Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, issued its monthly documentation report for November 2023, regarding the demolishing of the Palestinian establishments, by the Israeli occupation. The Israeli authorities target the Palestinian religious, tourism, industrial, agricultural, educational, or official establishments, with a focus on residential establishments. In this regard, SHAMS Center issues periodical (monthly, semi-annually, and annually) documentation reports about this type of violation, committed by the Israeli occupation, as well as other types of violations.
The report is based on a field research and documentation methodology where the researchers and team members of SHAMS documented the Israeli violations against the Palestinian establishments for the period 1- 30/11/2023 for the sake of issuing the current report. The documentation process covers the various governorates of the West Bank. The collected data was processed and analyzed to be presented in the form of easily readable tables against a group of quantitative and qualitative indicators.
In November, SHAMS Center documented the demolition of 141 Palestinian establishments by the Israeli occupation. 12 of the demolished establishments were within the self-demolishing policy, where the owners are obligated to demolish their establishments on their own to avoid paying the high financial fines or being arrested, till the fine is paid, in case the demolishing was accomplished by the Israeli authorities. The demolished establishments were under the claim of unlicensed buildings. One of the demolished establishments (out of the self-demolished establishments), is owned by a woman, where in Jabal- Al- Mukabber, the Israeli authorities obligated a Jerusalemite Palestinian woman to demolish her house on her own based on being notified earlier with a demolishing order, under the claim of an unlicensed building. The woman decided to demolish the house on her own to avoid paying for the cost of demolishing in case it was done by the Israeli authorities.
The first indicator within the report reflects the types of demolished establishments where the distribution of the demolished establishments based on type, included: houses (32), residential rooms (8), residential tents (37), residential barracks (8), agricultural rooms (8), wells (2), retaining walls (1), commercial establishments (1), livestock barracks/ sheds (42), stone terraces (1), and Horses stable (1). The second indicator reflects the geographical distribution of the targeted establishments where the majority were in Nablus (85) and there were (22) in Jerusalem.
As for the claims used by the Occupying Power (Israel) to legalize its crimes against Palestinian establishments, 46 demolished establishments (out of 141), were under the claim of unlicensed buildings in areas classified as (C). 7 establishments were demolished within the policy of collective punishment applied against Palestinians involved in resisting the occupation, as a tool to deter other Palestinians from involvement in resisting the occupation. 9 establishments were demolished to expand a settlement built on the lands of Palestinians. 79 establishments were demolished by the settlers to increase the pressure imposed on Palestinians and to push Palestinians to evacuate their land.
Concerning self-demolishing, which represents a form of structured oppression where Palestinians are obligated to demolish their establishments on their own to avoid paying the high costs of demolishing in case it was done by the Israeli authorities. The Israeli authorities obligate Jerusalemites to pay the costs of demolishing their establishments, where there is always exaggeration in estimating these costs. Jerusalemites might be arrested till the fine is paid, for that, Jerusalemites prefer to demolish the establishments on their own as the costs, in this case, are less. The self-demolishing is a form of racism policy where all the Israeli-related parties (municipality, courts, and police) are involved in applying such a policy. During November 12 establishments (out of the 141 demolished establishments) were within the policy of self-demolishing. As stated earlier, Jerusalemites decided to demolish the establishments on their own to avoid paying the high financial fine. The houses within the self-demolishing were under the claim of unlicensed buildings.
For the full report, please click here..