The Israeli occupation authorities issued ten demolition orders against farmers in the Bardala area on 18th July. They have all been living on their land since before 1967,and were from the Sawafta, Rabaya, Tahsin and Khnefes families.

 

These innocuous looking pieces of paper, that the occupation authorities so readily hand out to Palestinians, have left 55 people feeling vulmerable, not knowing when they could once again be made homeless. The elders of all bt two of the families have previously lost everying when they wer made refugees before, are are now threatened with the same experience again.

Whist nine of the orders were injunctions aimed at preventing Palestinians from building homes for themselves or their animals, one was an immediate order, and cam with the threat that not only would the buildings be destroyed, but that the owner’s sheep would also be confiscated by the Israeli Army.

Although Bardala is in Area B, which should afford the local people some protection from Israel’s harrassment and repression, in recent months this has not been the case. Just two months ago farmers from the area had their water supply cut off.