INDISCRIMINATE PALESTINIAN HOME DEMOLITIONS CONTINUE IN JERUSALEM

A Palestinian woman removes rubble from her destroyed home south of the West Bank city of Hebron, after the building was demolished by Israeli occupation forces on 20 January 2015. (Photo: EPA/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN)

Ramallah, 3 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/24 January 2015 (MINA) – A Palestinian house and a two-storey building in occupied East Jerusalem were destroyed by Israeli regime bulldozers on Wednesday.

The building in Shufat had four apartments and five shops and the house in Al Mukabar were demolished before the owners had the chance to collect their belongings.

Amer Arouri, an activist in occupied East Jerusalem said that the buildings had been under construction for several months, but the Israeli regime only moved to destroy them just when the buildings were completed.

Omran, the son of the owner of the building said that the construction of the building cost more than $1 million (Dh3.6 million), Gulfnews quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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The land the buildings were built on are officially owned by Palestinians and even the Israelis do not dispute this. However, the Israeli regime does not provide Palestinians with official building licenses although Palestinians approach the occupation’s municipality, open files and pay heavy fees.

The Israeli regime indiscriminately destroys Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem and such demolitions are often used as a collective punishment.

Meanwhile, Palestinians have received written warnings in Occupied Jerusalem that unless clashes with Israeli regime troops are suspended, the Jabaa checkpoint, which connects northern parts of the West Bank with the southern and intermediate areas will be closed to Palestinians.

The checkpoint also enables access to Al Ram, Ramallah, Qalandiya, Hizma and Nablus.(T/P009/P3)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)