CPTnet
April 4, 2001
HEBRON URGENT ACTION: Fifteen homes demolished in southern West Bank

"All the CSD [Campaign for Secure Dwellings] families here are scared to
death," CPTer Dianne Roe said in a phone call on April 4. Between April 2
and 4, fifteen home demolitions took place in the Jerusalem and Hebron
areas.

It appears that the Israeli government feels free to resume this
frightening expression of military rule in the Occupied
Territories. Perhaps the green light was the strong criticism of Arafat by
US President Bush, alongside the mild caution directed at Sharon. Perhaps
it was the US veto of the UN Security Council resolution calling for
international observers. (This was only the fifth US UN veto since 1990,
emphasizing how far the US is willing to go to protect Israeli control of
the situation.)

In the words of the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom, "The houses destroyed
yesterday and today belong to ordinary Palestinian citizens whose only crime
is the wish to have a roof over their heads. In this case there isn't any
pretence of 'security interests' or 'military targets'. " This is the
consequence of willingness of the world to tolerate (and of the US Congress
to support) the violence of continued Israeli military occupation.

Sustained criticism and questions about the home demolitions have been
effective in the past. We have coordinated our efforts with those of
Israeli and Palestinian peace groups, and we need your letters and faxes
again. By asking questions, you place pressure on the recipient to follow
up, to do more research, and to address YOUR concern. Other groups are
sending immediate emails; for more and lasting impact, we ask you to please
send faxes or letters to the addressees below, asking the following
questions:

For all letters:
-- What possible constructive value can there be in Israel demolishing
Palestinian homes? Can you obtain and forward an explanation from the
Israeli government as to why these homes were demolished? (Ask specifically
about "the four homes demolished in the Baqa'a valley east of Hebron on
April 4.")

For letters to US officials:

-- Having opposed international observers, the US has an obligation to
protect civilians from military abuses of human rights; how are you carrying
out your moral obligation to the Palestinian families whose homes have now
been demolished?

-- What concrete steps is the US taking to end the home demolitions? Home
demolitions violate the 4th Geneva Convention which the US is pledged to
enforce; how are you working to end this violation of international law by
the Israeli government?

--If you pay federal income tax, you may wish to ask, "Are (my) US tax
dollars going to support Israeli settlements and settlement expansion in the
occupied territories?"

ADDRESSES:

CANADIAN PARTNERS:

Ambassador to Canada
Embassy of Israel
50 O'Conner Street, #1005
Ottawa ONT K1P 6L2
Fax: (613) 237-8865

Ambassador to Canada
Embassy of the USA
100 Wellington Street
Ottawa ONT K1P 5T1
Fax (613) 238-5720

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Fax: (202) 456-2461

US PARTNERS:

President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Fax: (202) 456-2461

Ambassador to the US
Embassy of Israel
3414 International Drive
Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: (202) 363-4156

You have two Senators, you can write to either at:
Senator ____________
US Senate
Washington, DC 20510

You can write to your Representative at:
Representative _________
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

For US Congresspersons fax numbers, see http://congress.org/ enter your zip
code and click "Go."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Fax: (202) 224-0836

Minority (Democratic) staff office Fax (202) 228-3612

House International Relations Committee
Fax: (202) 225-2035

Minority (Democratic) staff office Fax (202) 226-3581