A new demolition order

Eid Barakat and his threatened barn

Barn was built with French aid

The hilltop Palestinian village next to Samuel's Tomb, Nabi Samwil (whose access problems were described in my February 24 blog), is facing a new threat: this Israeli demolition order for Eid Barakat's animal shelter. Eid says the simple barn for his two cows and 15 sheep was built after authorities had destroyed earlier canvas structures three times.

The demolition order, dated March 12, says the structure was built without a permit, in a "green area" where no building is allowed, and is "dangerous." Eid has a lawyer from an international NGO to represent him at the April 3 hearing, but he is not optimistic about the outcome. In his words, "they may postpone the demolition for two or three years, or they may do it next month."

He says he needs the shelter to protect the animals in the cold winters, and one of his cows was sick last year.

Ruins of former animal tent destroyed by authorities

Eid already has demolition orders on additions to his house, and he fears that if the Israeli army comes in to demolish the barn,  they might destroy the house as well. Although the demolition orders only apply to the additions, in practice it is often not possible to save the original house.

Nearby we saw the ruins of the original village that Israel destroyed in 1967. They are now in an Israeli national park around the mosque that houses the prophet Samuel's tomb.

Ruins of the original Palestinian village of Nabi Samwil

Area of Palestinian protest against U.S. policies

As President Obama arrived in Israel today, Palestinian protesters erected 15 tents near the Israeli settlement of  Ma'ale Adumim (all settlements in occupied territory are illegal under international humanitarian law). Their statement said U.S. policies are "complicit in Israeli occupation and colonialism," and posters said "Obama: return your Nobel Peace Prize."  We tried to visit the tent village, but all exits from the road were blocked by Israeli security forces, and we could only photograph it from afar. The army has declared the area a "closed military zone" and is expected to destroy the tents, as it did with another tent protest on the same site two months ago.