51
Furthermore, the judaization policy in Jerusalem resulted in the demolition of
(63) houses and the displacement of (116) of its owners, and (260) others were
affected. Israeli occupation forces demanded owners of (10) houses to demolish
their own houses under the pretext of unlicensed construction.45 Demolition
warnings were sent to demolish (1,334) houses, especially in Silwan
neighborhood. Additionally, Jewish settlers occupied dozens of Palestinian homes
in Jerusalem, after forcing their owners to evacuate after being threatened at
gunpoint and with the help of police. During the year, the so‐called Organization
and Local Construction Committee of the Jerusalem Municipality ratified a
structural scheme which included the courtyard of the Wailing Wall. It includes:
1) expanding the courtyard to accommodate (400,000) visitors a year; 2) digging
tunnels under the Al‐Buraq Wall; 3) building Jewish religious centers and police
stations under ground; 4) digging new tunnels connecting the Wailing Wall with
the town of Silwan; and 5) building public parking for buses and cars. About
(125,000) Palestinian Jerusalemites are threatened with the loss of their
residency rights in Jerusalem because of the Apartheid Wall. They now live in
areas outside the Wall. Israel also approved the construction of (16,479) housing
units, mostly in and around East Jerusalem and has already started the
construction of (1,300) housing units.46
Palestinian houses in the neighborhood of Silwan are at a high risk of complete
demolition, where the majority of the population are Palestinians. Many
Palestinian houses have been demolished by the Israeli occupation authorities,
and some citizens have become homeless. Hundreds of citizens received
demolition notifications from the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality informing them
of the demolition of the houses, not to mention the Israeli settlers’ seizure of
dozens of homes by force and the expulsion of Palestinian citizens from their
homes.
Israeli occupation forces continued to prevent any manifestation of the existence
of the (PNA) in Jerusalem. They continued the closure of Orient House, the Arab
Studies Society, the Jerusalem Civil Society “ELAF” to support the right of
education in Jerusalem, and a number of health, cultural and youth centers.47 On
45
Protection of Civilians, 22 ‐ 28 December 2010, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
46
A report issued by the PLO National and International Relations Department, 2010.
47
Ibid.