Umm Al Khֿeir - Massive demolition of houses by the Civil Administration without presenting a warrant
We drove to the Abu Kabita families who live next to the Beit Yatir settlements, and therefore remained on the Israeli side of the fence. But they are not entitled to a thing inside Israel, and must go through the Metsadat Yehuda checkpoint to reach Yatta for all their needs. Their children must show their IDs at the checkpoint every morning to go to school in the neighboring villag of Inmzil.
We've written a lot about them in recent months because of the rough incidents, so typical of the recent months, with their neighbor settlers and the Talia Farm settlers who have received weapons and uniforms and are taking full advantage of those. The attempts to drive them out, intimidate and uproot trees were very frequent. In the last few weeks they are only making noise.
We brought them groceries and a gas cooker.
After we saw how they cook there in a compound where 5 families with 35 children live, we were shocked. In a combustible shack, using a crumbling gas cooker, its fire, when igniting, flows from the stove to the cupboard below. Real mortal danger. We are told that recently the members of the Talia family have been quiet. In the last week, no trees were uprooted, they were not evicted, nor intimidated in an attempt to evict them from their land. The people of the old settlement close by just make noise at night.
From there we continued to Umm Al Kheir to visit them after the house demolitions events they experienced in the last few days to express empathy with their feelings and also bring them food supplies thanks to your donations. Indeed, the sight of the destruction is hard. Eid says that on Wednesday, June 26, they destroyed 11 "houses" and also a lean-to where everyone gathers and also the electrical room of Comet ME, The European organization supporting them that built photovoltaic panels and installed cameras for them. When Eid asked the demolition forces if they had a demolition order, they said it was a court decision, and they had a paper, but did not show them any document. The picture of destruction is devastating.
On the ״holy shabbat", Shimon Attia's men arrived from the nearby Shorashim Farm. Samdar and Yael Zoran have already reported about them before. Boys in white shirts arrived, entered the yard of the house and a Adam's house, and threw stones. Those always speak about the blue line that separates state lands from those who try to confiscate them crossed it and attacked with pepper spray a guy who needed hospital treatment. On Monday, Shimon Attia entered the courtyard of the house with his flock, 60 head of sheep. When the women came out and demanded that they leave, they came at them with sticks and beat them and sprayed them with pepper spray. Six women were injured and taken to the hospital, returning home only at night. The guy whose eyes were burned, didn't come back until 12 at night. I saw a video sent by the people of the village group about it. Shimon Attia deliberately shot in the air and claimed that he was shot at. (This method of invading houses and shouting I was attacked repeats itself). Eid says that Shimon went to the police and claimed that he was attacked and then the army came, surrounded the village, closed it and threatened to search and take the security cameras. The people told the military that they are Comet ME cameras and they have their lawyers. This discouraged the army and they did not dismantle the cameras.
Today, Tuesday, when we arrived, they answered my question about the situation today:
"Tense silence, the army is stationed here in Carmel and we don't know what will develop next. We are afraid that the army will come and find reasons to arrest people under false pretenses as usual."
Upon our arrival, at the entrance to Umm Al Kheir, we were happy to meet Buma Inbar with a large trailer full of groceries, baby
food, diapers, etc. With him is a minibus full of volunteers from Israel who donate money to him for all this. There were also young volunteers, both Israeli and foreign. Buma was happy to see that even from Machsom Watch women have come help. He sent regards to Hagit Bek, who was once his neighbor. We were so glad to see that they are not alone during these difficult days and nights. Yes, E. tells me: the volunteers sleep with us at night, and it makes us feel safer.
We went to another family we didn't know to bring them money sent by a woman who studied with that family's mother and wants to purchase ther handiwork to help her financially. It turns out that the mother is involved in folk arts, teaches weaving and embroidery, and also makes samne (ghee) and afig (yogurt stone) for sale. The woman who previously learned knitting and embroidery from her sent money with us and we bought these products for her.
Everyone there is in great distress and the threat of deportation is hovering over their heads. Everything we and our peers do helps them a lot.
In the evening, Yair Ron reported that the harassment continued.
The situation is getting worse and worse and the settlers are getting more and more backing from their ministers and they are rampaging unimpeded. And the police? I only believe their version.