West Bank claiming that they are living in a military training area for the Israeli soldiers.
Haaretz newspaper reported on Thursday the Israeli occupation seeks to kick out Palestinians in order to save time and efforts for the Israeli army , adding Israel does not demand the evacuation of settlements in the place.
Israeli General Prosecutor introduced papers to the Israeli Supreme Court on Tuesday issuing the displacement of some 1300 Palestinians living in “the shooting area 918” southern Hebron Mount will save sources and time.
In 2000, the Israeli troops expelled Palestinians from the same village for the same reason, but the court decided their return to their villages until the final ruling in the case.
The largest city in the Occupied West Bank, Hebron has a population of around 200,000 and is traditionally the commercial hub of the southern West Bank.
The old city of Hebron has buildings dating back to the Ayyubid, Mamluk and Ottoman eras, and the city’s Ibrahimi mosque has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
Israeli policy has led to the economic devastation of Hebron, severe and extensive restrictions on Palestinian movement. Israel has systematically failed to enforce law and order on violent settlers attacking Palestinians. Alray media reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
Religious occupation
Having lost much of its surrounding area in 1948, the city of Hebron was occupied by Israel in 1967. In 1968 the Israeli occupiers began the Judaisation of the Ibrahimi mosque.The Israeli military governor ordered the destruction of the stairs, eastern door and the well at the mosque, despite their archaeological value. This was followed in 1972 by the banning of Muslims from some wings of the mosque which were allocated exclusively for Jews.
In 1994 Baruch Goldstein report, an Israeli settler and member of the far-right Israeli Kach movement, opened fire on unarmed Palestinian Muslims praying inside the Ibrahim Mosque. 29 Palestinian worshippers were killed and 125 wounded. The attack only ended when Goldstein had expended his ammunition, then he was subdued and killed. Israel responded to the massacre by dividing the mosque in two and made it a fortified site. (T/P02/P04)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
