Five Palestinian families were forced today to self-demolish their own homes in Wadi Qaddoum area of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan under the pretext the homes were built without a permit, displacing at least 30 people, according to WAFA correspondent. She said members of the Burqan, Tawil and Nassar families proceeded today to tear down the two buildings that house their apartments after receiving demolition orders from the West Jerusalem Israeli municipality for construction without a permit. The municipality warned them that unless they demolish their own apartments, the municipality will carry out the demolition and force them to pay exorbitant costs plus $50,000 in fines. Asem Burqan, one of the owners, said the two buildings house 30 people living in five apartments. He said the families tried for 28 years to get a permit for the two buildings but got only a permit for one floor. He said the Israeli municipality wants the two buildings demolished in order to take over the land they were built on it.

Source: Palestine News & Information Agency