JERUSALEM, August 15, 2017 (WAFA) – The Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem escorted by large police forces demolished a commercial structure in al-Sal‘a area, in Jabal al- Mukabbir neighborhood south of the Old City of Jerusalem, under the pretext of construction without an Israeli permit.

Since early Tuesday, the municipality crews, backed by dozens of police forces, carried out a demolition campaign against Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem, citing unpermitted construction as a pretext.

A two-story building was demolished in the neighborhood of al-Isawiya, in addition to a Palestinian-owned home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.

Palestinians are rarely granted permits by Israeli authorities to build in Area C, forcing many to build illegally.

According to OCHA Protection of Civilians Weekly Report covering the period between 18 - 31 July, “The Israeli authorities demolished or seized four Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the West Bank, on the grounds of lack of building permits, affecting the livelihoods of some 250 people.”

T.R/M.H