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Israel continues wave of West Bank housing demolitions in East Jerusalem

by Wahed Rejol

6 December 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Following the violent demolitions in Qalqiliya yesterday, and in Beit Hannina and Silwan on Sunday, Israel continued its displacement of Palestinians throughout the West Bank today in occupied East Jerusalem.

On the day Israel announced a plan to forcibly remove 2300 Palestinians from their homes, a demolition team arrived in Al Khalaylah, a small village in East Jerusalem.  Two homes, an animal barracks, and part of a hardware store were flattened within hours.  Palestinians watched as their homes were lost, leaving 6 children and several adults homeless.  Armed military and police guarded the area as bulldozers destroyed the structures.

One woman was visibly crying during the demolition of the second home.  When asked if the home was hers, she answered “No, my uncle’s.”

The ethnic cleansing of non-Jews from Palestine began in 1948 during the creation of the State of Israel.  Sadly it continues its ethnic cleansing today, through house demolitions, apartheid laws, and the refusal of Israel to observe the Palestinian right of return as guaranteed by UN Resolution 194 Article 11.

Wahed Rejol is a volunteer with International Solidarity Movement (name has been changed).