Israeli bulldozers demolished two Palestinian houses in the Ath-Thuri neighbourhood of Jerusalem on Monday morning, according to a statement from the Al-Quds Centre for Social and Economic Rights.
The Centre’s research and documentation department reported that a third house was damaged during the demolitions, and that some 20 people were displaced and made homeless.
A 70-square-metre house belonging to the elderly Siham Ahmad Ash-Shuweiki, where he lived along with 14 other members of his family, was the first to be torn down.
Ash-Shukeiki reportedly fainted twice during the demolition, and was hospitalised shortly thereafter.
Beforehand, a large contingent of Israeli police and municipality workers evicted the family and their belongings, tossing furniture outside.
Forces also evicted the owner of a second 80-square-metre house, belonging to Haron Al-Qawasmi, where he lived along with ten other relatives.
A third home, owned by Nasser Ash-Shuweiki, Haron’s cousin, was damaged during the two demolitions as they were adjacent to each other.
An upsurge in Israeli home demolitions has been a concern to the international community in recent months.
In a separate instance, the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) forced a Palestinian Jerusalemite to demolish his own home in Jabal Al-Mukabir in occupied Jerusalem.
Suleiman Mashahra said that he was compelled to knock down his own home in implementation of orders by the IOA municipality, which threatened that he would have to shoulder the full expenses, which are very high, if it had to do the demolition.
Mashahra appealed to all those concerned, officials and human rights groups, to assist him in his ordeal as he is the sole breadwinner of a big family and had no other place to shelter his family.
The 48 square metres house was built in 2000 and was home to six individuals.
The IOA municipality refused to grant Mashahra a construction permit.
Monday’s demolitions were the second and third in under 24 hours, according to the Centre.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hesitantly reiterated her opposition during a news conference on Saturday night, following a question from New York Times reporter Mark Landler, who asked if she still stood by her condemnation of the ongoing Israeli policy.
‘I have nothing to add to my statement,’ Clinton responded. ‘I continue to stand by what I said then.’
Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, the head of the supreme Islamic council in occupied Jerusalem, stated Monday that Israel is carrying out the most serious and widespread Judaization activities since it occupied the holy city.
Sheikh Sabri, a noted Palestinian scholar, added that the Judaization operations are not carried out randomly, but they are part of a carefully-prepared and systematic policy pursued and declared by Israel.
He expressed his regret at the absence of Arab and Muslim reactions and strategy to confront these Israeli attempts to Judaize Jerusalem, as well as to preserve its Islamic legacy and culture.
‘We hold the Arab and Muslim regimes responsible for what is happening against this forgotten and distressed captive city.
‘We do not feel that there is tangible support for the city of Jerusalem or practical steps, but there are always condemnation statements,’ the Palestinian scholar stressed.
He also noted that the Judaization scheme against the Al Aqsa Mosque depends on a policy which is being carried out in stages; where Israel now wants to implement the first step which is to divide the holy Mosque, until it reaches the ultimate goal which is the destruction of the Mosque.
Commenting on the Organisation of Islamic Conference’s intention to refer the file of Jerusalem to the UN Security Council, he said that the international community is conspiring against the holy city and Mosque because it forces Arab states to abide by international law and imposes sanctions if they do otherwise, but it turns a blind eye to Israel’s violations against Jerusalem.
‘We do not count on the international community’s position and it is known that the American veto is always ready to face any condemnation levelled against Israel, and therefore it would be wrong to refer the issue of Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque to the Security Council.
‘We must depend on God and then ourselves,’ the scholar added.
Meanwhile, the Israeli siege on Gaza continues.
The Gaza electric company said on Monday that it will have to immediately cut power to some areas because of Israel’s refusal to allow the import of spare parts to repair the territory’s sole power plant.
The Electricity Distribution Company said in a statement that Israel has refused to allow equipment and parts needed to repair the plant and the electric grid, both of which were battered during the Israeli military offensive last December and January.
The company warned that the power cuts are likely to affect other services including water, hospitals, childcare centres and schools.
And the EDC appealed to the UN and humanitarian organisations to intervene and ensure that Israel permits the spare parts to enter Gaza in order to prevent a ‘humanitarian disaster’.
The statement added that this potential crisis would affect all of the Strip’s 1.5 million inhabitants.
Israel locked down the Gaza Strip’s borders in June 2007 after Hamas was elected and took full control of the territory.
In September of that year, Israel pronounced Gaza an ‘Enemy Entity’ and introduced further curbs on the import of vital goods.
In a separate development, the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Monday applauded the decision of the European Court of Justice not to exempt products manufactured by Israeli settlements from taxes imposed by the EU.
Hasan Abu Libdeh, minister of economy of the Fatah-controlled PA government, said in a statement that this step will help ‘implement international resolutions that ban the commercial exchange of Israeli settlement products that are manufactured on Palestinian lands.’
The recent EU decision will enhance the PA’s efforts to confront increasing settlement activity, Abu Libda added, noting that such activities are the major obstacle impeding the re-establishment of peace talks.
A German company, BRITA, has filed for tax exemptions on imports from Israeli settlements based on the free-trade agreement signed between Israel and the EU.
The BRITA product list includes soft drinks manufactured in factories at the Ma’ale Adumim settlement in occupied East Jerusalem.
Abu Libdeh additionally called for an international boycott of Israeli settlement goods, asserting that such measures would bolster the Palestinian stance of refusing to enter into talks with Israel until there is a complete halt to settlement activity.
Meanwhile, heavy rain caused flooding in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on Monday.
Palestinian National Security forces helped evacuate construction vehicles from a road near the local police headquarters, where the flood waters reached a half-meter in depth.
Security officers also used a truck to ferry schoolchildren across the flooded road.
Civil Defence officials also said that some houses in the Tulkarem area had to be evacuated.
There were no reports of casualties.
Deputy police chief Haitham Dughlas urged the public not to allow children into the streets and to follow instructions from police.
He also said residents should not hesitate to call emergency numbers if they need assistance.
