Why are they destroying the buildings in Gaza?

[DefenseLawyer]

I understand the pullout and the removal of the settlements, but what it the rationale for bulldozing the buildings? Aren't there Palestinians that could make good use of them? Just seems like a waste to me.

[CornField]

1. Spite

I can't think of any other reason for it.

[Zhade]

15. That was the exact word I thought of when I read the OP's last sentence.

I mean, those settlements were already illegally occupying land that DOES NOT belong to the Israeli settlers, and that's somewhat spiteful in itself.

EDIT: Of course, I didn't know this was mutually agreed upon. In that light, it seems a smart move - destroying the buildings won't allow the settlers to re-steal the land without having to put some effort into it.

[Imagevision]

19. to make room for the condo's seriously!

[illflem]

2. It's the if I can't have it you can't have it syndrome

[porphyrian]

3. Is the government bulldozing the buildings or the former occupants?

If it's the Israeli military, they're doing it because that's the way they clear everyone out of an area who has attacked their soldiers, and the radical Zionist/Orthodox/right-wing colonists who refuse to evacuate have thrown acid in the faces of the soldiers removing them. If that isn't the case, I've seen footage of colonists forced to move destroying their own houses, probably just so that the Palestinians won't get anything.

[LittleWoman]

4. I saw something about this on a news report

(CBS I think) and it appears that the decision to destroy the buildings was agreed upon by both the Israelis and the Palestinians as part of the move out of the area.

[stray cat]

5. The palestinians requested that the buildings be demolished.

The palestinian leaders said the single family homes built by the Israelis were inappropriate for the palestinians in Gaza that are generally poorer and live with extended families in highrise type buildings. The Gaza palestinian population density is high so highrises are a necessity - space is at a premium. It was also feared that wealthy or politically connected palestinians might set themselves up as the wealthy elite if they took over the large single family homes left by the Israelis.

It is a good practical move by the palestinian authorites to promote more equality.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. BS and i got a bridge to sell you

[stray cat]

10. The evil mainstream media can't be trusted

It is a conspiracy everyone lies all the time and you are the only one who ever knows the full story. (better?)

[Brightmore]

11. How much is that bridge?

The Israeli government has said it will destroy every structure within all 21 Israeli settlements in Gaza and the four small communities in the West Bank that also will close. The Palestinian Authority has agreed, saying the buildings aren't appropriate for Arabs to use.

Knight Ridder News Service

[stray cat]

12. Thanks for the link - hopefully that will be seen as credible

Welcome to DU!

[Brightmore]

14. Thanks for the welcome

People always assume the worse when it comes to Israel, I guess.

[tocqueville]

9. sure

as if bigger units cannot be reconstructed in smaller

[Cocoa]

to make it final

if Palestinians moved into those Israeli homes, there would be a lingering issue that's not necessary.

[bullimiami]

13. My first reaction was also WTF but I guess if the settlements are gone

there isnt much chance of them trying to move back.

Pretty drastic and unfortunate.

[Cocoa]

16. maybe something good will come out of it

here's hoping...

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. evil

[Brightmore]

7. Because the Palestinians asked them to

[MichiganVote]

17. They are building highrises. Better use of space for so many palestenians

[Copperred]

18. SADLY THE RIGHTWING OF ISRAEL DOES NOT BELIEVE IN KARMA

Too bad it exists.

[Moderator]

20. Locking

Asked and answered. The Palestinian Authority concurred with the demolition.

http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_2948086

DU Moderator