Israeli forces serve eviction and demolition notices in Jerusalem district

The residents of an entire Palestinian district in Jerusalem have been served demolition orders by the Israeli occupation authorities. According to local sources, the Palestinians living in Al-Fohaidat were given eviction notices on Wednesday morning. "The Israelis handed eviction notices to the owners of 13 apartments and ten large sheds as it is their intention to demolish them," said Majdi Al-Fohaidat, a local resident. "They claim that they have been built without appropriate licences." The whole neighbourhood, which covers more than 12 acres of land, belongs to the Al-Fohaidat clan. According to Mr. Al-Fohaidat, the real reason for the evictions and demolitions is the proximity of an Israeli military base and the apartheid wall. He says that the Israelis have been trying to uproot his clan from their land for years as part of the Israeli government's Judaisation policy for Jerusalem. "We have until 7th February to challenge the eviction orders," he added. In the north of the occupied Jordan Valley, meanwhile, Israeli forces have given demolition notices to three Palestinian farmers who have been told that some of their farm structures will be knocked down by 20th February. The chief of Al-Maleh village and the other Bedouin neighbourhoods in the area, Aref Daraghmeh, said that the Israeli occupation authorities handed Fawwaz Sawafteh and his cousins demolition notices for a 240 square metre greenhouse and two pools used for fish breeding. Mr. Daraghmeh pointed out that all of the facilities to be demolished are projects subsidised by international organisations.