A Jerusalemite evacuates his house in the village of Esawyeh after threatening to demolish it under the pretext of building without a permit
Azmi Mustafa was forced to evacuate his house in the village of Esawyeh after receiving threats from municipality employees and Israeli police to demolish the house under the pretext of building without a permit.
Mustafa explained to Wadi Hilweh Information Center that he emptied the house on Saturday night after municipality crews and Israeli police had raided the house last weeks, took pictures and threatened to demolish it.
Mustafa added that municipality crews raided his house last Sunday and informed him of a decision to demolish the house within 48 hours. On Thursday, he received a phone call from the police informing him of the same decision. He pointed out that his lawyer had submitted a request to the municipality’s court on 25/12/2016 to postpone the demolition order.
Mustafa added: “The municipality decided last Thursday to freeze the demolition until an order is issued. A session is supposed to be held in the upcoming days to discuss the issue; the order was also given to the police and demolition crew.”
He continued: “I was forced to empty the house and evacuate to avoid a sudden demolition especially with the recent multiple raids on the house.”
Mustafa said the house was established 11 years ago and he had demolished parts of it following an order from the municipality under the pretext of the presence of a plan to open a street. He also closed it with bricks for three years, and the municipality agreed to open it nearly six years ago. He moved-in with his family and was fined 70 thousand NIS (building violation fee). Since then, he was able to postpone the demolition order and the last extension was from 13/1/2016 until 13/1/2017; a new session will be held to discuss the “demolition order”.
Mustafa explained that the house is 165 square meters and consists of three room and their facilities where lives with his family of 5 individuals.
