Israel/Palestine
In reply to the discussion: Palestinian village undergoing 'ethnic cleansing' by Israel [View all]Little Tich
(6,171 posts)Source: Jerusalem Post opinion
The fact is that the area occupied by the squatters has only served as grazing land.
On July 16 the daily press briefing of the US State Department astonished legal circles in Israel.
In response to the second question, preceded only by an inquiry on the Iran agreement from which Israel is still reeling, State Department spokesperson John Kirby with a prepared statement pressured Israel not to enforce demolition orders against an illegal Arab encampment adjacent to the Jewish community of Susiya. The State Department took this stand despite the fact that these demolition orders had been confirmed by Israels High Court in May 2015 after decades of appeals.
The Israelis were astonished for two reasons. One, the State Department was apparently misinformed about basic facts of the case. Two, the statement appears to be an arrogant attempt to undermine the Israeli legal system, including its universally respected High Court.
The High Court found that these assertions were demonstrably false, based on comprehensive objective historical and geographical accounts. Historical aerial photography, detailed mandatory maps, travelogues from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the population registry all established that their assertions were a fabrication. Fact: no such village ever existed. The High Court has ruled repeatedly against these false assertions (HC 7530/01, 430/12, 1556/12, 1420/14).
Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Comment-The-invention-of-the-village-of-Susiya-409861
Note: Regavim is a right-wing hate group that uses legal means to demolish Palestinian housing and evict Palestinians from their lands. They are very involved in trying to remove Susiya.