In 2019, the incidence of East Jerusalem Palestinians demolishing their
own homes, having built without permits, increased significantly.
Residents do this to avoid thousands the city would have charged them
had it carried out the demolition itself. So far this year, 15 homes
have been demolished this way. Not seeing East Jerusalem residents as
equal citizens, Israel hardly allows them legal construction and
demolishes homes built without permits for lack of choice, all as part
of the effort to achieve its goal of a Jewish only city.