Land Research Center

Preamble:

Seven 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 November 2017:

• 19 residential and agricultural structures were demolished by the occupation's municipality. Al-Isawiya village was most targeted with  eleven structures. Silwan came second with four structures demolished where Shu'fat got two structures brought down. The areas of Beit Hanina and Al-Sheikh Jarrah got one structure demolished in each.
• As for demolition threats on constructions, Israel's Civil Administration and Israel's Municipality in Jerusalem threatened the entire Bedouin community of Jabal Al-Baba and four huge building in Kfar Aqab area.

Noteworthy, Israeli colonists continue on their attacks on Palestinians and their properties in Jerusalem in addition to expanding colonies on seized Palestinian lands. One group of colonists established a new  outpost on a parcel of land in Anata town. Not only, the occupation officially declared a new plan to build 176 colonial residential units in Jabal Al-Mukabir area.

Colonial organizations and groups harass and threat Palestinians of property seizure. Five families in the Old City neighborhood of Aqabt Al-Saraya were taken over in favor of colonists.

Demolition of Palestinian residences:

During November 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 9 residences in East Jerusalem including 7 stone houses and 2 cement and bricks residences.

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

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

• * Self-demolition
• ** including an uninhabited building

Demolition of Palestinian structures:

During November 2017, the Israeli occupation municipality demolished 7 agricultural rooms, two commercial facilities and one car parking.. The following table illustrates the number of demolished structures during November  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 threatened the entire Bedouin community of Jabal Al-Baba and four huge buildings in Kfar Aqab area. The following table shows the number of threatened residences during November  2017 in East Jerusalem- by neighborhoods:

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

• *four buildings, some of which are still under construction

Colonists' attacks:

• Colonists established a new  outpost on a parcel of land in Anata town. The targeted land total 24 dunums ion area, where 6 caravans were set up and connected to electricity grid and a road linking to Kfar Adummim colony.
• The Israeli Occupation Authorities officially declared a new plan to build 176 colonial residential units in Jabal Al-Mukabir area in completion of a previous plan in favor of Nof Tzion colony.
• Israel Municipality in Jerusalem ruled the eviction of five families in the Old City neighborhood of Aqabt Al-Saraya. The houses were taken over in favor of colonists

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