Israeli forces demolish Jordan Valley village for 2nd time

Israeli forces demolish Jordan Valley village for 2nd time

Ma'an news

(Atef abu-Rob, B'Tselem) February 12, 2014 BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Wednesday demolished tents set up by Palestinian residents in the Jordan Valley after their village was completely destroyed by Israel in January, an Israeli rights group said. "A Civil Administration bulldozer arrived once more at Khirbet Ein Karzaliyah in the central Jordan Valley this morning. It began demolishing the tents put up by the residents since the latest demolition of 13 January 2014," B'Tselem said in a statement. "A soldier escort to the bulldozer slashed the tent fabric so that the tents could not be re-erected." The bulldozer did not manage to destroy all of the tents as some were located on a hillside. Israeli Civil Administration officials informed residents that they would soon return with a larger bulldozer to complete the demolitions. On Jan. 8, Israeli authorities destroyed the entire village of Khirbet Ein Karzaliyah, leaving 25 people homeless, including 15 children. Israeli force also destroyed the the only water pipe serving the community, B'Tselem said. Residents were given temporary tents by the International Committee of the Red Cross, but days later Israeli authorities returned to the village and confiscated the tents. Since then, villagers have huddled together in a single tent provided by the ICRC and most of the livestock has no shelter. Residents told B'Tselem, that they have lived in the community for over 25 years and have been targeted by Israeli forces since the 1980's. In January, Israel destroyed 27 homes in the occupied Jordan Valley, leaving 147 people homeless. The number of structures demolished by the Israeli authorities in the Jordan Valley in 2013 more than doubled, from 192 in 2012 to 393 in 2013. Source