Knesset to vote on law forcing Palestinians to cover demolition costs

27/06/2011
by occupiedpalestine

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– The Israeli Knesset’s Law Constitution and Justice Committee has passed a draft law forcing Palestinians to cover the costs of home demolitions issued against them without recourse to the courts.

Israeli Radio reported that the committee agreed not to empower the West Bank regional commander to apply the law there, in opposition to the government.

The draft will be brought to the Knesset for a second and third reading.

The Israeli B’Tselem rights group has recently issued a report marking a sharp increase in home demolitions against Palestinians in the West Bank this year, displacing hundreds of citizens.

According to the report, Israel’s Civil Administration carried out more demolitions so far this year than the entire year of 2010. Demolitions in Area C displaced 706 Palestinians, including 341 minors, the report said.