building permits

The scene of the deadly earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, on February 8, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)

Are Palestinians prepared for a major earthquake of their own?

Experts warn that Israeli planning restrictions, a weak health system, and a lack of awareness pose serious risks in the event of a large-scale disaster.

By Vera Sajrawi February 24, 2023

Israeli forces demolish a home in the village of Khalet al-Daba, South Hebron Hills, August 11, 2021.

A broken ankle, a demolished home, and a crushed water cistern

In one day last summer, three Palestinian brothers in the South Hebron Hills paid the price for Israeli forces’ entry into their village.

By Ali Awad February 15, 2022

A Palestinian man is evacuated on a stretcher following clashes over Israeli home demolitions in the village of Walajeh, September 3, 2018. (Aviv Tatarsky/Ir Amim)

Several wounded as Israel demolishes four homes in Walajeh

The village, part of which was annexed to East Jerusalem but left on the West Bank side of the separation barrier, has over 50 pending demolition orders. Israel has not approved any building permits since 1967. By Aviv Tatarsky Israeli bulldozers demolished four homes in the Palestinian village of Walajeh early Monday morning. The homes…

By +972 Magazine September 3, 2018

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A Palestinian woman sits on rubble of a structure after it was razed by the Israeli army and Civil Administration in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, on the outskirts of the West Bank, November 24, 2011. (Issam Rimawi/FLASH90)

West Bank demolitions: Building up and tearing down on the way to annexation

Israel has not slowed down its demolition of Palestinian structures in the occupied territories in 2017, after a year which saw a record number of buildings destroyed. Demolitions of Palestinian structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2017 have so far continued at much the same rate as in 2016, a year in…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland January 31, 2017

View of the Arab village of Nahf in Northern Israel. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)

Tearing down before building up

In order to create genuine housing solutions for Arab society in Israel, existing homes and developments must be retroactively licensed. Only then will it be possible to tackle illegal construction. By Moran Aviv and Mohammad Khaliliyeh Several months ago the government authorized a plan to narrow the huge economic gaps between Arab and Jewish citizens by equalizing part of…

By +972 Magazine August 4, 2016

The remains of the Al-Rayyan yogurt factory after the Israeli army demolished it. (Photo by Youth Against Settlements)

IDF demolishes Hebron orphanage’s dairy factory

The Hebron dairy is the primary source of income for an Islamic organization that runs two orphanages and nine schools. Israeli army forces arrived to the outskirts of Hebron Tuesday morning and demolished the Al-Rayyan yogurt factory. The factory is owned by the Islamic Charitable Society (ICS) of Hebron and is the primary source of…

By Haggai Matar September 3, 2014

Israel's separation barrier surrounds a Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem. (Screenshot from '3 Houses')

WATCH: In Jerusalem, ‘Palestinians aren’t allowed to dream’

A short documentary film looks at three Palestinian families in East Jerusalem and their struggle to build homes. Filmmaker Omri Shenhar: ‘They drive us in their cabs, build our houses, and collect our trash. But when it comes to their rights we shutter our eyes and hide behind a wall.’ By Omri Shenhar A few…

By +972 Magazine May 28, 2014

Israel demolishes two Palestinian homes in Area C

As America celebrated the re-election of Barack Obama, it was business as usual in Israeli-controlled Area C of the West Bank. At least two Palestinian homes were demolished today. The residents’ ‘crime?’ They didn’t have building permits, which are issued by Israel and are next to impossible for Palestinians to obtain. According to Operation Dove, an…

By Mya Guarnieri Jaradat November 7, 2012