The House Demolition Campaign in Jabal Al Mukabbir – Jerusalem Governorate

Photo 1: Jabal Al Mukaber- Jerusalem: Israeli bulldozers knocking down the Zahaika family's houses)

Photo courtesy of Al- Quds newspaper  

Jerusalem Governorate

Bulldozers of the Israeli municipality of occupied Jerusalem demolished two apartments for brothers Hani and Isam Mohammed Zahaika, 28 and 26 years old respectively, located in Salim quarter in Jabel Al Miukaber of east Jerusalem under the pretext of un-licensing. The demolition took place on August 23rd, 2006 at 7 AM. The two demolished flats are 300 square meters, inhabited by the 8 member family of Mohammed Zahaika ( Hani and Isam, in addition to their youngest brothers and sisters). One of the flats was allocated for Hani and his bride who got married only two days prior to demolition.  Three years ago the Zahaika's family built the houses on her only remaining piece of land in Jabel Al Mukaber after Israel had seized all of its land in 1967 and after. A part of the colony of Armon Hanatziv was built on the lands of Zahaika family in the year 1970. Only a street separates the two demolished apartments from the colony of Armon Hanatziv in Jabel Al Mukaber.

Photo 2: Ruins of Zahaika family's houses in Jabel Al Mukaber

Tricky 'Legal ' game

The house owners were bluffed by the Israeli 'legal' system as followed:

On July 25th, 2006, the supreme Israeli court decided to get the two apartments destroyed within 30 days commencing on August 15th, 2006, under the pretext of un-licensing.

(Photo 3: A copy of the Israeli Supreme Court's demolition ruling)

The family appealed the aforementioned decision and on August 21st, 2006, the municipality's court for local affairs ruled that:

• the demolition order be postponed until further discussion has been conducted by the court on August 27th, 2006;

• the family should deposit the amount of 80 000 NIS in the municipality's fund as a bail;

• The family should close with cement blocks all the windows of the two houses.

(Photo 4: A copy of the municipality's ruling to postpone demolition)

• Indeed, the family closed all the windows and paid the required amount just one day before demolitionÃ�¢?? August 22nd, 2006.

• On the same day, at 2:30 PM, an Israeli military patrol visited the scene to be make sure that the family had performed its part.

• However, Israeli settlers of Armon Hanatziv, in collaboration with the municipality, appealed to the same court in the afternoon and succeeded at 5:00 PM to obtain a demolition order against the two houses. In its argument, the court claimed that it was necessary to keep the space open in front of the settlement's houses. Strangely enough, the highest point in the two demolished apartments is 8 meters below the settlement's houses.

Photo 5: A copy of the municipality's ruling to postpone demolition

Photo 6: The ruins of the Zahaika family's houses below and some buildings from Armon Hanatziv

• On the second day, August 23rd, 2006, the two apartments were destroyed. Before and during the demolition process the house owners who resisted the demolition were beaten and detained by the Israeli security forces, including a pregnant woman and her two kids. Tear gas and sticks were used to disperse the protesters from Jable Al Mukaber who arrived at the scene when the Israeli bulldozers were knocking down the houses. In two hours time, the two apartments which were a scene of happiness and joy just two days ago – holding of the wedding ceremony – became a scene of sadness and misery.

Following the demolition, the 8 – member Zahaika family, in addition to Hani's bride, returned to their very old falling house which is formed of only two bed rooms and a small hall with a kitchen.

(Map 1: Location of Jable Al Mukaber, Jerusalem)

Jerusalem mayor lies at himself

In an interview published by Al Quds newspaper just 48 hours before the demolition of Zahaika's houses, the mayor of the occupied Jerusalem, Ori Lobolinski, said that the municipality would refrain from performing any demolition acts against any Palestinian houses that were built outside roads' or public buildings' schemes in Jerusalem. Although this is true about the Zahaika's house it was demolished. Even,  Lobolinski went on to say that there are about 50 urban planning schemes under development in east Jerusalem which will upgrade to 100% the building pace in that area  and allow to have six to eight storey buildings,  as well as other improvements!!!.

 Source: Field work by LRC

Table 2

House demolition in Jerusalem during 2006 by month

From 1/1/2006 – 31/8/2006

Source: Field work by LRC

Table 3

Demolition of other structures in Jerusalem by month during 2006

From 1/1/2006 – 30/4/2006

Source: Field work by LRC

Table 4

House seizure in Jerusalem by month during 2006

From 1/1/2006 – 30/4/2006

Source: Field work by LRC

Table 5

Demolition, closure and seizure of Palestinian houses and other structures by year under the
pretext of un-licensing and security Jerusalem governorate

Source: Field work by LRC

Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC