clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel demolished 63 Palestinian facilities in Jerusalem in 2018

July 19, 2018 at 11:25 am

An Israeli excavator demolishes a Palestinian building for allegedly being unauthorised in East Jerusalem on 1 May 2018 [Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency]

The Jerusalem Centre for Legal Assistance and Human Rights has said that Israel has demolished 63 Palestinian facilities in Jerusalem since the start of 2018, Safa news agency reported yesterday.

In a report issued on Tuesday the centre said that 51 Palestinians, including 21 minors, were displaced due to the demolitions, noting that most of the demolitions took place in Al-Issawiyeh and Silwan.

According to the report, Israeli authorities demolish Palestinian homes to push Palestinians to leave the holy city. The policies of Israeli planning and construction put pressure on Palestinians to leave the city.

Read: EU foreign policy chief warns Israel over decision to demolish bedouin village

It also noted that tens of thousands of Palestinians in the city are in danger of having their homes demolished for being built without licenses because the municipality of the city systematically does not issue building permits for them.

According to the report, the policy of planning and construction is part of a comprehensive Israeli policy aimed at evacuating Palestinians from Jerusalem and achieving demographic dominance.

The report also said that Israel continues its arbitrary detention of Palestinians in the city and put restrictions on bringing spouses together as part of its policy to enforce them to leave.

Israel demolishes Al-Araqeeb Village - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Israel demolishes Al-Araqeeb Village – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]