Israeli municipality demolishes Palestinian-owned apartment in Silwan area

Staff of the Israeli municipality today demolished without any prior notice a residential apartment in the East Jerusalem Silwan neighborhood of Swaih, displacing its residents, according to local sources.

A municipality staff, accompanied by Israeli police, demolished a 60-square-meter third-floor apartment belonging to Jerusalemite resident Fadel ‘Abasi, after forcing out his family of four, including two children.

The family was waiting for a court hearing that was supposed to discuss an appeal they submitted against the demolition of their house, but that the municipality went ahead and demolished it before the hearing.

Earlier today, Israeli police raided the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan and tore down a shop in al-Bustan area, one of 17 structures, mainly homes, in that area slated for demolition by the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency