House demolitions continue in the West Bank
Mughayir al Dir after the demolition 30.10.08
Demolition in Mughayir al Dir, Ramallah Governorate
On 30 September 2008, about 38 structures were demolished belonging to eight households of the Mughayir al Dir Bedouin community, near Ma’ale Mikhmas settlement. The EAPPI was there to witness the destruction and hopelessness. Below follows some information collected on the site.
What happened?
On 22 September 2008, civil administration representatives informed Mughayir al Dir bedouin community that eight households (97 people, including 41 children) need to evacuate their places of residence and relocate up the hillside (approximately 50-100 metres) because they currently live within the boundaries of a military area (where they have lived since the Israeli army relocated them there in 1982). Four households were present at the location and received the orders but civil administration representatives verbally informed the families who were present that four other families would be included in the demolition. The community is located approximately 500 meters from the outpost Mitzpe Dani near Ma'ale Mikhmas settlement in the Ramallah governorate.
On 30 October 2008, about 38 structures (residential and otherwise) belonging to the eight households were demolished.
Background:
Mughayir al Dir community existed before 1967. Following the war, the IDF declared large parts of the area where the community living as a closed military area and relocated them eastwards. In 1982, the IDF pushed the community further east to their current location (in other words, placed new military zone limits). In 1986, the civil administration built a school (a one-room baton structure) for the community and connected them to the water network. Since then and until 22 September 2008, the community has not received any evacuation orders from the IDF.
The Bedouins reside in Mughayir al Dir during the summer (April-October) and in Alm Mu'arajjat area for the winter (these structures were demolished a month or so ago).
Legal:
On 23 October 2008, the families submitted an appeal to challenge the order and were expecting to hear a decision on 1 November 2008. The written orders stated that the families must leave this place within 12 hours of the issuing. In hand above this printed order, the civil administration representative wrote '12 days' (approx 4th October). The families were told they would have to pay for the cost of the demolition themselves if they had not dismantled their own structures by the given date.
New orders:
After the demolition on 30 October 2008, the community was told that they would have until 2 November to demolish five remaining structures (2 residential and 3 otherwise), or the IDF would demolish them.
A tractor owned by one of the Bedouins was used to demolish some of the houses and was later confiscated by the IDF – as ransom for them to force the family to demolish the five remaining structures.
EAPPI will continue providing presence and keeping updated on the situation.
