Preamble:

Four neighborhoods in Jerusalem have been witnessing constant Israeli violations of the right to housing by the Israeli Occupation Forces. Some residents were deprived of their right to adequate accommodation due to Israeli measures of home demolition and confiscation. Not only, the right to education was violated in Jerusalem and the biggest example was closing a school in East Jerusalem.

The area of Beit Hanina witnessed the most vicious attacks amongst all neighborhoods. Nine residences were demolished in there. Next comes Hizma town where five houses were brought down by the occupation forces.  Al-Isawiya town came in the third place where Silwan came in last.

In Silwan town, more specifically in Al-Bustan neighborhood, colonists and settlement organization have been working so hard to put hands on many residences through fraud and forged documents.

As for the Bedouin communities in occupied East Jerusalem, the area witnesses a systematic plan that aims at displacing Bedouins and forcibly relocating them into a new area against their will. Israel intends to implement the plan for the favor of expanding colonies in the area to accommodate more colonists in.

Demolition of Palestinian residences:

The Israeli occupation municipality demolished 14 residences in east Jerusalem including 9 stone houses and five cement and bricks ones.

The following table illustrates the number of demolished residences in Jerusalem during February 2017:

Source: Direct field research- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center- 2017

Demolition of Palestinian structures:

The Israeli occupation municipality demolished seven structures in East Jerusalem including two agricultural barracks, four storages and one car park.

The following table illustrates the number of demolished structures during February 2017:

Source: Direct field research- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center- 2017

Demolition threats on residences and structures:

The Israeli occupation municipality issued 16 administrative demolition orders on residences in Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan town that are inhabited by 118 members including 21 children.

The Israeli occupation municipality served a demolition order on a storage in Wad Hilweh neighborhood in Silwan town.

In addition, the Israeli occupation municipality notified 40 residences in the Bedouin community of Al-Khan AL-Ahmar of stop-work and construction.

Israeli occupation authorities also closed AL-Nukhba primary school in Sur Bhaer village, which accommodates 230 students from KG to sixth grade.

Colonists attacks and violations:

A group of fanatic colonists took over a residential room (50m²) in the neighborhood of Qara'in in Silwan town.

Land Research Center LRC sees that demolitions contradict with all 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."

This case study is part of Kan'aan Project