Palestine Solidarity Committee

Palestine Solidarity Committee

Palestinian family standing on the rubble of their home which was blown up as punishment by Israeli soldiers. (Beita, Palestine, June 1988).

How would you like to be given 15 minute warning before your house were to be demolished?

Hundreds of houses have been demolished by the Israeli army since the beginning of the Intifada. The inhabitants of these houses were given a few minutes to remove their personal belongings, and then the houses were either bulldozed or blown up; the explosions often wrecked neighboring houses too. Demolitions are arbitrary and ordered by the local army commander; there is no appeal procedure. Houses have been blown up on the pretext that one of its inhabitants may have thrown a stone. In Beita houses were demolished as a punitive measure and no justification has ever been offered.

Many Palestinians have been rendered homeless and destitute-refugees in their own land-by this sordid practice of the Israeli army. The removal of rubble is forbidden, as is rebuilding the houses. The ruins remain for what the Israeli army calis "a deterrent demonstrative effect."

The Palestine Solidarity Committee, in a humanitarian effort, is raising funds to help the victims of house demolitions. All the funds received will be delivered directly to the afflicted families to purchase tents, blankets and other necessary items until they can find permanent housing. Once it is possible to rebuild houses, the funds will be earmarked for that purpose

Please send your contribution to: Palestinian Solidarity Committee

                                                             4203 Michigan Union

                                                             Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Please make out your check to: Middle East Cultural and Educational Foundation

(Checks must be made out to M.E.C. E. F. in order to be tax deductible).