JERUSALEM, February 2, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli bulldozers early Tuesday demolished two Palestinian houses in the Jerusalem area, citing unlicensed building as a pretext, reported a house demolition watchdog.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that large numbers of Israeli police forces and municipal staff, escorting a bulldozer, stormed Sur Bahir, a neighborhood on the southeastern outskirts of East Jerusalem, and cordoned off Wadi Abul-Humus area before proceeding to demolish a 200-square-meter under construction house.
The center identified the homeowner as Iyad Abu Mahamed. It reported on Mahamed as saying that he had started the construction of the four-room house around seven months ago and had planned to move in on Tuesday with his seven-member family.
Mahamed told the center that he had completely finished the house and was supposed to furnish it and move in on Tuesday with his family, including five children between 1 and 12 years of age, but Israeli bulldozers demolished it early morning without any prior notice.
He added that Israeli police broke down the main front door before proceeding to demolish the house.
WAFA reported on Mahamed as saying that Israel doesn’t issue construction permits for Palestinians in Jerusalem as a means to forcefully displace them, prompting them to embark on construction without obtaining construction permits.
In the meantime, Israeli police early Tuesday also demolished another house belonging to Yahya Muhsin in the East Jerusalem Silwan neighborhood of Wadi Qaddum.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported on Yahya as saying that he embarked on the construction of his 220-square-meter house seven months ago for his eight-member family, but it was demolished by Israeli bulldozers.
Yahya told WAFA that an Israeli Jerusalem district court was supposed to hold a hearing to examine a petition to stop the planned demolition on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m, however, police and municipal staff carried out the demolition.
He stressed that he had been attempting to obtain a construction license, but to no avail.
Israeli authorities has severely curtailed Palestinians’ ability to legally construct new houses or expand existing houses, denying them permits since June 1967.
According to B’Tselem, the Israeli information center for human rights in the occupied territories, from 2004 until 31 Aug. 2015, Israel demolished at least 579 Palestinian residential units in the East Jerusalem area, causing 2,133 people – including at least 1,158 minors – to lose their homes.
To be noted, Israel rarely issues construction permits for Palestinians living in area C, under full Israeli control, prompting them to embark on construction without obtaining construction permits.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator James Rawley argued the demolitions violate international law. “Demolitions that result in forced evictions and displacement run counter to Israel’s obligations under international law and create unnecessary suffering and tension,” he said. “They must stop immediately.”
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.
K.F./T.R.
