JERUSALEM, July 19, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities Tuesday demolished a house under construction, four commercial structures, and a wooden cottage in the Jerusalem area under the pretext of unlicensed building.

According to Sharhabil Alqam, owner of the demolished house in Beit Hanina town, north of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem municipality and bulldozers raided the area and demolished his 120 square meter house under the pretext of unpermitted construction.

Alqam told WAFA construction works began in May 2016 and the Jerusalem municipality demolished his property with no prior notice.

Earlier on Tuesday, the municipality demolished four other structures and forced a Palestinian to demolish his own wooden cottage in Ein al-Loza neighborhood in Silwan town, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, also under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

The cottage owner, Arfat Abu Al-Hamam told WAFA Israeli bulldozers and forces raided the neighborhood at dawn and destroyed three structures that he owns; a car wash, shop and a small room.

He added that they demolished a car garage that belongs to Khaled Aby Tayeh under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

Twelve families were affected by the demolition of these structures, he explained.     

“We will not leave the neighborhood and the demolition won’t scare us or force us out. We will stay and build Jerusalem.”

Fakhri Abu Diab, member of the Silwan defense committee said collective demolition in Ein al-Loza neighborhood is a policy to empty the area to eventually turn the neighborhood into a Jewish one.

He said, 55 buildings were demolished in the neighborhood and several demolition orders were distributed.

“Israel targets Palestinians’ source of income to force them to leave, by depriving them from their sense of security and stability, he explained.

M.H