JERUSALEM, May 27, 2015 (WAFA)
– The Israeli authorities on Wednesday demolished a Palestinian-owned house in
the neighborhood of Silwa, in East Jerusalem, under the pretext of construction
without a permit, according to local sources.
WAFA correspondent said an
Israeli police contingent accompanied by heavy machinery arrived in the
morning, sealed off the area, and prevented residents’ access, before
proceeding to demolish a 80-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Nassar.
Issuance of
construction permits for Palestinians living in Area C, under full Israeli
administrative and military control, is strictly limited, forcing Palestinians
residing in such areas to embark on construction without obtaining a permit.
Humanitarian
and Legal bodies and institutions such as the UN, OCHA and B’Tselem confirm
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,” OCHA reports.
According to
OCHA, in 2014 alone, Israeli authorities demolished a total of 97 buildings in
East Jerusalem, while demolished five others in 2015, under the pretext of
building without a construction permit.
M.N./T.R.
