The Israeli army has been carrying out an aggressive policy of home demolition against Palestinian civilians throughout the Palestinian territories, leaving hundreds of people homeless and without shelter in the midst of severe weather conditions, most recently through the demolition of 71 Palestinian homes in Rafah in the Gaza Strip last week.

    This latest escalation by Sharon's radical right wing government is a serious violation of Palestinian rights and a blatant disregard to the most fundamental human rights. Since 1967, Israel has demolished more than 7,700 Palestinian homes throughout the Palestinian territories (the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip).

    MIFTAH cautions against this illegal action, and urges the international community, with all its institutions and governments, to take a firm stance against Israel's policy of home demolition, and to provide international protection to the Palestinian people.  Sharon's lack of political agenda, and his obvious reliance on a militaristic approach towards the Palestinians, is dragging the region into an endless and vicious cycle of violence. There is an urgent need for the international community to stop Sharon's war government from destroying the prospects of calm in the region, and to take immediate steps in condemning Israel's harsh military measures against a captive and civilian Palestinian population.