RIGHTS GROUP: 493 PALESTINIAN FACILITIES DEMOLISHED IN 2014

Nazareth, 16 Rajab 1436/5 May 2015 (MINA) – The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) demolished over the past year 493 Palestinian facilities in occupied West Bank for allegedly being built without permit, an Israeli rights group said in Tuesday (5/5).

Planners for Planning Rights (Bimkom) affirmed in a press release issued Tuesday that 493 Palestinian facilities were demolished in 2014, forcibly displacing 969 Palestinians, Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Meanwhile, settlement construction has notably escalated in occupied West Bank, where settlers’ number has been increasing to reach 400,000 Israelis living illegally in West Bank.

The Israeli human rights organization pointed out that the Israeli Supreme Court is considering a Palestinian appeal demanding the reactivation of local planning committees that were controlling Palestinian construction affairs before being canceled by an Israeli military order in 1971.

“The reactivation of Palestinian planning committees would solve the problem of Palestinian non-permitted construction and would put an end to Israeli demolition policy,” Bimkom added.

During 2014, Israeli authorities allowed the construction of one single Palestinian home. (T/P006/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)