A Palestinian citizen from the city of Tayibe in central Israel embarked today on demolishing his own home under immense pressure from the Israeli authorities, according to local sources.
Witnesses said that Diaa Jaber was forced to demolish his home in order to avoid paying exorbitant fees in the event that the Israeli crews proceeded with the demolition on their own.
Houses and structures in Palestinian cities and towns in Israel are a frequent target for demolitions, as Israeli authorities make it very difficult for Palestinian citizens to obtain building permits.
Currently, hundreds of Palestinian-owned homes in Israel are scheduled for demolition, with many accusing the government of selectively carrying out demolitions in Israel’s Palestinian-Arab communities.
Arabs in today’s Israel are Palestinians who stayed on their land following the creation of the occupying state in 1948 and their descendants. They make up about 20 percent of the country’s nine million people.
By law, their rights are equal to those of Jewish citizens. But in practice they suffer discrimination in employment, housing, policing and other essentials.
Source: Palestine News and Information agency