Nov 17 2016
Palestinians’ houses demolished, settlers’ legalised
   
By Daoud Kuttab
AÂ totally different fate awaits two separate sets of homes built without licence in occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestinians, especially in East Jerusalem where a city planning zone has not been approved in 49 years, face demolitions every time they dare build a dwelling for their families without obtaining the nearly impossible Israeli housing permit.
So far this year 112 Palestinian houses were destroyed, a sharp increase over the 74 houses that were demolished in 2015.
Israelis give homeowners a choice. Either they demolish their own house or pay a hefty bill for the government destroying it.
Houses and other structures are demolished in other parts of the occupied territories as well, especially in the Jordan Valley and in the Hebron area. A number of structures built with money from the European Union and others have been destroyed by the Israeli army.
At the same time, the government that orders the destruction of Palestinian houses is moving to legalise settlement outposts that were built without government approval.
A committee in the Knesset approved a controversial bill that will retroactively legalise these settlements.
International law considers all settlements illegal, forbidding an occupying power to move to the occupied areas. The demolition of houses of the people under occupation is also forbidden and is considered collective punishment. Continue Reading »