The Israeli Occupation Municipality in Jerusalem Demolishes a Palestinian Residence

Violation: demolishing a residence and rendering 6 people (including 3 children) homeless.

Location: Al Baq’a – Beit Hanina.

Date: August 10, 2011.

Perpetrators:  the Israeli Municipality in the Occupied City.

Victims: Al Rajabi family.

 

The Israeli Municipality in the Occupied City demolished Al Rajabi family dwelling while they were absent on August 10, 2011.

Israeli dozers broke into the property of Majed al Rajabi (51), under massive protection, and demolished the 60-m2-residence.

 

Majed stated to an LRC observer: ‘I purchased the property, registered under Israeli laws, 7 years ago. We stayed there for two years before, two weeks ago; an inspector showed up and inspected the property. He came again 2 days ago and served us a demolition order to be carried out in 72 hours.However, they committed their crime only 42 hours later. In the early hours of Wednesday and while being away; Israeli dozers broke into our property accompanied by tens of troops. We were informed by the neighbors that Israeli troops broke into our place. They demolished the house from within as well as a veranda that I amended after buying the property. We came back to the house to find it nothing but damaged walls. My family is living miserably at the moment. I do not really know what the Municipality wants? 2 years ago, they demolished our residence in Wadi ad Damm in Beit Hanina and now this!‘

 

 

House demolition contradicts with the International laws and conventions including Article 53 of the Geneva Conventions stating: ‘Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations’.

 

It also opposes Article 13 (a) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State’.