Hope Flowers School Demolition Order 2003/2004

            Hope Flowers School, a Palestinian school located near Bethlehem in the West Bank, has a peace-oriented curriculum, dedicated to co-existence and mutual tolerance between Palestinians and Israelis.  In November 2003, the Israeli Civil Administration gave Hope Flowers School a demolition order for some of its buildings, which the school is appealing through the services of an Israeli lawyer.

            Five years ago Hope Flowers School was in the same predicament.  After long months of submitting reports and attending meetings of the Civil Administration (the Israeli body that administers the Occupied Palestinian Territories), after long months of international pressure together with lawyers, architects, builders and the assistance of Israelis, the order to demolish was rescinded.

             This year , once again, we must marshal our forces to resist this unjust policy.  To request additional details or to obtain fax numbers/email addresses of Israeli and U.S. government officials, please contact:  Mary Lou Leiser Smith, Tel. 919-967-5181 or mloupwj@nc.rr.com

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

            Hope Flowers School is located on a hill top in area C, which means it is under Israeli control. Nearby is the expanding Israeli settlement of Efrat. The newly built homes, manicured and irrigated gardens, schools, athletic fields, and paved roads display a different world from what the Palestinians know. Yet, the Palestinians are losing their land and homes due to the expansion of settlements such as these.

            The destruction of Palestinian homes is a gross violation of the internationally recognized right to shelter.  The Israeli government, however, argues that the demolitions are legal because these houses were constructed without building permits.  In fact, most Palestinians build “illegally” for the simple reason that Israel does not issue building permits to Palestinians.  Even many Israeli organizations (such as the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions) describe the Israeli policy of establishing “facts on the ground” as illegal according to international law. It is not just illegal, it is unjust, and inhumane.  Palestinians have not been able to add to existing home structures or to build new ones.  The underlying theme is to force Palestinians from the land.

            Our responsibility as American tax payers is enormous.  It is with our tax dollars that the settlement expansion has taken place.  In this case, the Israeli settlement of Efrat is expanding into the area around Hope Flowers School, necessitating the confiscation of Palestinian land, home demolitions and even school demolitions—yes, even a school whose stated objective is peaceful co-existence.!  Non-violent peaceful resistance by Palestinians in past years has delayed expansion of the Efrat settlement but not stopped it.  The U.S. government statements are hardly strong enough when  the State Department says that “settlements are not helpful.”  Shouldn’t we- as tax payers withhold money from Israel as long as it pursues policies that promote settlements in the occupied territories??  Now, in 2004, to add insult to injury, the SEPARATION WALL is isolating more Palestinians into enclaves,  with more confiscation of Palestinian land and demolition of homes! Where will the Separation Wall be built in the El Khader area?  How will it affect the lives of the farmers, families and school children around Hope Flowers School? Will we let it happen without raising our voices???