Israeli occupation forces have issued a demolition order for a Palestinian-owned residential building in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem, according to local sources.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli occupation forces, accompanied by staff from the all-Israeli municipality of Jerusalem, stormed a building in the Silwan neighborhood and placed notices indicating their intent to demolish the structure, citing unauthorized construction as the reason.

The targeted building, which is facing the threat of demolition, consists of five floors and is home to Sheikh Ekrama Sabri, the long-time preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Using the pretext of building without a permit, an inherent right that rarely granted to indigenous Palestinians in the occupied city, the Israeli municipality has been demolishing Palestinian-owned houses as part of a policy aimed to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.

At the same time, the municipality and hard-right government build tens of thousands of housing uni
ts in illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem for Israeli settlers with the goal of offsetting the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.

Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as “residents” whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.

They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel’s separation wall.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA