Self-demolition under threat.. the danger of complete evacuation looms over the village of Al-Sarr

SadaNews - Residents of the unrecognized village of Al-Sarr, located west of the town of Shaqib al-Salam in the Negev region, southern Israel, were forced yesterday and today, Tuesday, to self-demolish 15 houses and two sheds. They plan to continue self-demolition operations for fear that the Israeli authorities may conduct extensive demolitions that could affect about 30 homes, which may lead to hefty fines imposed on the residents.

Several residents refuse to self-demolish their homes, asserting that the alleged compensation of 250,000 shekels for buildings that are self-demolished, which is not granted to those who do not demolish by themselves, is nothing but a deception, as it has not been applied effectively in similar cases in the villages of Umm al-Hiran, Wadi al-Khalil, Umm Metnan, and Tel Arad.

Residents also confirm that Israeli authorities, led by the "Bedouin Resettlement Authority", deliberately refrain from providing any practical solutions after the demolitions are carried out.

The population of the village of Al-Sarr is about 1,500. The village has witnessed extensive demolition operations in recent months, affecting more than 60 homes and agricultural facilities in three phases, and it is expected that more than 200 homes will be demolished in the upcoming weeks, following a decision from the Beersheba Magistrate's Court to evacuate the village.

These operations are part of an escalating demolition campaign that has targeted, since the beginning of Netanyahu's current government, more than 5,000 homes and facilities in the Negev region, with rates increasing by more than 400%. This campaign is being executed as part of Israeli plans aimed at concentrating as many residents of the Negev as possible into the smallest area within recognized towns and cities, forcibly displacing the inhabitants of the 38 unrecognized villages, home to about 90,000 people, in preparation for establishing Jewish settlements on their ruins.

Israeli authorities continue to demolish homes, commercial shops, and industrial workshops in Arab towns under the pretext of lack of permits, as seen in Rahat, Tubas al-Zangariyya, Jdeideh-Makr, Yirka, Al-Zarraza, Akka, Nazareth, Umm al-Fahm, Shafa-Amr, Sakhneen, Ein Mahil, Jaffa, Kafr Qasim, Qalansawe, Kafr Yaseef, Ara'ara, Lod, Harfis, Kafr Qari, and other Arab towns in the Negev region.