Palestinians are worried the High Court decision sets a precedent allowing Israel to demolish thousands of unauthorized Palestinian-owned structures outside of Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries and into the West Bank.

By i24NEWS

Israel’s High Court of Justice approved the demolition of 13 buildings in an East Jerusalem neighborhood that falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, Haaretz reported Monday.

Palestinians fear the ruling will set a precedent empowering Israel to demolish thousands of buildings in the West Bank.

Demolition of an illegally constructed Palestinian home in an East Jerusalem neighborhood. – Screenshot/ IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The 13 buildings are located in the Wadi Humus neighborhood is located in southeast Jerusalem, but part of the neighborhood lies outside of the city’s municipal boundaries into the West Bank.

While the Israeli demolition of unauthorized Palestinian-owned structures in East Jerusalem is not uncommon, the fact that the buildings fall in the Palestinian-controlled Area A of the West Bank has stoked fears of further such encroachments on the Palestinian government’s jurisdiction.

The Palestinian Authority issued permits to construct the 13 buildings over 10 years ago, but in 2012 Israel ordered work to stop, citing their proximity to the security barrier.

Residents however say the location is the only direction for the neighborhood to expand and construct new buildings as the Israeli security barrier hems the neighborhood in both sides.

Residents of the neighborhood have been fighting a legal battle for seven years to continue construction on the buildings, but the High Court’s ruling last week has finally put an end to their fight.

View original i24NEWS publication at:
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/1560858243-israeli-court-approves-demolition-of-pa-controlled-east-jerusalem-buildings