GENEVA (27 June 2012) – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories,
Richard Falk, warned Wednesday that the number of people displaced by
the demolition of Palestinian structures has increased by 87% compared
to 2010. Mr. Falk also demanded that the Israeli Government immediately
stop demolishing Palestinian homes and start fulfilling its obligation
to protect the right to housing.

“Already this year, Israeli authorities have demolished over 330
Palestinian structures, including homes, animal shelters, water cisterns
and roads,” the human rights expert said, and stressed that half of the
536 Palestinians who have been displaced in 2012 are children. “Such
demolitions amount to violations against 2,100 Palestinians who have
been affected.”

Mr. Falk highlighted the disturbing case of Salim and Arabiya
Shawamreh. “The home they share with their seven children has been
demolished five times over 14 years. While it will be rebuilt once again
next month, the family will live under the threat of having its home
demolished at any moment.”

“Living under the threat of having your home demolished is no way to
bring up a family,” said the UN Special Rapporteur recalling his meeting
with Salim during a visit to the region last February. “The
ever-present threat of Israeli bulldozers perverts the sense of normalcy
so essential for raising children.”

The independent expert also expressed particular concern regarding
the Palestinian community of Susiya, in the southern West Bank. “If the
demolition orders are executed by Israel, over 160 people will be
forcibly displaced, including 120 Palestinian children; is a deeply
troubling situation.”

“Israelis expand their illegal outposts near Susiya, without any
effort by the Government of Israel to hinder them. At the same time the
Israeli High Court of Justice facilitates the demolition of
Palestinians’ homes nearby,” Mr. Falk noted, recalling that an appeal
from an Israeli settler organization Regavim to the High Court had led
to demolition orders against Palestinians in Susiya. “Such
discrimination is part and parcel of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.”

“If Israeli authorities want to respect their international legal
obligations, they will freeze the demolition orders against Palestinians
in Susiya and ensure that Salim and his wife and children no longer
live in fear of having their home and well-being demolished by Israeli
bulldozers,” the human rights expert said.

On 2 July, the Special Rapporteur is scheduled to present his report
to the twentieth session of the Human Rights Council. Since his
appointment in 2008, he has spoken at the Human Rights Council in 2009,
2010, and 2011 on the human rights situations in the occupied
Palestinian territory.

In 2008, the UN Human Rights Council designated Richard Falk (United
States of America) as the fifth Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The mandate
was originally established in 1993 by the UN Commission on Human
Rights. Learn more, log on to: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/ps/mandate/index.htm

OHCHR Country Page – Occupied Palestinian Territories: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx

OHCHR Country Page – Israel: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/ILIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Kevin Turner (+41 (0)22 928 9603 / kturner@ohchr.org) or write to sropt@ohchr.org.

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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