Al Jiftlik: Rebuilding demolished homes

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Life in the Kazaya area of Al Jiftlik has never been easy. When I first visited the area in 2007 the future for the community there looked bleak. A house belonging to a newly married couple had recently been demolished and rubble was covering large parts of the ground, whilst there were demolition orders in place on several further structures.

Al Jiftlik - Demolished House (1)

Al Jiftlik = demolished house (2)

In a relentless campaign to try to drive Palestinians out of the area the army have demolished seventeen houses there since 2004. As I returned to Kazaya last week, it became evident that whilst this tactic has been partially successful it has also been heavily resisted by the community. One man told me that the continuous house demolitions meant that two of his children had moved away from the area. One of his daughters, her husband and five children were forced to leave for the refugee camp in Tulkarem when their house were demolished in 2006, and his other daughter, her husband and six children moved to Al Khalil (Hebron) for the same reason. Whilst they might be lost to the area - their father did not believe that they could move back now - the future for people still there seemed more promising than it did three years ago.

Around one year ago Jordan Valley Solidarity begun their project of rebuilding and renovating houses in order to encourage people not to leave their communities. During the last year the Kazaya area has successfully rebuilt two of the houses that had been demolished and renovated eight others, making it easier for people to choose to continue life where they are and hence resist Israel's attempted ethnic cleansing of the area. This is a powerful project which needs to be well documented, should Israel continue their policy of harassment in Al Jiftlik.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 1

House one: This house was renovated around one year ago, but still has some work to be done. It is the home of a family with three children whose father is in prison.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 2

House two: The roof of this building was renovated and around ten
people live here.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 3

House three: This house was painted and had some toilets put in around a year ago. One father lives here with his three wives and six children.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 4

House four: A family of four live in this house, which had toilets, the door and the floor renovated recently.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 5

House five: The kitchen and the toilets were renovated in this house. One person lives there.

Al Jiftlik - rebuilt house 6

House six: This house was complete rebuilt during the last year. The house that used to stand on the spot was demolished in 2004.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 7

House seven: Five people live in this house. It has been renovated.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 8

House eight: Renovations, including work on the roof, took place here around one year ago. Eight people, including one widow, live here.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 9

House nine: The roof, door and windows were renovated in this house. A wife and a child live here alone as the husband has been forced to go back to Jordan.

Al Jiftlik - renovated house 10

House ten: In the house where the two children were forced to leave to Tulkarem and Al Khalil the extension has been rebuilt and another building has been renovated.