Demolition in Silwan and Issawiya
Demolitions continued in the city of Jerusalem, under the pretext of "building without a permit."
On Wednesday evening, brothers Riyad and Walid Abu Diab self-demolished parts of their homes in the town of Silwan to avoid paying fines (demolition fees for municipal crews and accompanying forces) and to protect the remaining apartments from damage.
Riyad Abu Diab explained that the occupation municipality summoned him for investigation last week and informed him yesterday of the final demolition decision for part of his home, giving him until Thursday to implement it.
He pointed out that his home has been standing for 15 years, and that he lives there with his family. Today, it has been reduced to just a kitchen, after he was forced to demolish its only and main room.
He noted that the municipality has demolished the family's homes three times previously.
For his part, Walid Abu Diab said that the municipality forced him to demolish a 10-square-meter portion of his home. Today, his home has been reduced to just two rooms and their facilities.
Abu Diab's two homes are located in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, which is threatened with demolition to make way for the "King's Garden." Municipal crews have been carrying out demolition operations in the neighborhood for several months.
This morning, occupation bulldozers demolished a commercial facility belonging to Hisham Dari; a car wash.
Dari explained that this is the fifth time his facility has been demolished under the pretext of "building without a permit," despite his repeated attempts to obtain one.
