JERUSALEM, July 11, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem demolished on Tuesday a multi-story building in the neighborhood of al-Issawiya in East Jerusalem, according to WAFA correspondent.

He said staff from the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem backed by police forces demolished the building while under construction under the pretext of construction without a permit.

Home demolitions in East Jerusalem have surged since the beginning of this year with the right wing municipality vowing to demolish all Palestinian buildings built without permit.

Palestinians in Jerusalem say they are forced to build without a permit because the Israeli municipality does not issue permits for them, while Jewish settlers are often granted building approval anywhere they want, including in Palestinian neighborhoods where Palestinians are denied permits.

M.N./M.K.