JERUSALEM, June 26, 2018 (WAFA) – Staff from the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem demolished on Tuesday a Palestinian-owned home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina under the pretext of building without permit, according to WAFA correspondent.

He said police cordoned off the area and prevented people from reaching it as municipality bulldozers proceeded to demolish the house.

Meanwhile, two Palestinian families from Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem tore down their own homes after they were threatened by the Israeli municipality to demolish them for building without permit and force them to pay exorbitant costs that could reach up to $30,000.

Palestinians in Jerusalem say getting building permits from the Israeli municipality is very difficult and almost impossible and therefore are forced to build without permit. On the other hand, the municipality builds tens of thousands of housing units in East Jerusalem solely for Jewish settlers.

M.K.