Ronen Lubarsky
Photo: Facebook
IDF informs terrorist’s family of plans to demolish home
After emotional plea by father of slain Duvdevan soldier Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky, IDF announces plans to demolish entire four-story building housing family of the terrorist who dropped a marble slab on Lubarsky, killing him; initially army planned to only demolish 2 floors.
The IDF has informed the family of terrorist Islam Yousef Abu Hamid, who killed Duvdevan soldier Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky, that it plans to demolish their four-story house.
According to the IDF Spokesman's Office, the family already received notice about the intention to demolish two floors of the structure some three weeks ago.
In recent weeks, the IDF has conducted further examination of the matter, at the conclusion of which it was decided to demolish the entire building.
Last week, Ronen's father Vladimir wrote an emotional letter to GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan, urging him to stop delaying the demolition of the terrorist's house.
Ronen Lubarsky (Photo: Ronen Luvarsky's Facebook page)
"Three-and-a-half months have passed since Ronen was murdered, and the house of the terrorist is still standing. For three-and-a-half months we've been getting the same answer," Vladimir Lubarsky wrote in the strongly worded letter.
Lubarsky was killed last May when Abu Hamid dropped a marble slab on the Duvdevan soldier's head during an operation on the outskirts of Ramallah. The terrorist, a Hamas member, was arrested three weeks later and brought to Israel to stand trial.
In the letter, the father complained about the military's responses to the Lubarsky family regarding the issue.
"On July 22, we received a response saying that the house had been mapped and an engineer’s professional opinion was formulated regarding the demolition of the house. A month later, on August 13, we were told the process was in its advanced stages, and on September 7, we were told the terrorist’s family had filed its objections to the demolition and that the GOC Central Command needs a few more engineering inspections to make a final decision on the matter," the father elaborated.
The father ended the letter by directly addressing Maj. Gen. Padan, telling him that "Since Ronen gave his life, I promised myself I would do everything to restore the deterrence that was lost somewhere in the hallways of the courts and in the bureaucrats' chambers."
"I am appealing to you, Maj. Gen. Padan, as the former commander of the (Duvdevan) unit, as the GOC Central Command who has great responsibility on his shoulders. Your subordinates look to you. Your decision regarding the demolition of the home of the terrorist must show the soldiers, whose comrade-in-arms was murdered, that the state backs them and does not abandon them in life or in death," he concluded.
Islam Yousef Abu Hamid in court (Photo: Amit Shabi)
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman praised the decision to demolish the entire house. "We're fighting terrorism with determination!" he wrote on Twitter. "We're going to demolish, down to the foundations, the entire four-story building that housed the despicable terrorist—may his name and memory be blotted out—who murdered IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky. The demolition will be done as soon as possible," he said.
"There are no compromises in the war against terror. Only an iron fist," Lieberman concluded.
The terrorist's family is still able to submit its objections to the demolition.
In 1990, the IDF demolished another house the same family had built on the lot that currently houses the new four-story structure. The building was demolished after Abu Hamid's brother carried out a terror attack. The family was barred from rebuilding the house, but did so regardless.
