AN Australian pro-Palestine activist says she was arrested at gunpoint, falsely imprisoned and denied food and phone contact for 15 hours over what Israeli authorities say is a visa irregularity.
Home demolitions in Beit Hanina, Silwan and Old City part of policy to change demographic makeup
13.07.09 - 14:46
Jerusalem / Maisa Abu Ghazaleh for PNN – Bulldozers from the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality demolished two houses in Beit Hanina and Silwan.
Monday morning’s destruction comes as part of a larger policy aimed at shifting the demography of East Jerusalem.
A third house was destroyed today: a citizen was forced to demolish his own home in the Old City.
Dozens of police, special forces and border guards crowded Beit Hanina and converted the area into a military barracks before the demolition began.
Ala’ Abdel Rizaq Shueki’s home was 120 square meters in northeastern Jerusalem Beit Hanina. He was given five minutes to empty the house of furniture.
Shueki and his eight-member family were beaten with rifle butts during the process. His 60-year-old mother was injured as was Shueki with bruising across the body. His brother Imad was arrested.
Uncle Said Shueki told PNN that his nephew built the house 10 years ago and was fined 70,000 NIS. Throughout the years he has been trying to obtain an Israeli-issued license, but to no avail.
“Ala’ will now be living in a Red Cross tent erected on the ruins of his home and the life he was providing for his family and children.”
The uncle added, “The occupying mayor is broadcasting claims in the media that he intends to improve the status of Jerusalem’s citizens, but this is only to mislead world public opinion. The goal is clear and it is a specific displacement in the city of Jerusalem for the establishment of settlements and to increase the number of settlers.”
In Silwan, just to the south of the Old City’s Al Aqsa Mosque, a citizen attempted to delay the demolition of his house, but an Israeli municipal court told him he would have to pay 80,000 NIS.
Abu Diab, a member of the Committee on Real Estate in Silwan, said that settlers offered to buy the house, but the owner rightly refused.
Meanwhile inside the Old City streets a man is being compelled to destroy his own house. The family includes his wife and four children who lived, until today, in a 25 square meter room on the fourth floor of a larger house.
They were fined 12,000 shekels allowed to be paid in installments of 500 NIS per month.
The family has made the offense imposed by the municipality for the occupation for nearly five years by 12 thousand shekels, and were paid in installments by the violation of NIS 500 per month.
The wife told PNN, “The demolition decision was difficult, but because of the lack of livelihoods there was little choice. My children are shocked and in tears.”
