JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Two Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, both under construction, were demolished by Israeli forces on Tuesday morning, as bulldozers executed demolition orders stating the homes lacked permits.
The homes, in the Ras Al-Amud and Sur Bahir neighborhoods of occupied East Jerusalem, were two of an estimated 60,000 with standing demolition orders authorized by the Israeli courts on request from the municipality.
In Ras Al-Amud, a building planned to house eight, with only 85 square meters completed, was demolished, owner Eid Bahjat Dweik told Ma'an. He said that even though he had received a demolition order in October - 10 months after construction began - he decided to continue building and take his chances.
Observers from international, Israeli and UN groups have noted the near impossibility of obtaining a building license in Israeli-controlled areas of East Jerusalem, leading tens of thousands to build without a permit, in the hopes that local lobbying efforts for a mass retroactive licensing project or a return of East Jerusalem to Palestinian control would render the buildings legal.
In Sur Baher, bulldozers took down the partially completed home of Samer Amira Jibril. More than 200 square meters of the building had been completed.
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