Khirbet Samra is in the north of the Jordan Valley. It is surrounded by two Israeli Army bases and is near Ro'i and Hemdat settlements. The army regularly walk through the village as it is between the Army post and the main base. These families have been living and farming this land since before the 1967 occupation of the West Bank. The land is owned by a Palestinian man and the families rent a part of it from him.The community's homes and animal shelters are clustered in a cleft in the hillside, a lovely sheltered spot with wild flowers everywhere and what is clearly the remains of a stream running past the village. We were told that the Army had previosuly bombed this spring and as a result what had been several streams running down the valley was now just an area of boggy land, still with water but not accessible to anyone.
Previously the same homes have received two demolition orders and on both occasions the order has been challenged in court and the correct papers from the land owner presented. This resulted in the demolition orders been overturned. This time the Palestinian farmer were not given enough notice to find a lawyer and go to court and were therefore worried that the demolition order might be carried out.
Last night we stayed with one of the families as they waited for the imminent demolition of their homes which was expected today. None of the families knew what they would do for shelter if their homes were destroyed. Despite the continued harassment of this community all have said they would continue to live on the land and that they would refuse to leave if the Army came.
The army did not come today to demolish the three houses in Khirbet Samra but the families continue to live in fear, knowing they could come at anytime. .
For more updates please see our blog - topalestineinsolidarity.blogspot.com .
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