More than 400 rabbis from Israel, Britain and around the world have called on Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the demolition of Palestinian homes.The Independent reports, via Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, that Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) has submitted an open letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, claiming that his stance is not in line with “international law and Jewish tradition”.
The appeal from the Jewish community comes following Netanyahu’s announcement of the destruction of more than 400 Palestinian homes in the Israeli-controlled part of the West Bank, known as Area C.
The pre-fabricated bungalows were funded by the European Union, Daily Mail reported, but did not have building permits and are being demolished as illegal structures.
“Thousands have been forced to build without permits, and great human suffering is caused when hundreds of homes are demolished each year,” the letter said.
“The State of Israel has an obligation to ensure that every human being under her control, each created in God’s Image, has a fair chance to build a home for him/herself and his/her family, irrespective of the current state of the peace process or differing opinions about what areas will be under Israel’s control in a future final status agreement.”
A United Nations envoy to the Occupied Palestinian Territories raised opposition to house demolitions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem last month:
“In the past three days, 77 Palestinians, over half of them children, have been made homeless,” said James Rawley, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.
“Some of the demolished structures were provided by the international community to support vulnerable families… Demolitions that result in forced evictions and displacement run counter to Israel’s obligations under international law and create unnecessary suffering and tension. They must stop immediately,” he said.
From January 20-23, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented the Israeli demolition of 42 Palestinian-owned structures in the Ramallah, Jerusalem, Jericho and Hebron governorates.
The planning policies applied by Israel in Area C discriminate against Palestinians, making it extremely difficult for them to obtain building permits, the office stated.
In 2014, OCHA recorded 590 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and East Jerusalem as having been destroyed by Israeli authorities, displacing 1,177 people. It was the highest number since the agency started monitoring displacement in 2008.
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