Jerusalem: A Palestinian resident of Jerusalem was compelled to demolish his own home in the Jabal al-Mukaber neighborhood, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, on Friday, following an order from the Israeli municipality on the grounds of building without a permit.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Jerusalem Governorate reported that the 80-square-meter home belonged to Samir Aliyan Arar and housed seven people. The home had been standing since 2018. Israeli municipal authorities had previously issued building violation fines against him, totaling approximately 100,000 shekels.
Arar stated that he had submitted building permit plans in 2014 at the request of the Israeli municipality and hired lawyers and engineers to pursue the case. However, municipal crews issued him two fines that same year, amounting to approximately 80,000 shekels and 17,500 shekels, respectively.
He stressed that he was still paying off those fines and will continue doing so until the end of 2027. Additionally, he mentioned that municipal crews raided his home on January 26, 2026, and gave him 21 days to comply with the demolition order. He said he was forced to self-demolish his house to avoid incurring the higher demolition costs if the Israeli municipality carried it out.