Two Homes Demolished by Owners in Umm al-Fahm Amidst Demolition Orders
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Two residents of Umm al-Fahm, Saeed Qarmata Ighbariya and Mohammed Jamal Ibrahim Khalifa, have recently demolished their own homes to avoid hefty fines and costs associated with official demolition orders for building without permits. These self-demolitions highlight the severe financial and emotional toll on families in the Arab community facing a rise in demolition orders, with over 260 structures at risk in the Wadi Ara region. The cost of official demolitions can exceed 300,000 shekels, pushing residents to self-demolish despite the significant losses.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Saeed Ighbariya and Mohammed Khalifa self-demolished their homes in Umm al-Fahm to avoid high costs from authorities.
- Both homes were demolished due to building without the necessary permits.
- These incidents reflect a broader trend of rising demolition orders in Arab towns, particularly in Wadi Ara.
- Over 260 homes and structures in Wadi Ara face demolition orders.
- Official demolition costs can exceed 300,000 shekels, sometimes reaching one million shekels.
- Residents face a difficult choice between self-demolition or incurring massive debts.
Saeed Qarmata Ighbariya of Umm al-Fahm voluntarily demolished his own home in the al-Ayoun neighborhood after receiving late-night notification that Israeli police and bulldozers were scheduled to arrive at dawn on Tuesday to carry out the demolition. He opted for self-demolition to avoid substantial financial costs that would have been incurred if authorities had executed the demolition. Ighbariya expressed the profound suffering of homeowners facing demolition orders in the Arab community, highlighting the difficulties in obtaining building permits and the restrictions on construction. He questioned, "Where do we go? Do they want our children to become criminals?" referring to the psychological and social burdens imposed on families forced to demolish their homes after years of labor and expense.
Authorities ordered Ighbariya to demolish his home, built on his private land over two years ago, citing a lack of permits. His decision to self-demolish was to circumvent hefty fines and costs associated with an official demolition. Although Ighbariya had previously secured a freeze on demolition orders, police reportedly refused to allow him time to appeal to the court and insisted on his self-demolition.
Ighbariya's home is the second to be self-demolished in Umm al-Fahm within days. Last Thursday, Mohammed Jamal Ibrahim Khalifa demolished his home in the Sweisa neighborhood after a demolition order was issued, despite investing over 600,000 shekels in its construction. He was preparing to move in for his upcoming wedding. Khalifa also chose self-demolition to avoid additional costs and fines from the authorities, ending years of work and expenditure on a home intended to be the start of his married life.
These incidents occur amid a rise in demolition orders in Arab towns, particularly in the Wadi Ara region. Homeowners are facing increasing pressure to carry out demolitions themselves to escape the financial burdens of official interventions. Over 260 homes and structures in Wadi Ara are reportedly at risk of demolition, with 253 demolition orders issued across the region, including 119 in Umm al-Fahm, 65 in Ara and Arraba, 39 in Kafr Qara, and 30 in the villages of Tal'at Ara.
Data indicates that demolition costs incurred by homeowners when authorities execute demolitions can exceed 300,000 shekels, reaching up to one million shekels in some cases. This financial pressure compels families to opt for self-demolition, despite the material and human loss, to avoid accumulating debt and fines. These events underscore the planning and construction crisis in the Arab community, where residents face difficulties obtaining permits while an increasing number of homes are threatened with demolition, leaving many with the harsh choice of self-demolition or facing exorbitant costs if authorities carry out the orders.
