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UN envoys criticize Israel home demolitions
No writer mentioned -
Ma`an News Agency
24/12/10
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=344936
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Two United Nations representatives have criticized Israel for demolishing Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem, with a senior envoy saying the actions could violate international law.
On Thursday, a field worker for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which cares for Palestinian refugees, decried the `trauma and indignity` of two home demolitions in East Jerusalem.
`These condemnable acts have a devastating impact,` Barbara Shenstone said in a statement.
She said the two families affected opted to destroy their own homes rather than wait for Jerusalem municipality to do so because a municipal demolition would cost them up to 120,000 shekels ($33,389).
`While children around the world are enjoying the holiday season in their homes, these children have suffered the trauma and indignity of watching their homes destroyed in the presence of their parents. It is extremely cruel and distressing.`
A day earlier, Maxwell Gaylard, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, offered his own condemnation after visiting the site of a home that had been demolished 24 hours earlier.
`The destruction of this home and the displacement of these people raises serious concerns with regard to Israel`s obligations under international law,` he said.
`These actions have a severe social and economic impact on the lives and welfare of Palestinians and increase their dependence on humanitarian assistance,` he added.
`The government of Israel must take immediate steps to cease demolitions and evictions in the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.`
Israel says it demolishes only homes that have been built without a permit, but Palestinians say it is virtually impossible to secure Israeli permission to build in East Jerusalem.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the rest of the world.
UNRWA said Thursday that home demolitions have increased in 2010, listing the destruction of 396 Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem and areas under full Israeli control in the West Bank.
That figure was up from 275 the previous year, and left 561 people including 280 children without a home, the agency said.
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