The government of Israel has made its decision: they want to immediately demolish 20% of the village of Susiya, leaving dozens of residents (half of them children) homeless.  Ask your Senators and Representative to intervene now.

The following update was sent to us by Attorney Quamar Mishriqi-Assad, lawyer for Susiya:

"Yesterday (November 22), the Israeli State Attorney’s Office submitted its response to the petition submitted by residents of the village of Susya against the rejection of their proposed master plan for their village. The State announced that it wishes to demolish within 15 days some 20 buildings included in 15 demolition orders in the area of the village, representing approximately one-fifth of the total number of buildings in the village.

"The State’s response noted that the Civil Administration’s Supreme Planning Council is due to examine the legal principle of the planning issue of 'adjacent side,' which may have ramifications for the planning and regulation of the village. The response added that, pending its decision on this issue, no steps will be taken to demolish the entire village, subject to the provision that there be no further construction.

"However, the state seeks to demolish some 20 buildings (20% of the village) immediately. The State’s claim – denied by the petitioners – is that these buildings were constructed in violation of a judicial order, despite the potential to regulate the village and find a solution.

"This position on the part of the State implies the immediate destruction of residential buildings, a clinic, and livestock pens, causing irreversible damage to the basic rights of some 100 residents of the village (half of whom are children) who have nowhere else to live, particularly in the current winter season, and creating humanitarian distress. Haqel today submitted an application to submit an immediate response and to freeze the proceedings.

"Attorney Quamar Mishriqi-Assad, who is representing the residents of the village, explains: 'The demolition of one-fifth of the village is an extreme step that will damage the most basic humanitarian needs and the very humanity of those involved, without it even having been proven that they have violated the law. As winter arrives, the imminent demolition will leave 100 people, half of them children, without shelter. The Occupation regime wants to demolish one-fifth of the village at this stage, and later to destroy it all, with the goal of expelling the residents from the area, despite the residents’ desire to regulate their community. This is contrary to Israel’s obligations under international law. Israel is guided neither by law nor justice, but by the desire to evacuate the area.

“'While it is wrong to compare the status of the residents of Susya to that of the settlers, we should note that there are currently some 184 illegal buildings in the area of the settlement of Susya alone, most of which are the subject of demolition orders. However, the state is taking no action on the matter.

“'It is neither reasonable nor fair that in this case, which involves protected residents on their private land, the respondents are refusing to freeze the execution of the demolition orders pending the clarification of the chances to regulate the planning of the village.'”