BEIT HANINA, JERUSALEM, December 1, 2004—Israeli and international volunteers occupied the one-room house of Muhammed Shabani in order to prevent its demolition by the municipality of Jerusalem accompanied by over forty Israeli police.  The volunteers were asked to leave, but several ICAHD [Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions] staff members and volunteers refused and were dragged out of the house by force.  A Caterpillar construction crane then demolished the house in three minutes.

Muhammed Shabani, his wife, his eight children and his grandmother lived in this house for a year and half before demolition.  The last order was delivered on November 24, 2004, citing a lack of permit because the family's land is zoned “open green space” by the city master plan.  The family spent an estimated $15,000 in court fees until the High Court issued a ruling supporting the demolition.

The volunteers were members of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, B'Tselem, the International Solidarity Movement as well as other Israelis and internationals.

After the demolition, Ari King, a representative of the National Unity political party, arrived to verify the house was demolished.  The National Unity party states in their platform that Arabs should be expelled and transferred in favor of Jewish settlements.  The party seeks to expand the settlement of Pizgat Ze'ev, just 200 meters over the hill from the Shabani family, and actively pressures the Jerusalem Municipality to demolish houses in areas of interest.

For more information, visit ICAHD or call the Jerusalem office at 972-(0)2-624-5560.