Saturday, February 25, 2017

HOLY LAND - The Israeli army begins the demolition of Bedouin villages

The Israeli army bulldozers have already taken action to implement the announced demolition of Bedouin villages situated within the territories of the occupied West Bank, east of Jerusalem, in an area considered strategic for the creation and expansion of new settlements of colonists. 

The first Bedouin house was demolished in the village of Tabana, on Monday, February 20. 

The plan put in place provides the forced displacement of the Bedouin village of Khan Al Ahmer, Abu Hindi and Abu Nawar, the latter very close to the Israeli settlements of Ma'ale Adumim.

Sister Azezet and Sister Agnese, Comboni religious nuns also involved in the animation of 8 small nurseries in the area, tell Fides Agency their feelings of anxiety, fear and frustration registered among the Bedouins affected by the demolition plan and forced displacement, starting from the children. 


In the village of Khan Al Ahmer, with 42 huts, whose actual demolition was announced for Thursday, February 23, there is also a school, attended by 178 children of the Jahalin Bedouin tribe, which could soon be torn to pieces by bulldozers. 

The school is a structure built with 2,200 old tires leaning on each other, as if they were bricks, filled with mud and pressed. 


In 2009 a month after the school for the children of the area opened it was served with a demolition order. 

In 2014, Israeli judges had asked the parties to reach an agreement, recognizing the social utility of the school.


The removal of the school would facilitate the expansion of Kfar Adumim settlement. The whole area, in the so-called E1 corridor, is involved in the project that aims to extend the separation Wall to the Jewish settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, built largely on Palestinian territories.


"In this situation of great uncertainty" refer the Comboni Sisters "we too have experienced frustration in the face of so much injustice and violation of human rights, in addition to the inability to find words of comfort and consolation ... We ask for prayer and justice for our brothers and sisters and may the Lord's mercy intervene in their favor".