Robbing and Vandalizing Palestinian Homes

By Frank Collins

Hostility and brutality by Israeli security forces against Palestinians is increasing in the East Jerusalem area. In the last 10 days of August, security forces personnel, some wearing masks, broke into four Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem suburbs, mistreating and beating residents in search and destroy missions. Two persons in the homes were arrested, according to Samir and Jan Abu Shakra of the Palestinian Human Rights Information Center in East Jerusalem.

In one break-in, $10,000 in cash and jewelry worth at least $20,000 was stolen. In another forced entry, a computer and a photocopy machine for a new business were completely destroyed. In the other two raids, all of the furniture was overturned and completely vandalized. In one home, the refrigerator, washing machine and sink units were maliciously destroyed.

"Rarely has anyone seen such a scene of vandalism left behind by the security forces after searching in an Arab house in Jerusalem," wrote reporter Danny Rubenstein in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz. "They overturned closets, tore a mattress, broke the window shades, pulled up the floor tiles, destroyed concrete around the sewage system, tore the sofas and armchairs, and broke iron doors. "

One of the residents of the vandalized homes is a US citizen. Representatives of the American and French consulates visited his home and viewed the damage. In the end, however, he had no recourse except to complain to the police, who may have been complicit in the crime.

Such incidents of calculated brutality are occurring daily in the occupied territories. Foreign observers speculate that the short-range goal is to terrorize residents into submission. The long-term aim, however, is consistent with Israeli efforts to induce Palestinians to leave the country "voluntarily" as part of a continuing program of "transfer."

Some time ago, the writer visited a home in the Ramallah area where Jewish settlers or the army (both deny it) had wreaked destruction similar to that described. The writer and his friends were promptly ordered off the premises by the army, on the grounds that it was a closed military area.