East Jerusalem families hit by destruction order

Israeli bulldozers destroyed at least three Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem today, breaking an unofficial moratorium on house demolitions since the end of 2009.

At least one of the homes was occupied by a family of seven, who removed their belongings shortly before the building was razed.

“They can build hundreds of settlements but I’m not entitled to live in a shack?” Linda al-Rajabi was quoted in the Israeli media as saying.

Two of the demolished homes were in the last stages of construction.

Jerusalem city authorities said all the homes were built without proper planning permission, which Palestinians say is almost impossible to obtain.

…

All settlements on land which Israel occupied in 1967 are illegal under international law.

…