Ramallah: The cave a Palestinian family has been sheltering in was destroyed on Wednesday by bulldozers belonging to the Israeli occupation’s Municipality in Jerusalem.
The reason given was that the family had built without permit. Khaled Al Zeer and his seven family members moved to the cave after his previous home was demolished by Israeli authorities. Israeli authorities then beat Khaled and his brother Fahmi who protested against the demolition.
According to Fakhri Abu Diyab, a member of the Higher Committee of Jerusalem (occupied) and head of the Silwan Defense Committee, several bulldozers arrived at the cave located between Al Bustan and Al Absasiyah of Silwan and after the family was evacuated demolished the front rocky part of the cave and dug other parts of the cave to make it unfit for human use.
“There has been no chance for Al Zeer family to rebuild their destroyed home - the family repeatedly tried to apply for building license but all their attempts were in vain,” he told Gulf News. “The family did not find any place to live in except the cave as renting an apartment in the occupied East Jerusalem to accommodate the family members was beyond the financial capabilities of the family.”
Abu Diyab said that Palestinian residents of the occupied east Jerusalem are not granted any building licenses by the Israeli municipality.
There is no dispute about the fact that the Al Zeer family owns the land in question and Abu Diyab said that the rocky cave on the land of Al Zeer family does not need a building license, as it was created by God.
Nonetheless, he said, the Israelis do not recognize this fact and want all the Palestinians of the holy city to end up homeless.
