The dozers of the occupation on November 02, 2015 demolished a residence in the area of Khallet Al-Abd in Jabal Al-Mukabbir on the claim of unlicensed construction. The structure is owned by citizen Sami Idris from the area.
Sami told Land Research Center the following:
“I built this residence three months ago; it is of 80m2 in area and was supposed to be home for my seven member family. I only moved in to it 15 days ago”.
He also added:
“At time of construction, some employees from the occupation municipality came to the place, took some photos of it and delivered me an administrative stop-work and demolition order on the structure.
At the morning of next day, I was surprised of a massive force from the Israel Police and dozers that surrounded the place and ordered us to evacuate. Minutes later, the dozers leveled the residence to the ground”
The procedures imposed on Jerusalemite to obtain building permits are almost impossible to go through. Permits are rarely issued but after high fees and long legal processes. Such practices are meant to push people leave the city where Israel takes over it.
Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all of the International conventions and Humanitarian laws including:
- Article 17 of the (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating: “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.”
- Section ‹G› of article 23 of the (1907) The Hague Conventions asserting: “In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.”
- Article 53 of the Geneva Fourth Convention (1948) declaring: “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.”
- Section 1, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent."
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
