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Announcement :: Civil & Human Rights

Demolition tomorrow in Abu Tur - please appeal!

Hey if folks could drop a quick email or fax it could make a difference. Offices in Israel will be closed for the day by now but a fax could go a long way here.
Dear Friends and Supporters,



In an unusual turn of events, we have information that a family, whose profile appears below, is scheduled for demolition tomorrow morning. As we speak, the Ministry of the Interior is deciding whether or not to proceed with the demolitions. Your letter or inquiry, if sent IMMEDIATELY, may make a difference. At best, we have two or three hours before the decision will be final. Please write a polite but firm letter to Minister of the Interior, Ofir Paz-Pines, fax: 03-763 2638 and 02-566-6376 or write to pinespaz (at) knesset.gov.il asking it be shared with Tal Argamon (aide), Gilad Hyman (spokesman – 0506-204 330) and Ali Zeidan. Paz-Pines is basically a decent person who has inherited a bureaucracy which is intent on demolishing homes. The point is to appeal to his better instincts. The Samrin family is a real hardship case in which the family has not been able to exercise its right to due process for financial reasons.



In the days leading up to Tisha B'Av, we need to remember that for a family which has its home demolished the personal tragedy and pain is akin to what we feel when we recall as a people the demolition of our Temples. We also suggest that as the world is looking somewhat favorably at Israel as we are about to carry out the disengagement, why should we be uncovering such an ugly and cruel side. The US Government is aware of the situation and the proper word by the US could also make a difference.



Please Help.



B'Vrakha,
Rabbi Arik W. Ascherman, Executive Director
Rabbis For Human Rights
Tel: 972 2 563-7731 Fax: 972 2 566-2815 Mobile: 972 50 5607034



SOMRIN FAMILY - ABU-TUR

Muna Somrin is a single mother separated from her husband, trying to care for five children. She receives no alimony. The two older children work in a theater and café respectively, while Muna does everything to keep three younger children (17, 15, 12) in school.



Two years ago Muna realized that she could not stay any longer in her husband's home. With the help of her two older children she build a simple 100 square meter home. The home cost NIS 120,000. Muna took out a loan which she has just finished paying back. However, her home was "illegal," having been built in an area not zoned for building as is most of the land available to Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The court ordered the home sealed. Muna and her family are forbidden to enter it. She was forced to move back into her husband's home, but he demands that she pay NIS 1,000/month as her "share" of the rent to his uncle. Muna is also paying off a NIS 30,000 fine in NIS 500 instalments for the house she is not allowed to live in.



The family's dire financial situation affects everything, including their ability to defend their home. Up until now they have not had a lawyer because they could not afford one.



Muna's oldest son Ataf says, "We had no choice other than to build the new home illegally. I am a law abiding person. However, they didn't leave me any choice because it is impossible to get building permits and we couldn't stay with father any more. A democratic country that cares for all her citizens would not put so many obstacles in our way. I compare us to the ultra-Orthodox sector. They benefit from building projects and we are singled out and not allowed to build. How can there be peace this way?".
 
 

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