Israel demolishing Palestinian structures in eastern Jerusalem considered security risk

Israel is pulling down 13 structures in eastern Jerusalem built close to the separation barrier.

By World Israel News Staff 

Israeli work crews on Monday started tearing down dozens of illegally built Palestinian Arab homes in an eastern Jerusalem neighborhood, in one of the largest operations of its kind in years.

At dawn, hundreds of IDF soldiers, Border Police and regular police entered the area and began preparing the buildings for demolition, including the laying of explosives in an 8-story structure, activists say according to Ha’aretz.

Israel’s Supreme Court approved the request from the Ministry of Defense to demolish 13 structures in June. They include a total of 100 apartments, 20 of which have residents.

The demolition is a sensitive issue as the buildings sit in Area A, over which the Palestinian Authority is supposed to have control over civilian and security matters, Ynet reports.

However, the buildings are close to the separation barrier, which Israel credits with reducing terrorist attacks. Ha’aretz reports that seven years ago the IDF banned construction of buildings within 250 meters of the separation barrier.

Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs and Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan said on Monday, “The demolition of the illegal and mostly uninhabited buildings … was approved by the Israeli High Court of Justice, which ruled that the illegal construction constitutes a severe security threat and can provide cover to suicide bombers and other terrorists hiding among civilian population and endanger the lives of civilians and security forces alike.”

“The court also ruled unequivocally that those who built houses in the area of the security fence, knew that building in that area was prohibited, and took the law into their own hands.” Erdan said.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization issued a statement criticizing the Supreme Court as intending “to set a precedent to enable the Israeli occupying forces to demolish numerous Palestinian buildings located in close proximity” to the separation barrier.

The European Union also criticized the Israeli move.

AP contributed to this report.