Israel demolishes several Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem
Municipal workers demolished seven Palestinian-owned houses in the Silwan neighborhood of Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, residents and the municipality revealed, after an Israeli court ruled their construction was illegal. “This morning, the municipality, with an Israeli police escort, began its operation against illegal constructions in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan”the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem city council announced in a press release.
Activist Fakhri Abou Diab, one of the Palestinians affected by the destruction, confirmed that“at least seven houses were demolished”. “They demolished my house, which I had renovated after it was first destroyed earlier this year, as well as my son’s, Haitham Ayed’s family home and four houses belonging to the Al-Rouwaidi family. »he told Agence France-Presse (AFP). According to him, approximately “40 people, including children, were left homeless”.
An Agence France-Presse photographer saw at least four excavators operating in the affected locations, under close surveillance by Israeli police. The Jerusalem City Council highlighted court rulings calling for the buildings to be destroyed, due to zoning laws that make them illegal. The Israeli anti-settlement NGO Ir Amim also argued that the real goal of the demolitions was to connect areas where Israeli settlers are located with Palestinian neighborhoods in West Jerusalem. The demolition, “encouraged by the right-wing government”should affect the total “115 houses, housing approximately 1,500 residents” in the neighborhood, the NGO stated in a press release.
