Pictures: The occupation municipality threatens to demolish a residential building harboring 30 individuals
The occupation municipality threatened to demolish a residential building owned by Ja’afra family in the “Bridge” area in Silwan under the pretext of building without a permit.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that the municipality threatened to demolish Ja’afra building which was established 17 years ago and is a home for 30 individuals mostly under 15 years old.
Issa Ja’afra explained to the Information Center that the building belongs to him and his mother as well as his brother Mousa, Bassam and Ahmad; it consists of two floors (4 apartments).
Ja’afra added that each apartment is 125 square meters and has three rooms and their facilities.
Ja’afra also explained that the building was established 17 years ago while the municipality’s harassment started 9 years ago when they first received a demolition order. The family was able to postpone the demolition several times in an attempt to obtain a building permit but to no avail until the final demolition order was issued.
Ja’afra added that municipality crews and policemen raid the building frequently and take pictures. An officer stormed the building and informed him about the time of demolition and requested him to empty the apartments from all contents. He also took a picture of his personal ID in order to impose the demolition cost which is between 150-180 thousand NIS on the family.
Fatmeh Ja’afra explained that municipality crews raided the building several times during this months and threatened to demolish it under the pretext of building without a permit. She said: “We attempted to obtain a building permit to protect our building from being demolished and we hired engineers and lawyers for this purpose but to no avail.”
