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4 Jan, 2017

Israeli bulldozers demolish Bedouin dwellings, displace scores of people

JERUSALEM, January 2, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli bulldozers demolished on Monday 10 dwellings inhabited by Bedouins in Khan al-Ahmar area east of Jerusalem under the pretext they were built without permit, according to residents.

Adel Jahaleen told WAFA that the Israeli bulldozers destroyed three of the dwellings he used for his family as well as seven more that belonged to other residents.

He expressed outrage at the demolition of the dwellings in this cold weather, especially that now his family of 14 members and others as well have become homeless.

Residents said the Israeli bulldozers moved to another Bedouin village in the area for more demolitions.

Israel said it intends to demolish thousands of Palestinian homes and structures in East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank, which it claims were built without permit.

Palestinians say this policy aims at forcing them to leave areas Israel plans to annex.

The United Nations and European Union have condemned Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem and Area C.

The two groups have been main providers of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians hard hit by these Israeli policies.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday that Israeli demolitions reached a record number in 2016 displacing almost 1600 Palestinians and affecting the livelihoods of more than 7000 people.