A Housing Policy we can be proud of?
 | By Stanley Walinets
April 30, 2011 | Share |
Israel's Government expects Diaspora support, calls us 'delegitimisers' if we disagree with its policies. But I have to say I don't feel happy that this sort of thing is being done in my name. How do others feel? Read this,
just received from http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/04/arab-israel-two-stories-lod, a University of Southern California website. Check the site for photographs....
"A Home, Demolished, in Israel"
LOD, ISRAEL -- When a Palestinian house is demolished, the bill is sent to the family whose home was turned to rubble. The only problem is, there's no longer any address to which that letter can be sent.
Hani Khawaja, 54, a lifelong resident of the Arab neighborhood in Lod — just outside of Tel Aviv — received such a bill after his house was recently bulldozed.
His story was told via the help of translator and guide Khalil Aby Shehadi, who lives in the same Arab neighborhood in Lod that is known as the "Railway Station Neighborhood" because the train tracks run adjacent to the corrugated iron homes.
"To demolish a house, it costs a lot of money. It's about half a million shekels, that's about $150,000. When they come, they bring the police with them. They close the two entrances to the neighborhood," said Shehadi. "We can't go to school, we can't go to the hospital, we can't go anywhere. At 4:30 in the morning, they closed the neighborhood. They put police everywhere, on horses, on cars, on foot. And helicopters. There were 250 policemen."
The helicopter cost 1,000 shekels per half hour. Cleaning the rubble costs another 70,000 shekels.
"They – he and his small children, tried to take everything out of their house. They took them out by force," continued Shehadi. "They destroyed the house with everything in it. Schoolbags, books, everything! Refrigerator, everything! Everything, yes."
Khawaja's blacksmith salary of $1200 a month leaves him unable to pay for the razing of his house. And so he doesn't pay. He won't pay. Somewhere in the Israeli administrative system, Khawaja is slowly racking up fees and travel restrictions.
He is not alone. There are 1400 other demolition orders in his neighborhood."
COMMENTS
Mon, 05/02/2011 - 10:28 Rate this: 0 points | Stanley, that's western style liberal democracies for you. But be reassured, they share our values. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 09:39 Rate this: 0 points | His house was demolished becaiuse he built it without a permit, but of course don't let that get in the way of your agenda of deligitimisation. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 10:10 Rate this: 0 points | If you do please supply evidence that the houses that were demolished had the necessary permits and that the only reason they were demolished was because they were owned/occupied by Arabs. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 10:33 Rate this: 0 points | Can someone supply us with accurate details -- not supposition - of the number of buildings or building extensions constructed illegally and without permit by Jews in Israel proper that have been destroyed? |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 11:12 Rate this: 0 points | and that the only reason they were demolished was because they were owned/occupied by Arabs. will do Joe since 1948 over 900 new Jewish villages and towns have been established. The only new non Jewish settlement is a clutch of half a dozen housing units for a bunch of Bedouins, the motivation being to get them to quit their age old annoying habit of wandering around wherever they pleased, which was very inconvenient. But like I say I will return to this subject shortly. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:03 Rate this: 0 points | That wasn't the question I asked, Jon. That is an entirely different issue for another thread, perhaps. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:18 Rate this: 0 points | Joe Millis your question is in fact racist who except a racist would differentiate on the grounds of race why a house has been demolished. House demolitions by Municipalities in Israel are carried out without discrimination and after exhaustive legal procedure. What's more your question is off post. The allegation here is that Israel demolishes homes because they are owned by Arabs - no proof has been offered other than wild claims. In sum, these claims which are not new are frequently characterized by factual inaccuracies, the misuse of legal authority, critical omissions, groundless insinuations of official misconduct, untruths, and unfair and unsubstantiated "evidence," while using human rights jargon to mislead the general public. These claims disregard proportion and context, while completely ignoring the two major reasons for illegal building in Arab neighborhoods: that it is a political tool in the hands of the anti-Israel NGOs, and a means for criminal profit at the expense of others. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:21 Rate this: 0 points | Would you be so kind as to supply us with the figures "Advis3r"? If you can't please refrain from casting aspersions and building straw men. