Husain Mohamed – 25/08/2020

Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the associated economic crisis, Israeli authorities have significantly accelerated the number of Palestinian home demolitions in East Jerusalem this year.

More than 80 residential units have been demolished since the beginning of this year, compared with 109 through all of last year. Around 24 homes were demolished in the first 3 weeks of August alone.

Surprisingly, residents were forced to demolish the buildings themselves in many of these cases. This is a result of large demolition fees that Palestinians are charged by the Israeli authorities, leading many to take the demolition work upon themselves once issued a decree to do so.

During his weekly Palestine report, Radio Islam’s Hafez Ebrahim Moosa said the Israeli government makes it almost impossible for Palestinians to build or extend their homes legally resulting in them building illegal ones only for it to eventually be demolished by the Israeli government.

“After exhausting legal routes, many Palestinians find it impossible to be able to build or extend their homes legally and therefore they build illegally as per the Israeli system and very soon after, the Israelis will tramp down on these developments.”

Hafez Ebrahim explains that residents can be charged large fees for the demolition work.

“The figures are staggering, R600 000 or $35 000, that’s what Palestinians have to pay the Israeli municipality if they demolish their homes.”

According to a law introduced in 2017 that hardened sanctions against illegal constructions, residents can be charged not only for the demolition, but for the construction itself.

Listen to the full Palestine Report here: