Int'l observer: IDF, settlers are 'cleansing' Hebron's H-2 area

[Aidoneus]

Last Update: 16/02/2004 05:37
Int'l observer: IDF, settlers are 'cleansing' Hebron's H-2 area
By Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondent

"The activity of the settlers and the army in the H-2 area of Hebron is creating an irreversible situation. In a sense, cleansing is being carried out. In other words, if the situation continues for another few years, the result will be that no Palestinians will remain there. It is a miracle they have managed to remain there until now."

This view of the situation in the Israeli-controlled area of Hebron comes from Jan Kristensen, the former head of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH), who completed his one-year term of office last week. Kristensen, 58, is a former lieutenant colonel in the Norwegian army and has also held various positions in UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon).

H-2, the 4.3 square kilometers of Hebron assigned to Israeli control by the Hebron Agreement, contains all of the city's Jewish settlers. When the intifada began, it had 35,000 Palestinian residents. Kristensen had no exact figures for how many Palestinians have since left but he said, "more and more people are leaving the area and it is effectively being emptied. The settlers' activities, which are aimed at causing the Palestinians to leave, and the army's activities, which impose severe restrictions, create an irreversible reality. Anyone whose economic situation permits him to do so, leaves.

"There are roadblocks in the area all the time. Once there were more than 100 days of continuous curfew, with only brief interruptions. The markets are closed, the roads are closed, and if you're a Palestinian who does not appear on the lists, you can't enter. The settlers go out almost every night and attack those who live near them. They break windows, cause damage and effectively force the Palestinians to leave the area.

"I don't see how this situation can change, and I see no possibility that the IDF will once again open the area and enable the Palestinians in it to lead normal lives. Personally, I don't believe it is possible for normal life to exist in Hebron between the communities, even if there are agreements between the leaders."

--snip--

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/394496.html

[rabidarab2004]

1. This passes as news for Haaratz

So, a claim is made but later acknowledged that there is nothing supporting the claim. "Kristensen had no exact figures".

In other words, we have innuendo and conjecture.

[Aidoneus]

2. it beats the IDF's bullshit that they usually pass verbatim

:shrug:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tinnypriv]

4. Intrestingly

Ultra-right "pro-Israel" folks refer to the paper as Ha Ha Ha'aretz.

Nobody else does.