Jerusalemites forced to destroy own homes
Some hapless Palestinian builders in Jerusalem are demolishing their own unpermitted homes to avoid paying the enormous demolition costs charged by the Israeli authorities.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital has started casting its shadow over the city. Israel is expected to act in accordance with this announcement by accelerating its settlement construction and demolishing Jerusalemites’ houses. It could make it even harder for Palestinians to obtain construction permits.
Jamal Amr Abu Tair, from Umm Tuba, southeast of Jerusalem, spent the evening of Nov. 25 demolishing a house he owns and had been renovating for two years. He caved to pressure by the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem and took action to avoid the huge fees ranging between $15,000 and $20,000 that are incurred when the municipality destroys houses built without permits.
Abu Tair told Al-Monitor that he was planning on finishing the small house for his eldest son, who was to live in the house after his marriage in summer 2018.
He added, “I received the final notice from the Israeli municipality to demolish the house Nov. 23. I decided to destroy it myself. If I hadn’t, the municipality would have taken matters into its own hands and forced me to pay the full demolition fees, which are quite high.”
