With pictures…Samer Za’tara self-demolishes his home in the old city of Jerusalem
Citizen Samer Za’tara executed the occupation’s decision on Saturday and self-demolished his home in Oqbat Al-Saraya in the old city of Jerusalem to avoid paying the high demolition costs. Za’tara explained to Wadi Hilweh Information Center that the occupation’s municipality issued their final decision two weeks ago which requires him to self-demolish his home. Otherwise, the special municipality crews will demolish it on his own expense which could be as much as 80-90 thousand NIS. He added that his house consists of two floors (three bedrooms and a bathroom) and it was built as an addition to an old family’s building 18 years ago. Three years ago, the municipality issued their first demolition order and he was able to postpone it until last Saturday and had paid building violation fees of 12 thousand NIS. Za’tara said that he lives in the house along with his wife and six children (oldest is 16 and youngest is one) noting that the municipality gave him until the beginning of next February to execute the demolition order. Za’tara appealed for the officials to provide him and his family with a place to stay; especially that he has been unemployed for some time now.