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:36 Rate this: 0 points | Millis I suggest you read the article at the URL below ralting to illegal construction in Jerusalem. I do not have to provide proof or figures Israel does not discriminate those who claim it does need to bring figures and proof, if they can. You have no problem with your supposedly innocent question of casting aspersions on Israel but would you write say to Birmingham City Council and ask them for a break down of planning enforcement by race? You are the straw man argument king! http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DRIT=3&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TM... |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:42 Rate this: 0 points | Dear Advis3r, you justify this demolition by saying: Unfortunately I don't know how long this family had lived in their house, only that, aged 54, he'd lived in the neighbourhood all his life. So OK, let's agree planning laws have to be observed. BUT - does it not occur to you they just might, in Israel, be 'observed' in a somewhat brutal way? And in such large numbers as to indicate a hidden agenda of persecution behind this apparently innocent administrative decision? "To demolish a house, it costs a lot of money. It's about half a million shekels, that's about $150,000. When they come, they bring the police with them. They close the two entrances to the neighborhood," said Shehadi. "We can't go to school, we can't go to the hospital, we can't go anywhere. At 4:30 in the morning, they closed the neighborhood. They put police everywhere, on horses, on cars, on foot. And helicopters. There were 250 policemen." The helicopter cost 1,000 shekels per half hour. Cleaning the rubble costs another 70,000 shekels. "They – he and his small children, tried to take everything out of their house. They took them out by force," continued Shehadi. "They destroyed the house with everything in it. Schoolbags, books, everything! Refrigerator, everything! Everything, yes." In short, Advis3r, how would you react if you read of this kind of response to a Planning infringement here in the UK? Its severity? Its frequency? Might we not all be astonished and demand a public inquiry, do you think? |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:46 Rate this: 0 points | "Advis3r", if you have figures and reasons for the demolition of Arab-owned property, you must surely also have the same figures for Jewish-owned property. So, would you be so kind as to supply us with the figures? |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:38 Rate this: 0 points | Millis as I said those claiming Israel discriminates must bring proof of their claim. Why would I have the figures you suggest if as I say Israel does not discriminate. Given the length of the article I directed your attention to and the speed of your response I must doubt that you read it before you responded. The article gives statistics which disprove the cliams of Israeli discrimination - once again I suggest you read it. Furthermore I would also suggest you read this article which gives the background to the Bedouin situation. Mr Walinets - as I said the council tried to deal with this over thyears by negotiation and in the end were obliged to take formal action to prevent the proliferation of illegal structures. I would draw your attention to the following: |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:51 Rate this: 0 points | I have read it before, "Advis3r". I still await your reply regarding the demolition of illegally built Jewish-owned property in Israel proper (forget the occupied territories, where a handful have been demolished). I assume your evasiveness and the building of various straw men indicates that you do not have the figures or the reason, whereas for illegally built Arab-owned property you have. I therefore think you have shown that Israeli courts and municipalities do discriminate against Arabs. I'm sure also that that was your intention. Very Machiavellian of you, I must admit. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:55 Rate this: 0 points | So, "Advis3r" and its various aliases, to prevent us going round and round in circles, I'll leave you to carry on your search for the number of Jewish-owned properties demolished in Israel. Come back only when you have a figure, so that everyone can debate with facts, not ideology. |
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 14:38 Rate this: 0 points | So to sum up still no evidence to support the contention that Israel discriminates against Arabs in house demolitions which is the claim made in this blog. Millis tries to deflect by asking a racist question and although such a question did not deserve a response notwithstanding being answered fails to read the article explaining the position. Because he is unable to add anything useful to the discussion the fixated Millis descends to the ad hominem by alleging I blog under other aliases - I do not - what a sad life he does lead. Finally the hapless Otway unable to back up his outrageous claims himself descends to the asinine.Tis would be comical but the demonisation and delegitimhisation of Israel on what ostensibly is a Jewish news website is anything but. