Occupation municipality forced two families to self-demolish their homes in Jerusalem
The occupation municipality forced two families from the village of Jabal al-Mukabber and the town of Silwan in Jerusalem to self-demolish their homes, under the pretext of building without a permit.
Silwan
Jamil Al-Risheq explained that he started at the beginning of this year, expanding his house in the Ras Al-Amoud neighborhood, which has existed for decades, where he built the foundations for two rooms and their utilities. During the construction process, he was surprised by municipal crews raiding his home and handing him a decision to stop construction and demolition. He explained that he headed to court and was able to postpone the demolition for two months. In mid-March, a session was held and the judge issued a demolition order, in addition to paying a fine of 5,000 shekels.
Al-Risheq said: "I then asked the court to postpone the demolition until after the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fiter, and therefore the deadline for implementing the decision was until mid-May."
Al-Risheq pointed out that his house, which he has been living in for years, consists of a room and its utilities, and he tried to expand it, but the municipality refused and forced him to demolish what he had built.
Jabal Al-Mukabber
The municipality forced Tareq Obeidat to self-demolish an area of 80 square meters of his house in the village of Jabal Al-Mukabber, explaining that he had tried for 19 years to obtain a building permit until the municipality issued a demolition decision about two months ago.
Obeidat pointed out that the municipality over the past years imposed on him “construction” fines amounting to 250 thousand shekels, and refused to issue a building permit.
