Increased Demolitions of Palestinian Homes in East Jerusalem and Area C

Increased Demolitions of Palestinian Homes in East Jerusalem and Area C

By Brian Fitzsimmons, Intern, Foundation for Middle East Peace

Since 1967, Israel has demolished over 27,000 housing units in the Occupied Territories in order to discourage Palestinian growth and cement Israeli control. In recent years, Israel has accelerated these operations. Between 2012 and 2013, the number of demolitions in East Jerusalem more than doubled from 28 to 72, while in Area C (which represents 60% of the West Bank and falls under Israeli control), it increased by more than 75% from 98 to 175. In the past decade alone, Israel has displaced nearly 5500 Palestinian residents, contributing to the already dilapidated state of Palestinian housing. Inhabitants in East Jerusalem and Area C still need at least 10,000 more housing units to satisfy basic needs and meet population growth, yet the shortage grows by 1500 units per year because of Israeli policy.

Officially, Israel cites technical regulations when demolishing homes, most commonly the lack of building permits. In Area C and East Jerusalem, Palestinians must obtain permits to construct houses from the Israeli government, yet it is nearly impossible for them to do so. In fact, nearly half of existing Palestinian houses (around 20,000 units in Area C) were built without permits, making them “illegal” and subject to demolition. Of course, Israel points to zoning laws when refusing permits to Palestinians. Large parts of Area C, for example, have been declared “agricultural land,” precluding all housing construction. And parts of East Jerusalem are considered “green space,” where Palestinians can live but not build. But the granting of retroactive permits to Jewish settlers in these regions highlights the discriminatory nature of the permit system, as well as Israeli’s underlying strategy of marginalizing the Palestinians in favor of Jewish settlements.

Israel is thus trying to acquire as much land for itself as possible by driving out Palestinians. It wants to make room for Israeli settlements, infrastructure, army outposts, the Security Barrier, and to ensure “the safety and freedom of movement for Israeli settlers” and soldiers (Amnesty International, 2). Housing demolitions and permit-refusals are tactics to “Judaize” the region and promote a demographic balance favorable to the Jewish population. Indeed, some 300,000 Palestinians have either left the West Bank or moved to Areas A and B due in part to these demolitions (the Israeli settler population in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as of 2011 was over 500,000 people, compared to the Palestinian population of nearly 700,000 as of 2013).

Israel’s also cites “military/security needs.” It demolishes houses of suspected terrorists, militants, and anyone else it perceives as dangerous in order to deter future threats. Furthermore, Israel describes the demolitions as “preventative.” If a Palestinian home could be used to carry out attacks on settlements, if it blocks an army patrol’s line of sight, or if it covers an entrance to a smuggling tunnel (as in the Gaza Strip), Israel reserves the right to destroy it. It also claims that many of the demolitions occurred during firefights, though sources recall the army destroying houses after the militants surrendered. As such, Israeli demolitions for “security reasons” may be nothing more than collective punishment. If a household member attacks an Israeli target, his/her whole house (as well as a few neighboring houses) is destroyed to send a message.

Clearly, Israel’s demolition policy is designed to advance Israel’s interest in dominating and controlling the Palestinians, and to thwart the possibility of a viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem.

7/2/14