At-tuwani
Encyclopedia
At-Tuwani is a small Palestinian
village in the South Hebron Hills
. Many of the village’s residents live in caves. The village is located south-west of the village of Yatta
. Approximately one kilometer away lies Tel Tuwani, near the Israeli settlement
Ma’on (constructed in 1981). Frequent disputes occur between At-Tuwani’s residents and settlers over land, roads and water resources.
times. Some pottery findings on site were traced to the Byzantine
era and Middle Ages
. Most of the archeological findings were since removed, and new buildings were built in its place. The residents living in the place used also some of the ancient buildings and the naturally formed caves for dwelling and animal dens.
i settlements and outposts are connected to the Israeli water system. At-Tuwani’s residents frequently petition the Israeli military
administration and the Israeli Civil Administration
, as well as the Israeli Water Commission to supply them with the necessary infrastructure.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel
and Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights
Association have recently joined the residents’ efforts by petitioning Deputy Minister of Defense, Matan Vilnai, to connect the village to running water. The village is located in Area C (under the Oslo Accords
) and is thus subject to Israeli jurisdiction for all civilian matters. Israeli Parliament
(Knesset
) Members Haim Oron
(of Meretz party) and Dov Khenin
(of Hadash
party) committed to petitioning the Ministry of Defense regarding connecting the village to running water. About two months later, In July 2010, the Civil Administration announced the village is going to be connected to running water.
In addition to lacking water infrastructure and running water, At-Tuwani residents suffer from infringements concerning their rights to shelter. Most of the residents’ houses and lands are not included in the Israeli Civil Administration’s master plan for the region, submitted for authorization (yet to be legally endorsed). Several residents have submitted their objection to this plan, and are currently struggling to prevent their homes from being demolished on their lands, after villagers’ houses have been demolished in the past.
In 2009 a clinic for the region’s residents was built thanks to contributions; The clinic building also houses a museum commemorating non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation in the region. The Civil Administration has declared the building illegal and is threatening to demolish it.
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
village in the South Hebron Hills
Mount Hebron
Mount Hebron is a geographic region and geologic formation in the southern West Bank, with its western foothills extending into Israel. The area was in biblical times a center of the Israelite and Hasmonean kingdoms. The region lends its name to the Mount Hebron Regional Council....
. Many of the village’s residents live in caves. The village is located south-west of the village of Yatta
Yatta, Hebron
Yatta or Yattah is a Palestinian city located in the Hebron Governorate on a high approximately 8 km south of the city of Hebron in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics it had a population of 48,672 in 2007....
. Approximately one kilometer away lies Tel Tuwani, near the Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
Ma’on (constructed in 1981). Frequent disputes occur between At-Tuwani’s residents and settlers over land, roads and water resources.
Archeology
The village of At-Tuwani is built on the ruins of Hirbet At-Tuwani. In an archeological survey conducted in 1968 several edifices and fences were noted, the oldest building being a synagogue dating back to RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
times. Some pottery findings on site were traced to the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
era and Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Most of the archeological findings were since removed, and new buildings were built in its place. The residents living in the place used also some of the ancient buildings and the naturally formed caves for dwelling and animal dens.
The struggle for basic human rights
As of May 2010 there is no running water in the village of At-Tuwani, while IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i settlements and outposts are connected to the Israeli water system. At-Tuwani’s residents frequently petition the Israeli military
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
administration and the Israeli Civil Administration
Israeli Civil Administration
The Civil Administration , is the Israeli governing body that operates in Judea and Samaria. It was established by the government of Israel in 1981, in order to carry out practical bureaucratic functions within the territories conquered in 1967...
, as well as the Israeli Water Commission to supply them with the necessary infrastructure.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel
Association for Civil Rights in Israel
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel was created as an independent non-partisan organization to protect human rights and civil rights in Israel and the territories under its control....
and Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights
Bimkom
Bimkom - Planners for Planning Rights is an Israeli non-profit organization established in May 1999 by planners and architects seeking to address human rights concerns in their spatial and urban designs. Bimkom's goals include retroactively legalizing illegal construction in Arab neighborhoods...
Association have recently joined the residents’ efforts by petitioning Deputy Minister of Defense, Matan Vilnai, to connect the village to running water. The village is located in Area C (under the Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
) and is thus subject to Israeli jurisdiction for all civilian matters. Israeli Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
(Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
) Members Haim Oron
Haim Oron
Haim "Jumas" Oron is an Israeli politician and former Minister of Agriculture. He is currently head of the political party New Movement-Meretz, for whom he served as a member of the Knesset.-Biography:...
(of Meretz party) and Dov Khenin
Dov Khenin
Dov Khenin is an Israeli political-scientist, lawyer, and member of the Knesset for the leftist Hadash party. He is a member of the central committee of Maki , an activist for socio-economic equality and an environmentalist...
(of Hadash
Hadash
Hadash is a Jewish and Arab socialist front of organizations that runs for the Israeli parliament. It currently has four members in the 120-seat Knesset.-Background:...
party) committed to petitioning the Ministry of Defense regarding connecting the village to running water. About two months later, In July 2010, the Civil Administration announced the village is going to be connected to running water.
In addition to lacking water infrastructure and running water, At-Tuwani residents suffer from infringements concerning their rights to shelter. Most of the residents’ houses and lands are not included in the Israeli Civil Administration’s master plan for the region, submitted for authorization (yet to be legally endorsed). Several residents have submitted their objection to this plan, and are currently struggling to prevent their homes from being demolished on their lands, after villagers’ houses have been demolished in the past.
In 2009 a clinic for the region’s residents was built thanks to contributions; The clinic building also houses a museum commemorating non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation in the region. The Civil Administration has declared the building illegal and is threatening to demolish it.