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 12:06 Rate this: 0 points | Advis3r. Thanks for your reply:- "Mr Walinets - as I said the council tried to deal with this over the years by negotiation and in the end were obliged to take formal action to prevent the proliferation of illegal structures. I would draw your attention to the following: I've checked the Blackpool Enforcement website. The relevant sentence reads: "As a last resort, if a person does not or cannot comply with the requirements of an enforcement notice, we can enter the land and undertake work to comply with the notice." As you point out, the Israeli Planning legislation is comparable to ours - in its wording. But I ask you again, do you really think the physical eviction procedures actually employed really comply with that neutral wording? Look again at the actuality experienced by the victims in Lod:- "When they come, they bring the police with them. They close the two entrances to the neighborhood," said Shehadi. "We can't go to school, we can't go to the hospital, we can't go anywhere. At 4:30 in the morning, they closed the neighborhood. They put police everywhere, on horses, on cars, on foot. And helicopters. There were 250 policemen..... The helicopter cost 1,000 shekels per half hour.... He and his small children, tried to take everything out of their house. They took them out by force," continued Shehadi. "They destroyed the house with everything in it. Schoolbags, books, everything! Refrigerator, everything! Everything, yes." Questions then: 2) Do you know of any eviction in the UK where the Planning authority has felt it essential at 4:30 in the morning to close all entrances to the neighbourhood? To prevent children going to schools and residents going to hospitals or anywhere else? 3) Do you know of any eviction in the UK where the Planning authority has felt it essential that the eviction be done by 250 Policemen on horses, cars and on foot, supported by helicopters? 4) Do you know of any eviction in the UK where the Planning authority has felt it essential to prevent a family and children taking their property out of their house before demolition? Insisting instead on destroying the house with everything in it - schoolbags, books, refrigerators, everything? So Advis3r, as I asked you before, if we read of this kind of response to a Planning infringement here in the UK, might we not all be astonished and demand a public inquiry? Do you think such administrative practices are wrong, or not, whoever commits them? And please don't fall back on the red herring accusation that I seek to 'deligitimise' Israel. Quite the opposite. My criticism is a desire to see Israel behave as a legitimate State should. Incidentally, I do think you are dodging the issue by implying that evictions of Arabs are no greater than evictions of Jews, while refusing to give figures to prove that. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 15:12 Rate this: 0 points | Mr Walinets unfortunately you seem to project your British culture and value system on a Middle East culture which does not in general act the same as what one believes is the case with the genteel British mainly law abiding citizenry. Israel is in the Middle East and whilst it attempts to promulgate laws that reflect democratic norms its populace is made up of different cultures that in some cases do not recognise that there should be any law which governs or restricts what can or cannot be done with property that they own. Planning Laws are there for very good reason. In many cases properties are constructed without thought to safety of the occupants, requisite infrastructure and in some cases which impact adversely on the environment. Accordingly Israel like every other modern democracy has laws to govern construction. Where illegal construction is carried out notwithstanding the personal circumstances of those living in the property the planning authority has the right to safeguard the citizens and environment for which has responsibility. This is process of education which will take time. I therefore do not your accept your premise that the diaspora has a right to tell Israel how it should go about doing that especially when it acts within accepted legal norms. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 15:21 Rate this: 0 points | BTW in answer to your four questions please see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8082753/Violent-battle-feared-as-... http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2011/04/stokes-croft-poli... |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 15:22 Rate this: 0 points | Perhaps, "Advis3r", you can enlighten us as to how many of the 1400 outstanding orders are directed at non-Jews or against Jews. And it is easy to find out in Israel, since there are Jewish-only cities, towns, villages, moshavim and kibbutzim and non-Jewish-only towns and villages. Also, as you claim to be Israeli, you would no doubt know that your national identity in your ID card is determined as Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze etc. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 15:48 Rate this: 0 points | I did not know that Lod was a Jewish only city? Perhaps since you have made the claim you can enlighten me as to what city in Israel is Jew only? I did not make the claim of 1400 notices Mr walinets did why don't you ask him? You claim the information exists I claim it does not - prove to me it exists if as you say it is so easy why should I have to prove a negative? Yes you are projecting again - you are all British so why did the Telegraph believe it needed to publish an article like this |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 15:59 Rate this: 0 points | "Adviser", there are only a few mixed cities, Lod, Ramle, Haifa, and Nazareth being the most predominant. The non-Jews in Lod, for instance, live in an appalling slum area near the railway station. How many Jewish owned properties where there has been illegal building have been demolished? |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 15:59 Rate this: 0 points | I think the point is that there is a strategy to make it a Jew only city. Like I say I will address the evidence issue. