Israeli Military Cracks Down On Palestinian Tent Villages
Palestinian activists continue to set up tent villages to protest Israel's land grab, and are often met with force by the Israeli army, Linah Alsaafin reports.
The year 2013 changed little for Palestinians in terms of forced demolitions and evictions carried out by the Israeli army. The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions documented that in 2012, 600 structures in addition to 180 houses were demolished, displacing a total number of 880 Palestinians — a 19% decrease from 2011.
In 2011, which saw a record increase in demolitions, 1,094 Palestinians were displaced, with the majority of the demolitions (89%) taking place in areas designated as Area C.
According to the Oslo Accords signed in 1993, which divided up the West Bank into three regions, Area C is under full Israeli civilian and military control. Palestinians living in Area C require a permit from the Israeli Civil Administration in order to build any kind of structure, and these permits are almost never approved. On the other hand, construction of Jewish-only settlements in Area C is set up with no hindrance and without the obligation of any building permits.
In January of this year, the popular struggle committees introduced a different method of peaceful resistance by setting up various “tent villages” in different areas of contention throughout the West Bank. Following the establishment of each tent village, the Israeli army was quick to cordon off the area, declare them a closed military zone, and begin demolishing the tents and other structures.
