Days of Demolitions in East Jerusalem ›

 Demonstration against house evictions, Silwan, East Jerusalem. 25.11.2011.cc: flickr. photo: activstills

The demolishing of a house in Beit Hanina on December 6^th , planned evictions in Silwan and home demolitions in El Halayle on December 6^th, are indications of returning to regular home demolitions in East Jerusalem.  The USA and international criticism were the reason for freezing the demolitions. It seems that the Israeli government is not afraid of this criticism any more.

On December 6^th the border police demolished two houses and 3 agricultural structures in El Halayle near the settlement of New Gvon (area C on the Israeli side of the fence).

One on the houses belonged to an 8 people family (6 children) that claims that they did not receive a demolition order. The attempt of Rabbi for Human Rights activist who was in the area, to see a demolition order also did not succeed and the border police officer at the site refused to talk with him. The family did not succeed to take out much of their property which was buried under the rubble. The second family whose home was demolished started to demolish it by themselves and left only one room for the whole family. The family thought they could avoid the heavy costs of the demolition and perhaps get a pardon or a postponement to the one room. But despite their plea, the room was demolished too. Additional structures demolished were agricultural structures (pens and chicken coops) that the Palestinian claim were demolished with the animals inside. Rabbis for Human Rights is trying to clarify it and to get documentation.

These demolitions in El Halyle are added to demolitions in Beit Hanina and to planned evictions in Silwan. We think that these demolitions are part of a wave of demolitions in area C and Jerusalem area and it is a change in policy and back to the demolition routine in East Jerusalem and the surrounding areas, thinking that it is the right time from international point of view for steps like this.