Israel demolishes Palestinian home in Lod

Israeli bulldozers can be seen demolishing Palestinian homes on 2 February 2016 [Wisam Hashlamoun/Apaimages]

Israeli bulldozers today razed a Palestinian house in Lod in the central district of Israel under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

According to local sources, the house belonged to the Palestinian Al-Faqir family.

Eyewitnesses told Quds Press that the Israeli police have blocked the area and prevented the Al-Faqir family from reaching their home, while the occupation bulldozers were demolishing the house under the protection of special forces.

Sanad Al-Faqir, the house owner, told the agency that he has repeatedly applied for a construction permit, but the Israeli municipality has declined his requests.

He pointed out that the demolition order was issued last March, when the municipality announced that it will pave a road that would pass through the house.

Al-Faqir noted that the Israeli municipality has imposed a 150,000 shekels ($42,000) fine on him for the bulldozers and police personnel who participated in the demolition.

The Israeli authorities refuse to give the Arab natives of the Palestinian cities construction permits or find housing solutions for them.

Lod is one of the five cities where Jews live together with Arabs.

The city has witnessed several protests against the racist policy that Israel has practiced against the Arab citizens.

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