JERUSALEM, Thursday, June 20, 2019 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities gave Palestinian residents in Wadi al-Hummus neighbourhood in Sur Baher village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, until the 18th of the upcoming month of July to implement the Israeli Supreme Court’s order of demolishing 100 residential apartments under the pretext of ‘proximity to the security fence’, according to Wadi Hilweh Information Center.
The Israeli authorities gave residents until the 18th of July to demolish the apartments or they would face the large demolition costs and fines charged by the occupation’s municipality.
The center noted that the majority of the buildings comprised of 100 apartments are located in areas classified as (a), under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, where building permits are obtained from the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government.
OCHA argues that the planning policies applied by Israel in Area C and East Jerusalem discriminate against Palestinians, “making it extremely difficult for them to obtain building permits.”
“As a result, many Palestinians build without permits to meet their housing needs and risk having their structures demolished. Palestinians must have the opportunity to participate in a fair and equitable planning system that ensures their needs are met,” it added.
To be noted, many families are forced to demolish their homes with their own hands to avoid the high costs of paying for Israeli government’s bulldozers.
T.R.
