IMG_0886.reddYesterday afternoon four Palestinian structures were destroyed in Al Meiteh, in the Al Maleh region of the Jordan Valley. Four Israeli military jeeps and two bulldozers entered the village around 2 pm, destroying two homes and two animal shelters belonging to the Zawhare and Ka’abne families. Around 30 soldiers and Israeli civil administrators occupied the area for about one hour.

The Zawhare and Ka’abne families are refugees from the village of Al Auja, south of Al Meiteh. The families moved to the village in 1982, when settlement expansion and vandalism of their property forced them to leave the area.

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An animal shelter was also demolished in the village of Al Farisiya Ghazel. The structure belonged to Hussein Zuhdi Abdullah Abu Masen, and was also used by his son Ahmed and their extended family. Seven fruit and vegetable stands were also demolished in Marj El Najeh, along Route 90.

Yesterdays demolitions were illegal under Israeli law. The Israeli courts ordered a freeze on the demolition orders three months ago, but the military disregarded the freeze. The incident was just one example of the Israeli military’s ongoing policy of illegal demolitions, and its consistent refusal to adhere to court orders.