AL-QUDS
Israel's municipality authorities demolished on Monday a home owned by a Palestinian family in Al-Quds under the pretext it had been built without a permit, according to eyewitnesses.
"The Israeli bulldozers, escorted large Israeli army and police forces, razed the building," an eyewitness told Anadolu Agency.
According to local residents, the building was built 18 years ago by Mohamed Jaafrah and housed his six-member family.
For years, the self-proclaimed Jewish state has systematically demolished Palestinian homes in the holy city, claiming they were built without official Israeli permits.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israeli authorities demolished more than 500 Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Al-Quds last year alone.
Israeli municipal authorities impose tight restrictions on the renovation of Palestinian homes in Al-Quds.
Sacred to both Muslims and Jews, Al-Quds is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which for Muslims represents the world's third holiest site.
Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
Palestinians accuse Israel of waging an aggressive campaign to "Judaize" the holy city with the aim of effacing its Arab and Islamic identity.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
englishnews@aa.com.tr
