The Israeli occupation authorities today forced Ayman Dabash, a Palestinian resident of occupied Jerusalem, to demolish his own home in the neighborhood of Sur Baher, located in the southeastern region of the occupied capital. The occupation authorities cited unauthorized construction as a pretext for the demolition.
Local sources said Dabash had no choice but to embark on the demolition on his own to avoid the hefty financial penalty imposed by the occupation forces. This preemptive action was taken to evade the financial burden that would have been imposed if Israeli military machinery had carried out the demolition.
The incident sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by native Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem due to the Israeli authorities’ strict regulations on construction permits. This situation often leaves many Palestinians with no options, compelling them to make difficult decisions like self-demolition to minimize the financial repercussions imposed by the occupation forces.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as “residents” whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
Source: WAFA
