JERUSALEM, January14, 2007, (WAFA)-The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) said that in 2006 there was a marked decrease in East Jerusalem home demolition statistics.

In a report issued Monday, ICAHD revealed that during that year 81 structures were demolished, of which 18 were pirate gas stations, in other words, 63 residential buildings were destroyed. There was also a decrease in the amount of square meters demolished during the year.

ICAHD pointed out that the reason for the reduction is because three high ranking officials in Jerusalem Municipality who had been involved in the demolition industry were, in fact, neutralized.

This year, too, the Municipality confiscated building machinery, especially cement mixers, causing the price of building cement to rise very considerably. It also caused problems for people who wished to build without building permits.

Another phenomenon which stood out during the past year was the high level set for financial guarantees paid to the Court on the spot by people seeking freeze or prevention of demolition orders, when the bulldozers were already standing by to demolish.

"Today, the average price of a financial guarantee at Court is between 30,000 to 50,000 shekels, which is the cost assessed by the Municipality for the bulldozers to demolish a home. In this prohibitively expensive situation, people are prevented from undertaking this path to save their homes," ICAHD added.

ICAHD expressed concern and worry as to the probability of impending demolitions in 2007, saying it is extremely troubled by the proposed Eastern Ring Road route through Wadi Kadoum, Silwan, which is due to cause the demolition of tens of homes.

H.M (21:00P)-(19:00GMT)