Land Research Center

Violation: Forcing a Citizen to demolish his house.

Date: Dec 4^th 2021.

Location: Al-Ashqariya Neighborhood.

Perpetrators: The Occupation Municipality in Jerusalem.

Victims: Citizen Mu’az Ar-Rajabi.

Description:

The Israeli Occupation Authorities forced citizen Mu’az Ar-Rajabi to demolish his house in Jerusalem. Ar-Rajabi received threats from the municipality that in case he did not carry out the demolition, the municipality will level the house and make him pay demolition costs.

The Demolished house is located in Al-Ashqariya neighborhood in Beit Hanina north occupied Jerusalem.

  Ar-Rajabi said: “I received a notice in November 24^th 2021, issued by the Occupation Municipality in Jerusalem, followed by a demolition order, that orders to demolish the house, and threatens in case I did not demolish it before the deadline, the occupation municipality will carry out the demolition and make me pay all the costs of bulldozers and workers.”

Ar-Rajabi finished work at his house in Early October 2021, and he moved to it with his family (5 members, 3 of them are children), the oldest of his children is 4 years old. Noteworthy,  the base of the house does not exceed (55 m²).

Ar-Rajabi built his house on a plot he had inherited from his father and grandfather, which is proven with ownership deeds.

 Ar-Rajabi and his family became homeless, and he does not have enough money to rent an apartment.

Noteworthy, Many citizens in the Occupied Jerusalem had to demolish their own houses (self-demolition) to avoid paying high fines imposed by the municipality.

About Beit Hanina:[1]

5 km north Jerusalem, Beit Hanina is surrounded by Bir Nabala (north), Beit Hanina down town (Bait Hanina town was divided to two parts by the Apartheid wall Upper Beit Hanaina and Beit Hanina down town) (west), Hizma (east) and Shufat (south). Beit Hanina has a population of 33,617 people in 2009, and an area of (8,877) , (3,341) dunums are a built up area.

The occupation confiscated over 3700 dunums for the following purposes:

Illegal colonies confiscated (3064) dunums as follows:

Bypass roads (50 +60) confiscated over 482 dunums.

Apartheid wall took over 50 dunums and has a length of (987) meters.

Occupation's military camps took over (103) dunums.

[1] GIS-LRC