Palestinians face increased Israeli demolitions in East Jerusalem

Across the road are the Palestinian villages of Umm Tuba and Sur Baher, where many public amenities are significantly inferior to those in Har Homa.

Unlike construction work on the other side of the highway, several houses have been forcibly demolished here in recent years, which Amnesty International describes as “a blatant violation of international law and part of a systematic strategy of Israeli authorities aiming to displace Palestinians.

The situation is similar in the rapidly expanding Gilo settlement in what is internationally considered occupied East Jerusalem, while, it is claimed, neighboring Palestinian suburbs are being denied the capacity to grow at the same rate.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this. Israel also denies that the demolitions are part of a deliberate policy of discrimination that has accelerated under the cover of diversion from the war in Gaza.

In a statement, the Jerusalem Municipality said the accusations were “absolutely false” and that it had local support for “comprehensive construction and construction plans in almost all areas of East Jerusalem.”

The plans “aim to provide options for neighborhood expansion, address the widespread problem of illegal construction, and designate areas for the construction of municipal service structures,” it adds.

But it is not difficult to find examples where Israeli orders to demolish Palestinian homes are being implemented throughout East Jerusalem.