Israel demolished more 130 homes in 2009

Al-Maqdesee society developing establishment reported Tuesday that Israel demolished more than 130 Palestinian homes in the eastern part of occupied Jerusalem in 2009, noting that this year has seen a remarkable rise in the number of demolished homes compared with last year.

In a press release, the establishment added that the owners of 23 homes were forced by the Zionist occupation (ZO) to demolish their own homes by themselves to avoid Israeli punitive measures if they did not.

It noted that the demolition of these homes led to the displacement of more than 569 Palestinians from Jerusalem including 281 children.

In another context, Dr. Taleb Abu Sha’ar, the minister of religious affairs, strongly denounced Tuesday the ZOA for letting extremist Jewish groups to storm and desecrate under military escort the Muslim cemetery of Al-Rahma Gate adjacent to the eastern side of the Aqsa Mosque.

In a press release, Abu Sha’ar noted that the ZO prevents Palestinians from burying their dead in this cemetery at the pretext that it intends to build gardens around the wall of the old city.

The minister called on the Arab and Muslim nations to urgently act and salvage the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem and its people from the serious Israeli violations committed against them.