Jerusalem City Hall dispatched bulldozers this morning to the Issawiya neighborhood to destroy 19 structures illegally built by Arabs. Nine were razed, and eight others were put on hold, pending the outcome of an appeal submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrates Court by one of the Arab owners. The demolition of two other structures was postponed to a later date.
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 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 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.