Ref: 15/2006

Date:  09 February 2006

Time: 10:45 GMT 

Theft of Green Houses and Agricultural Equipment in the Evacuated Settlements

In the past few days, a number of Palestinian civilians, escorted by Palestinian armed groups, have robbed greenhouses, agricultural equipment and other property of the Agricultural Land Development Project in the evacuated settlements in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, a number of Palestinian civilians have continued to rob greenhouses and agricultural equipment in the evacuated Israeli settlements in the southern Gaza Strip.  These actions peaked on Sunday and Monday, 5 and 6 February 2006, when dozens of civilians, escorted by a number of gunmen, dismantled greenhouses and water pipelines in the evacuated "Gan Aur" settlement.  When members of the Palestinian National Security Force intervened to stop the theft, the gunmen clashed with them.  In a later development, an exchange of fire erupted between the two sides.  Two persons were injured.  A member of the Palestinian National Security Force was also seriously injured in the head when he was attacked by a sharp tool.  In addition, a number of gunmen fired at Yassin Sheikh al-'Eid, a guard at the evacuated "Bedoulah" settlement in the southern Gaza Strip, when he attempted to stop a theft.

Thefts have escalated in the past few days, as the Public Support Committees in charge of guarding the evacuated settlement declared that their contract with the Palestinian Economic Development Company ended due to financial problems.  PCHR's field workers reported that other evacuated settlements, such as "Netser Hazani", "Morag" and "Neve Dekalim" were also robbed, but to a lesser degree.  These actions raise doubts regarding the ability of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and its security services to protect this national project, which belongs to the Palestinian people. 

PCHR strongly condemns these actions:

1.      PCHR calls upon the PNA and its security services to stop such attacks and provide protection to greenhouses and agricultural equipment. 

2.      PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Attorney General to investigate these crimes and bring their perpetrators to justice. 

-End-

 ************************

For more information please call: +972 (0)- 8 - 2824776 – 2825893.* 

*Office Hours are between 0800 – 1600 hours (0500 GMT – 1300 GMT) Sun – Thurs.

……………………………………………………………

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893

email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org