Israeli collective punishment extends to Jerusalem: Attorney General approves destroying homes of Palestinian attackers, to punish their families

Israeli Attorney General: destroying homes of Palestinian attackers is legal

Date: 04 / 07 / 2008 Time: 12:03
Bethlehem – Ma'an -

There is no Israeli law that bans the demolition of the homes of Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israel, the Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said on Thursday.

After consultations with the State Prosecution office and the Israeli General Security Services, Shabbak, Mazuz arrived at his ruling, saying "the individual examination of the circumstances of each incident must be carried out by the Shin Bet and the army in coordination with the Justice Ministry, as is customary."

Immediately after a Palestinian man plowed a massive construction vehicle into a bus in West Jerusalem on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered his government to look into the legality of destroying the home of the bulldozer driver's home in East Jerusalem. Four people, including the attacker, were killed in the rampage, which left a bus overturned and a number of cars flattened.

Mazuz reported back to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak that under Israeli law the demolitions would be permissible but there may be some legal difficulties that would have to be addressed.

Since 1967, Israel has implemented a policy of demolishing and sealing houses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a punitive measure against the Palestinian population.

International human rights organizations say house demolitions as a form of punishment contravene international law.

On 17 February 2005, former Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz adopted a recommendation by an Israeli forces committee to stop demolishing the homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks against Israelis. The committee found that house demolitions are not an efficient deterrent.

Meretz leader criticizes proposed demolition of Palestinian bulldozer attacker's home

Date: 04 / 07 / 2008 Time: 12:49
Bethlehem – Ma'an -

The leader of the left wing Israeli political party Meretz, Haim Oron has criticized the Israeli government's proposal to demolish the home of the Palestinian bulldozer attacker.

Oron told Israeli radio that he understands the feelings of anger aroused by the bulldozer attack, but added that Israelis should not rush to take revenge.

He said the disadvantages of house demolitions outweigh the benefits, especially as the attacker's family were not aware of what he was planning to do.

Oron added that if the attacker was affiliated to a resistance faction, they may respond to the demolition of his family home.

On Wednesday 30-year-old Husam Tayseer Dwayat plowed a bulldozer into a bus in West Jerusalem, killing three people and injuring dozens of others. He was shot dead at the scene.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered his government to look into the legality of destroying Dwayat's East Jerusalem home.

Group claiming bulldozer attack warns Israel against retaliation in East Jerusalem

Date: 04 / 07 / 2008 Time: 14:47
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

The Ahrar al-Jalil Brigades, which claimed the 2 July "bulldozer attack" in Jerusalem, have advised the Israeli army a statement released that they should not seek out targets in East Jerusalem in response to the bulldozer incident.

The Brigades added in a statement made Thursday that “yesterday we taught you [Israel] a new lesson," the statement continued saying that if the army attacks residents in East Jerusalem, "there are more to come."

Ahrar Al-Jalil is a self-proclaimed militant group based inside Israel. Witnesses to the Wednesday attack say a bulldozer from a Yaffa Road construction site broke through barricades onto the major street, injuring pedestrians and motorists, as well as attacking a single-decker Egged bus. The attack left four people dead and more than 70 injured.

The driver of the bulldozer, shot by a nearby soldier, was identified as 30-year-old Husam Tayseer Dwayat from a village in east Jerusalem.

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