Hundreds of Palestinians in al-Issawiya town east of Occupied Jerusalem performed Friday prayer at the main entrance of the town in protest at Israeli policy of home demolition pursued by municipality. It also aimed at protesting Israeli refusal to endorse the town’s structural map.
Mohammad Dari Friday preacher said that Israeli municipality of Jerusalem rejected the structural map submitted by residents. An alternate map which does not meet residents’ needs of housing and building was presented. The town has a population of 22000 he highlighted.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus member of the follow up committee in al-Issawiya said that Israeli authorities escalated home-demolition operations in Occupied Jerusalem in general and in the town in particular. The escalation is aimed at blackmailing Jerusalemite people for seizing tens of thousand dollars.
He told Quds Press in a previous statement that Israeli forces have razed since the beginning of the year 12 homes in the town and issued 200 home-demolition orders against others.
Abu al-Hummus also pointed out that Israeli forces knocked down commercial shops as well as agricultural facilities in the same town. Two land lots planted with fruitful trees with an estimated area at 5 dunums were leveled by Israeli forces he added.
Al-Issawiya town has been lacking a structural map since 1992. Jerusalem Municipality rejected a map that was submitted 12 years ago he elaborated.
