HEBRON, May 5, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday served a stop-construction order for a Palestinian family’s house to the east of Yatta town, south of Hebron, said a local activist.
Coordinator of Local Anti-Settlement and Wall Committee Rateb Jabbur said Israeli forces and so-called Civil Administration officers stormed al-Jawaya locality, east of Yatta and handed Ayed al-Shawahin, 35, an order to stop the construction of his house.
During the raid, forces tore down al-Shawahin’s family residential tents and seized construction equipment, citing building in Area C as a pretext.
Israel rarely grants construction permits to Palestinians in the West Bank’s Area C and Jerusalem, forcing many of them to embark on construction without a permit before demolishing them.
Having no other choice, many Palestinians in Area C, which falls under complete Israeli control, are forced to build without permits to be able to provide a shelter for their families, risking in the process having their buildings demolished.
Humanitarian and legal bodies and institutions such as the United Nations, OCHA and B’Tselem confirm 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.
K.F/M.H
