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  Palestine 		Dear Friends,

The article below has just come in from Amira Hass, a writer for the Israeli newspaper, The Ha'aretz.

After the IDF re-occupied Beit Jala in August, the world was quick to condemn the action. Within a little more than 48 hours the IDF had retreated to the positions just beyond Area A in Beit Jala.

However, over a week ago, the IDF entered various positions in the H1 section of Hebron - the Palestinian controlled section of the city - and remain there today. Seemingly no one has noticed or been concerned as the world's eyes are turned toward Afghanistan.

Amira Hass' article raises just a few of the particular concerns of families in these areas of Hebron, issues which families in Beit Jala also raised, and as far as I know, have yet not been addressed two months after the withdrawal from there.

Sincerely,

Rev. Sandra Olewine
United Methodist Liaison
Jerusalem

IDF takes 10 homes for Hebron outposts
By Amira Hass

The Israel Defense Forces has taken over 10 houses in the Palestinian neighborhoods of Hebron in the last week and has turned them into military outposts.

According to information from both official and unofficial sources in Hebron, residents of eight of the houses were forced to leave their homes by the army and are currently staying with relatives. In the other two houses, IDF soldiers took over a couple of apartments in the building, confining the residents to the other vacant apartments (which usually belong to the same family) or to a couple of rooms.

Residents said that the soldiers sometimes allow them back into their homes to collect belongings such as the children's school books, or clothes. In some cases, however, soldiers reportedly blocked the residents from entering. They also suspect that the soldiers are using their beds and bed linen as they saw the soldiers airing them out.

Various restrictions have been placed on the occupants of those buildings where the residents were allowed to stay in part of the building. This led some of them to leave as they could not cope with conditions such as having to ask the soldiers' permission to enter and leave the house. Times were set dictating when people could first leave the house as well as a curfew setting when they could return, thus making life difficult for those with jobs.

In one of the houses taken over by the IDF, the 30 or so residents were prohibited from leaving the rooms they were allocated from last Friday until Tuesday.

Some residents have complained that the soldiers occupying their houses have stolen certain items. Palestinian sources told Ha'aretz that the Palestinian Coordination and Liaison Office sent a general letter of complaint to the IDF on Wednesday in which it mentions the alleged thefts. The sources say that the office will file more precise details, including the names of complainants, when it is convinced that the IDF intends to seriously look into the matter. The sources say that the IDF knows full well which soldiers are stationed in which houses and their commanders can carry out their own investigations.

A number of residents say that they had money stolen from their houses when the soldiers entered; a gold necklace and cigarette cases were also reported missing. Soldiers are also said to be holding official papers such as passports and birth certificates. In some cases, the residents were present during the thefts, and fear that more items will be stolen from their houses, or that the soldiers will damage their property.

Others in Hebron however expressed surprise at the number of complaints of theft, saying that during Israel's occupation of all of Hebron, there were only isolated incidents of theft by soldiers.

As of press time last night, no response had been received from the IDF Spokesman's Office.

from Ha'aretz
October 13, 2001
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