Preamble:

Six major neighborhoods of occupied Jerusalem have been witnessing Israeli violations and attacks on Palestinian people and properties represented in demolishing residences and structures and threatening others of demolition and closure.

The team of field research at Land Research Center documented the following violations during August 2017:

• 12 residential and commercial  structures were demolished by the occupation's municipality. Al-Isawiya village came first with  five structures brought down where Silwan came second with 3 structures. Beit Hanina and Az-Jabal Al-Mukabir areas got two residences demolished respectively. In a Hizma Bedouin community, the occupation confiscated a mobile residence owned by a family from the area.

As for threats on constructions, Israel's Civil Administration and Israel's Municipality in Jerusalem threatened 32 structures ( 23 residences and 9 agricultural barracks) of stop-work and demolition.

Demolition of Palestinian residences:

During August 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 6 residences in East Jerusalem including 2 stone houses , 2 cement and bricks residences and two caravans.

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

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2107

Demolition of Palestinian structures:

During August 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 6  structures in East Jerusalem including one storage and five commercial structures. The following table illustrates the number of demolished structures during August  2017:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2017

Demolition threats on residences and structures:

The Israeli occupation municipality in Jerusalem notified 23 residences including ( 10 stop-work orders, 5 additional opportunity orders and 8 administrative demolition). The following table shows the number of threatened residences during August 2017 in East Jerusalem- by neighborhoods:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2017

The following table shows the number of threatened structures during August 2017 in East Jerusalem- by neighborhoods:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2017

Confiscation of properties:

Israel's Occupation Forces  dismantled and confiscated a 40m² residential barrack from Tablas Bedouin community in Hizma area. The barrack was home for five members including three children.

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