Demolition of a Store in Kfar Kanna on the Grounds of Construction Without a Permit

SadaNews - This morning, Monday, Israeli authorities demolished a fruits and vegetables store in the village of Kfar Kanna in the Galilee region, northern Israel, under the pretext that it was built without obtaining a permit.

Eyewitnesses reported that machinery belonging to the authorities carried out the demolition operation under the protection of police forces and their units, which prevented residents from getting close until the demolition was completed.

For its part, the authorities claimed that the demolition was part of a "campaign to organize the construction sector and remove unlicensed structures."

In contrast, the store owner expressed his discontent with the decision, emphasizing that the store is his only source of livelihood, and demanded an opportunity to regularize his legal status instead of having it demolished.

The issue of house demolitions in Arab towns within Israel is one of the most contentious topics, due to its overlap with planning and construction issues, land policies, and the disparities between Arab and Jewish towns in terms of organization and urban development.

Arab towns suffer from limited areas designated for construction and a lack of approval for updated master plans for many years. As a result, thousands of citizens find themselves forced to build without permits, amid difficulties in obtaining legal building permits, whether due to bureaucratic complications or the unavailability of zoning plans that allow urban expansion.