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Illegal construction

A Palestinian woman reacts as she holds the dust from the rubble of her house which was demolished by Israeli security forces, in the Palestinian village of Beit Awwa in the southwest of the West Bank on February 11, 2026. (HAZEM BADER/AFP)
July 23, 2026, 6:35 pm
West Bank demolitions far higher for Palestinians than Israelis in 2025, rights group says
96% of demolition orders against Palestinian illegal construction were enforced, compared to 20% in settlements; no Palestinian building permits approved, vs 27,350 for settlements
By Jeremy Sharon
People inspect a house that was destroyed by Israeli authorities in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, December 30, 2025. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)
July 22, 2026, 10:38 am
As Jerusalem razes enclave to restore open space, Palestinians see city shutting them out
Residents of Silwan’s al-Bustan are up in arms over home demolitions, but authorities say structures were built without authorization and must make room for green space
By Zev Stub
Illustrative: Workers tend to daily tasks on a farm in the Galilee. (Yossi Zamir /Flash90)
March 9, 2026, 3:15 pm
Nature society calls to freeze ‘land grab’ retroactively legalizing Galilee farm buildings
SPNI says Agriculture Ministry plan to legitimize illegal structures on lands equivalent in size to Tel Aviv-Jaffa includes areas in nature reserves, national parks, forests
By Sue Surkes
Excavators demolish a building constructed without a permit in the Wadi Qaddum area near the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem on December 22, 2025. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
December 22, 2025, 7:00 pm
Authorities tear down East Jerusalem apartment complex after years-long legal battle
Two Palestinians arrested after brawl between locals and municipal workers; residents’ lawyer says talks were underway to retroactively legalize building, municipality rejects claim
By Charlie Summers
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (left) and Defense Minister Israel Katz (center) tour West Bank settlements alongside senior IDF officials, April 1, 2025. (Elad Malka/Defense Ministry)
April 1, 2025, 5:02 pm
Touring West Bank, Katz and Smotrich vow crackdown on illegal Palestinian construction
Defense minister says Palestinian Authority will be denied using construction as ‘strategic threat’ to settlements; finance minister boasts record demolitions in past year
By Stav Levaton and ToI Staff
Illustrative: Hasidic Jews in a synagogue in Bnei Brak, March 24, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
December 26, 2024, 7:03 pm
Report: Ben Gvir tried to prevent demolition of illegally constructed Haredi synagogues
Paper cites chief of Real Estate Enforcement Division as telling national security minister there could be ‘a second Meron disaster in Bnei Brak’
By Sam Sokol
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