Israel wrecked my home. Now it wants my land.
EAST JERUSALEM — The world is watching Susiya to see if Israel will demolish the community of 340 Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills. The Supreme Court here has refused to delay the forced removal
of structures where 55 families have lived since they were displaced by
state-sponsored archaeological digs that helped expand a nearby
settlement. Living under the threat of demolition is a horrible experience.
The Palestinians of Susiya probably feel disoriented, unstable and
scared that their way of life could be dismantled at any minute. I know,
because I’m in a similar situation. In my neighborhood, the destruction
has already started.
Just before dawn on March 31, dozens of of structures where 55 families have lived since they were displaced by
state-sponsored archaeological digs that helped expand a nearby
settlement. Living under the threat of demolition is a horrible experience.
The Palestinians of Susiya probably feel disoriented, unstable and
scared that their way of life could be dismantled at any minute. I know,
because I’m in a similar situation. In my neighborhood, the destruction
has already started.
Israeli soldiers and police officers blocked off the streets and
surrounded the one-story house where my older brother Sharif, his family
of six, our 79-year-old mother, my wife, my three children and I live.
We had gone to bed looking forward to a picnic the next morning, but we
were awoken by the frightening sounds of jeeps and heavy machinery.
Israeli security forces banged on the doors, shouting in Hebrew that we
had to get out at once. They had come to demolish our home.
Nureddin
Amro at his East Jerusalem home, which was partially demolished this
spring. (Quique Kierszenbaum/For The Washington Post)
