CPTnet
3 February 2006

HEBRON: Soldiers or Settlers? Palestinian's Hebron home sustains severe
damage

By Dianne Roe and Sonia Robbins

When Adel Samu', a young father of three, knocked on the CPT (Christian
Peacemaker Teams) apartment door on 23 January, he was clearly distressed.
Soldiers, he said, had broken into his home above Shuhada Street in H2 (the
part of Hebron that remains under full Israeli military occupation) and
damaged it extensively. "Soldiers" asked a CPTER incredulously. "Not
settlers?" Samu' affirmed, "Soldiers."

Dianne Roe and CPT intern Sonia Robbins called a field officer from B'Tselem
(an Israeli human rights organization) who met with Samu' and CPT at his
home on 24 January. Robbins took photos of the broken plumbing and gas
stove, the shattered glass and the belongings strewn about in the bedroom.

Roe looked at the devastation and recalled meetings with Samu' and his
family over the past ten years. His home lies between Beit Hadassah and Tel
Rumeida, two militant Israeli settler enclaves. Armed settlers walking
between the two areas have attacked Samu's wife and children. About two
years ago, Samu' temporarily moved his family to another location because
his then eight-year- old daughter was suffering psychological damage. They
returned every weekend to sleep in the house and Samu' cousin's family
remained in an attached house.

Samu' recounted for CPT and B'Tselem the events of the previous week. On 21
January, soldiers pried at his metal door, trying to break in. Samu'
directed them to the back door and they searched his house and left. On 23
January Samu' heard from his cousin that someone was attacking the house.
Samu' ran to an Israeli soldier stationed below his house and cried,
"Settlers are attacking my house." The soldier phoned to the post next to
Samu's home and reported. "Soldiers, not settlers have entered your home."

Samu' called the Israeli police who, seeing the extent of the damage,
thought the attackers must have been settlers, not soldiers. "Who told you
it was soldiers?" the police asked. Samu' pointed to the soldier nearby,
who affirmed that the soldiers at the military post above said they had
entered the house.

A neighbor, hearing of Samu's situation, said that the Israeli army has
accepted volunteers who wear the uniform, and act as soldiers, but they are
likely to be settlers. There have been other cases, he said, where these
volunteers have attacked local Palestinians.

The investigation continues. Samu' returned to the CPT apartment later on
24 January. "Please move your office to my home," he begged, trying to turn
over his keys to CPT. Whether his home was attacked by settlers or soldiers,
he does not feel safe there. Samu' is just one of the thousands who have
felt the double pressure of settler attacks and an occupation army.