CPTnet
January 13, 2000
HEBRON: A Big Thank-You to the Campaign for Secure Dwellings and CPT Network

[Note: The following message comes from the Hebron team and Rich Meyer,
coordinator of the Campaign for Secure Dwellings. Shortly before Christmas,
Israeli settlers from the Hebron area attacked the Sultan family's home,
demanding that the Israeli government destroy it by December 28. (See
January 2 release, "House Under Siege in the Beqa'a Valley.") Although the
imminent threat to the Sultan family seems to have abated, they and the
hundreds of their neighbors are living under the very real threat of
eviction. Consider this sobering fact: the Sultan family home is more than
two kilometers away from the settlement of Kiryat Arba, yet representatives
of the Israeli government continue to refer to their land and the rest of
the Beqa'a Valley as part of the municipality of Kiryat Arba.]

Many thanks to everyone who responded to our urgent action alert and
contacted Israeli and other government bodies in response to the crisis at
the Omar and Lamia Sultan home in the Beqa a Valley in late December.

The response and its effects have been amazing. The Sultan family has
received promises from the Israeli government that their home will not be
demolished. The Sultan family has received worldwide media attention.
Close to 50 Israelis have come to the Sultan home to offer their support.
Palestinian leaders have come to the home. The response has brought
Muslims, Jews and Christians together.

There has been no settler activity at the Sultan home since the first of
January. The attempt of the settlers to establish a new settlement near the
Sultan home has been thwarted.

We learned again that focusing the light of public attention on an evil
situation can make a big difference. Thank you, and thank God.