OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Israeli authorities forced a Palestinian resident of Occupied Jerusalem to demolish part of his own home on Wednesday in the Al-Ein neighborhood of Silwan.
According to the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality compelled Mohammad Al-Abbasi to carry out the self-demolition, claiming that the structure had been built without a permit. The measure was imposed to avoid the substantial demolition costs the municipality charges homeowners when it carries out demolitions itself.
The section of the home that was demolished measured approximately 25 square meters and housed three of Al-Abbasi’s children. The demolition followed 14 years of legal proceedings, which ended with a final demolition order.
Under Israel’s policy of self-demolition, Palestinian homeowners are required to demolish their own properties to avoid paying the high demolition fees imposed by the Jerusalem municipality, as well as additional fines and potential damage to neighboring homes during municipal demolition operations.
