Threatened of high fines by the occupation municipality in Jerusalem, a Jerusalemite demolishes his commercial store in Jabal Al-Mukabir area
Citizen Khadir Oubidat from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Al-Sal'a had to self-demolish his commercial store after the occupation dozers encircled the structure in preparation for a demolition operation on March 22, 2016.
The structure is reported to be a store for cell-phones and maintenance with a total area of 30m2. Built by asbestos slaps, the store had been there for more than twenty years.
It should be marked that the reason behind demolition is that the owner rehabilitated the outer wall of the store. According to the laws and regulations of the occupation's municipality in Jerusalem, changes in existing structures are met with stop-work and demolition orders.
Citizen Khadir told Land Research Center the following:
" In 2014, I plastered the outer wall of my store and leased it to citizen Mustafa Al-Surkhi, who used it as a cell-phone gallery. Shortly after, employees from the municipality came to the area and took photos of the store and notified me of demolition; they came back again in days and delivered me a demolition order after measuring the area of the store in preparation for demolishing it soon. Thus, I sought attorney Hussein Ghanayem to follow up on my case and to halt the demolition order in Israeli courts. Later, the attorney informed me that he managed to obtain a halt on the demolition order and that the issue is settled down".
He also added:
" At dawn of March 22, 2016, I was heading home after the dawn prayer to find out that a massive force from the occupation army blocked the road to my house and declared the area inaccessible. I told the soldiers that I am an old man and cannot stand the cold and that is how they let me through. When I reached my residence, I saw employees from the occupation's municipality trying to open my store in preparation to evacuating its interior. It is when I told the staff that I am the store's owner and requested to let my sons and I to evacuate it. After evacuating the store in 30 minutes deadline, I requested the staff to carry out the demolition myself because the dozer would destroy the neighboring store on purpose and that the occupation would impose high fines on us in addition to the demolition cost if they carry out the demolition themselves. The officer agreed to let me carry out the demolition and that is when my son asked a dozer owner to come and demolish the structure. The operation was done in presence of police and the municipality staff. After demolition is over, an employee from the municipality ordered me to remove the rubbles otherwise I get fined for demolition"
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
