RAMALLAH: Israeli authorities on Wednesday demolished a house belonging to a Palestinian in Arab East Jerusalem saying it was “illegally built.�
The demolition, which comes less than 24 hours after Israel announced the construction of 900 new Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, sparked clashes with stone-throwing youths.
Police said the house in east Jerusalem’s Al-Isawiyeh neighborhood was demolished after a court approved the action.
“Local residents blocked several roads leading to the building and threw stones at police,� said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. No casualties were reported.
The Palestinian Authority denounced the move. “Israel says that it is uniting Jerusalem. In reality, it is dividing Jerusalem through a series of discriminatory policies and laws,� said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Palestinians in East Jerusalem often build or expand their houses without permits because the authorizations are nearly impossible to obtain from the Israeli authorities.
Jihad Abu Znaid, Jerusalem’s representative in the Palestinian Legislative Council, said the demolition came after the house’s owner Abdulhalim Dari “had exerted all efforts to get a license.�
Abu Znaid told Arab News that “the Israeli occupation is going ahead with its barbarian policy against the Palestinian people, especially these arbitrary decisions.�
The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights said the Jerusalem municipality handed new demolition orders to 14 citizens of Al-Isawiyeh, bringing the number of homes slated for demolition to 70.
The policy of house demolitions and settlement building is being used by Israel to increase the Jewish presence and manipulate the composition of the population in east Jerusalem prior to final status talks with the Palestinian Authority.
— With input from agencies
