Caterpillar, the world's largest manufacturer of construction equipment, such as bulldozers, should end aiding and abetting human rights violations committed by the Israeli occupation army, Israel's Border Police and West Jerusalem's municipal authorities. Caterpillar's
For example, on January 14, 2002, Caterpillar's equipment demolished nine Palestinian homes in Jerusalem's neighbourhood Issawiyeh. Majda Alayan's home was knocked down even though the court has issued an injunction against demolition. She said that she, her husband and five children had just moved into the home, which cost US$48,000 to build.
Recently, the Jerusalem municipality finance committee approved a NIS 2 million budget to cover the costs of the demolition of Palestinian homes in 2002. This budget is twice last year's budget. On February 5, 2002, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert said that the city’s authority intends to destroy unlicensed houses in East Jerusalem "every week."
Since January 2002, the Jerusalem Municipality demolished 23 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. Between 1987 and 2001 about 350 Palestinian homes were demolished in the city. The numbers for the whole Occupied Palestian Territories are much higher. In many cases Caterpillar's equipment has been used to demolish these homes.
Human rights observers have documented an increase of Israel's recourse to home demolitions. Repeatedly, the international community has expressed its concern with human rights and other international law violations, including the increasing recourse to house demolitions, which "are unacceptable and contrary to the rule of law."
On September 11, 2001, Caterpillar's equipment demolished three homes in Beit Hanina. The owners of the homes, Aishi Abu Naab, Mohammed Hasan Jaradat, and Rammadan Bader, were only given one day notice that their houses were going to be demolished. Only Rammadan Bader was able to obtain a court decision to postpone the demolition in order to be able to appeal. However, his home was demolished anyway.
Caterpillar cannot afford to turn a blind eye. Its equipment is being used to commit human rights abuses against defenseless civilians. Moreover, it continues to provide Israel with the tools for destruction and profits from these violations. Caterpillar does not seem committed to
On July 9, 2001, Caterpillar's equipment demolished 14 shelters in Shu'fat refugee camp, making their inhabitants homeless for a second time. Some residents had been expelled in 1967 from as-Sharaf neighborhood in Jerusalem's old city after it was destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces. Shu'fat refugee camp is located opposite of the illegal settlement, Pisgat Ze'ev, where thousands of homes have been built for Jewish settlers.
On August 13, 1999, Caterpillar's equipment demolished two Palestinian homes in the village of Walabi. The picture clearly indicates the use of Caterpillar's equipment in the destruction of the two homes. Click
The woman that lived in one of the homes and her mother were shocked. "Where is the peace the politicians talk about? Is this it?" they yelled. The woman and her husband that own the land the home was built on have the deeds to prove it. But the paperwork is almost useless, for Palestinians are not allowed to build here. The village is very near Jerusalem and the Israelis want to keep Jerusalem Jewish. Thirty-six more houses in the village are under threat.
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Secretary of State Colin Powell bluntly and articulately told the Israeli government in July 2001, "When you start knocking down buildings with bulldozers, don’t expect people not to respond to this kind of activity. When you start announcing more settlement activity, this does not create conditions that would cause the other side to be less responsive or less violent."
In the light of the above, Caterpillar should end aiding Israel's demolishing of Palestinian homes. JCSER requests Caterpillar to issue a public statement condemning the use of its equipment to demolish people's homes. JCSER also urges Caterpillar to re-consider sales to Israel, as the equipment is enabling Israel to commit war crimes. Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights; PO Box 67807, Jerusalem 97200; Website: http://www.jcser.org - Phone No. + (972) 2 6275 335/6 &; Fax No. + (972) 2 6273 516 – E-mail:
A letter was send to Caterpillar on March 8, 2002. Click hear For Press Releases 2002
Designed By: Mutasem A.Hamoudeh