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 16:11 Rate this: 0 points | Mr Otway you make accusations against Israel without a shred of evidence to back it up. Please give chapter and verse where there is a "strategy" to make any Israeli city "Jew only" - otherwise withdraw what is an outrageous allegation. As to your "evidence" I am not holding my breath. BTW Mr Millis just came across this - http://racismdaily.com/2011/03/29/uk-village-residents-want-to-remain-wh... |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 16:15 Rate this: 0 points | I am sure they want to, but unfortunately for them the uk doesn't have Israel's discriminatory reception committee law. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 16:54 Rate this: 0 points | "Thankfully, the Zionist Federation and the New Israel Fund are working together under the umbrella of the UK Taskforce to help alleviate the plight of the non-Jews in Israel." |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:04 Rate this: 0 points | I project democratic values on Israel, a democratic and Jewish state. What, sir, do you do? |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:05 Rate this: 0 points | A few mixed cities? What about Haifa, Jaffa and Jerusalem - The truth is Arab citizens of Israel form a majority of the population (52%) in Israel's Northern District and about 50% of the Arab population lives in 114 different localities throughout Israel. In total there are 122 primarily if not entirely Arab localities in Israel, 89 of them having populations over two thousand. The seven townships as well as the Abu Basma Regional Council that have been constructed by the government for the Bedouin population of the Negev, are the only Arab localities to have been established since 1948, with the aim of relocating the Arab Bedouin citizens (see above section on Bedouin). |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:14 Rate this: 0 points | You obviously know nothing about Israel. As an Orthodox Jew I live in a mixed community I have always lived in mixed communities and have never had any problems in so doing. The Chareidim wherever they live choose to live in their own communities whether in Sanhedria in Jerusalem, Stamford Hill in the UK or Boro Park in New York, that is their choice and their right. No you project British values whatever they may be on Israel as if it was an island surrounded by friendly countries instead of being in a constant state of war not of its choosing. |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:22 Rate this: 0 points | "Advis3r", which part of South Africa, New Zealand, Holland, France or north-west London is the part of Israel you live in? ;-] |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:26 Rate this: 0 points | "Advis3r", I think I mentioned Haifa as being among the few mixed cities. But as your statistics suggest (cut and paste from the Central Bureau of Statistics?) Arabs live mainly in Arab-only towns and villages. I doubt with Israel's new reception committee law that they will be allowed to intermingle in Jewish-only towns. Remember the Kaadans? |
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:35 Rate this: 0 points | No cut and paste from Wikipedia - LOL Just how many Jews do you think will be welcome to live in Umm al Fahm. Stop projecting Israel is not a melting pot and has never claimed to be. Jews and Arabs prefer to live in their separate communities both for religious and cultural reasons - that has not stopped Arabs reaching high positions in Politics the Law Medicine Academia etc. I live in Israel get over it fool! Don't believe me? that's your problem. |
Thu, 05/05/2011 - 14:47 Rate this: 0 points | Dear Advis3r, However, I feel justified in taking issue with one of your recent comments, for it does seem to deny an indisputable truth. You dismiss "British values" as inapplicable to Israel because Israel is "in a constant state of war NOT OF ITS OWN CHOOSING" (my emphasis). Can you really, honestly, claim that the region's hostility towards Israel is NOT of Israel's own choosing, when illegal settlements are an ever-increasing burden and encroachment on the Palestinians who live there? And are deliberately encouraged by Israel's Government? And when Israel insists it's entitled to build these settlements and refuses to accept they are an obstacle to peace negotiations? Can you really believe that the resulting hostility Israel experiences from its neighbours is "not of its own choosing"? This is land that is being taken from people who've lived there for generations, by a population of people a large proportion of whom are not natives but immigrants, from the Jewish Diaspora (as a matter of interest, are you too an immigrant?). Israel might well achieve its long-term land expropriation, so long as it is supported by the $3bn-plus it receives annually from America: but that will not justify it's self-delusion that the hostility encircling it is "not of its choosing". And while I think of it - do you really think Israel is behaving honestly by suspending Palestinians' tax transfers because it dislikes the unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas? This money, $1 to $1.4 billion annually, is taxes actually paid by Palestinians and simply collected on their behalf by Israel under an interim peace agreement. The money therefore belongs to Palestinian taxpayers. And Israel is stealing it. Can the victims' reactions to behaviour like this really be described as "not of Israel's choosing"? I await your response. I hope you will make it in other than your habitual offensive - often evasive - put-down mode. |
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simoneq
Mon, 05/02/2011 - 09:19
Rate this:
Yes that is why Israel is being boycotted.