Bethlehem / PNN /

Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday forced a resident of the village of al-Walaja, northwest of Bethlehem, to demolish his residential apartment.

The head of al-Walaja Village Council, Khader al-A‘raj, said the occupation compelled Mohammed Saeed al-A‘raj to demolish his second-floor apartment in a building owned by his family. The apartment measures 120 square metres and is located in the Suma‘ area of Ein Jweiza neighbourhood, on the pretext that it was built without a permit.

Al-A‘raj added that Israeli authorities threatened al-A‘raj with a heavy fine if he did not carry out the demolition himself.

He pointed out that many homes in al-Walaja, particularly in the Ein Jweiza area, have received demolition orders, as part of efforts to empty the area of its residents in pursuit of colonial objectives.