BETHLEHEM, Tuesday, April 09, 2019 (WAFA) – A Palestinian resident of Bir Oneh area, west of the southern West Bank biblical city of Bethlehem, began today to tear down his home after he received a demolition order from the Israeli authorities, according to WAFA correspondent.

He said Ayman Zarineh got the demolition order for his two-story house under the pretext it was built without a permit. He was told that he has until tomorrow to tear down his home, otherwise, the Israeli authorities would demolish it and force him to pay exorbitant costs.

Israel demolished six structures for the same family in recent weeks and several other homes for area Palestinian residents all under the pretext of building without a permit.

Most of Bir Oneh, an area part of the city of Beit Jala, which is attached to Bethlehem, has been annexed by Israel and joined to Jerusalem from its southern end. In that process, Israel began to clear all Palestinian homes in the annexed part in order to expand Jewish settlements and development projects in the area, including opening highways that serve the settlers.

M.K.