Date: 30 / 06 / 2009  Time:  11:39
Jerusalem – Ma’an –

Two women were hospitalized after the Israeli occupation government Jerusalem Municipality demolished a house on the Mount of Olives in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday morning.

During the demolition Israeli police clashed with inhabitants of the house, bruising nine of them.

The destruction came a day after the municipality declared that it would freeze 70% of demolition orders.

Owner of the house Samir Juma’a said the home was 150 square meters in size and housed 15 people.

Israeli police who came to protect bulldozers during the demolition attacked the family and as a result nine people, including four women, were bruised, Jum’a said . Two women were evacuated to the nearby Al-Maqasid Hospital.

The injured family members were identified as 61-year-old Jamila Abu Juma’a, 65-year-old Huda Abu Jum’a, 38-year-old Ikhlas Abu Jum’a, 29-year-old Rwan Abu Jum’a, 27-year-old Hanadi Abu Jum’a, 32-year-old Samir Abu Jum’a (owner of the house), 42-year-old Khalid Abu Jum’a, 30-year-old ‘Amir Abu Jum’a, and 30-year-old Suheil Abu Jum’a.

The owner said the demolition came without any warning.

The West Jerusalem Municipality, which also governs occupied East Jerusalem, demolishes Palestinian houses on the grounds that they are built without construction permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain.

According to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Yakir Segev, revealed that in 2008 only 18 permits were issued for building in the Palestinian parts of the city, home to some 270,000 Palestinians.

It is the municipality’s policy of granting so few permits that is driving Palestinians to construct illegally, ICAHD said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“To get a construction permit in East Jerusalem you have to be more than a saint," Segev was quoted as saying.

ICAHD reports that in 2008 the Municipality demolished 87 Palestinian homes, issued 959 demolition orders and collected 3.6 million US dollars in fines from Palestinians, 70% of whom live below the poverty line.

ICAHD: 'Policy change needed in Jerusalem'

Tuesday June 30, 2009 12:04 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) and the Rabbis for Human Rights- Shomrei Mishpat, issued a press release welcoming the Jerusalem Municipality's announcement to freeze home demolitions in Jerusalem, but demanded a real policy change.

The two groups stated that the announcement of the Jerusalem Municipality to freeze 70% on the so-called illegal Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem is a welcomed step but is not enough. The two groups stated that the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Yakir Segev, admitted that in 2008 the municipality only granted 18 construction permits for Palestinian in East Jerusalem while the city is inhibited by 270.000 Palestinians. 

They added that the Jerusalem Municipality has a policy of granting only a few permits for the Palestinians, an issue which pushed them to construct homes without obtaining permits.

Segev said that 'you need to be more than a saint to get a construction permit in Jerusalem.

Israel demolished 87 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem in 2008, and issued 959 demolition orders besides collecting $3.6 million/ € 2.5 million in fined from the Palestinian in the city while more than %70 of them live below the poverty line.

In a press release ICAHD stated that 'freezing' home demolitions is a positive step but the orders have not been voided, while 20.000 Palestinian homes, home to 180.000 Palestinians, still have demolition orders.  'Freezing the demolition of 70% of the homes means that 6,000 homes would still be subject to demolition. In fact, the Municipality has indicated that it intends to remove completely those 6,000 homes'.

'It seems to believe that offering compensation will legitimize that action. The two organizations stated that Israel is targeting areas that are politically sensitive, subject to conflict and future agreements.

These areas include the Old City, Silwan (Adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque), Mount of Olives, Shaikh Jarrah and other strategic areas in the city.

ICAHD and Rabbis for Human Rights called on the Israeli government to end its policy of Palestinian home demolition, regarding if the homes are in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza or even inside Israel especially since Palestinians in Israel and Bedouins are also targeted by the same policies.