An Israeli Ministry of Public Security report suggested that the house demolitions undertaken by the Israeli authorities in ‘unrecognised’ villages in the Negev have sharply risen over the past year.

The Israeli authority’s practice of bulldozing agricultural land has also increased.

According to the data in the report, there has been a 54 per cent rise in demolitions during 2014 compared to 2013.

Based on the report, 1,073 homes in ‘unrecognised’ Arab villages were demolished in 2014, compared to 697 homes in 2013.

The report also stated that there had been an increase of “self-demolitions”. Some home owners are forced to demolish their own homes in order to avoid paying large fines and the demolition expenses.

In 2014, 716 buildings were “self-demolished” compared to 376 homes in 2013. The report considered this a “success”.

The report also showed that nearly 3,208 acres of land were bulldozed in 2014, compared to 1,853 acres in 2013.

(Middle East Monitor – www.middleeastmonitor.com)