Israeli report damns demolitions
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4273205.stm
An Israeli army committee has recommended stopping the practice of
demolishing the houses of Palestinian suicide bombers and their families.
The committee's interim report found the policy had little deterrent
effect
and inflamed Palestinian hatred.

In the past four years of the Palestinian uprising, Israeli soldiers have
destroyed hundreds of homes.

The Israeli government argues that demolitions deter attacks as bombers do
not want to leave family homeless.

The committee's interim findings have been presented to Israeli army Chief
of Staff Moshe Yaalon, who has requested more information for the final draft.

In the past four years, Israeli soldiers using bulldozers or explosives
have demolished 666 houses as punishment for attacks on Israelis, according to
the Israeli human rights group Btselem.

Other demolitions

The committee did not look into the demolition of homes, mostly in Gaza,
which the Israeli army has argued is needed to make army posts, settlements or
roads used by settlers safer.

Over the last four years, Btselem says, 1,356 houses in the occupied
territories were demolished by the Israeli army for what the group calls
"alleged
military purposes", making more than 10,000 Palestinians homeless.

Palestinians in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem,
complain that the Israeli authorities make it very difficult for them to gain
licences for new buildings or extensions on existing properties.

According to Btselem, 253 Palestinian homes were demolished in 2004
because
they did not have the correct licences.




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