Jerusalem City Hall dispatched bulldozers this morning to the Issaweya neighborhood to destroy 19 structures illegally built by Arabs. Nine of the edifices were razed, and eight others are being held up due to an appeal submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrates Court by one of the Arab owners.
During the course of the demolition work, Arab residents and Israeli leftist demonstrators protested. One policeman was injured by rocks, and two protesters were arrested. A spokesman for City Hall said that the buildings were erected in an area where permits cannot be granted. He said that only two of the structures were inhabited. Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau said that the illegally-built buildings are often part of projects funded by the PLO designed to challenge Israeli sovereignty in the capital. Landau cited the words of an Issawiya resident interviewed on Israel Radio, who condemned the destruction but admitted that only one building scheduled for demolition was inhabited.
During the course of the demolition work, Arab residents and Israeli leftist demonstrators protested. One policeman was injured by rocks, and two protesters were arrested. A spokesman for City Hall said that the buildings were erected in an area where permits cannot be granted. He said that only two of the structures were inhabited. Minister of Public Security Uzi Landau said that the illegally-built buildings are often part of projects funded by the PLO designed to challenge Israeli sovereignty in the capital. Landau cited the words of an Issawiya resident interviewed on Israel Radio, who condemned the destruction but admitted that only one building scheduled for demolition was inhabited.