Nablus – Ma'an – 14 March 2010 - Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of a mosque under construction in the northern West Bank village of Burin on Sunday, head of the Palestinian Authority's settlement portfolio said.
Ghassan Daghlas told Ma'an that the Israeli Civil Administration issued a stop-order on works at the Salman Al-Farisi Mosque, which consists of three floors, ordering the demolition of the mosque's already built structures. The order was issued under the pretext that the mosque's renovations were undertaken without the necessary licence, Daghlas said.
The PA official said Israel's decision was a "dangerous procedure," unprecedented during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Palestinian lawyer Tawfiq Jabarin, who has taken on the case, told Ma’an that the Israeli Construction and Structure department in Beit El, an Israeli settlement in Ramallah, issued the demolition order. The order gave the Palestinians seven days to dismantle the new building, he said, adding that he spoke with Burin's mayor, Ali Eid, and updated him on the decision.
Mayor Eid confirmed the receipt of the Israeli order in Hebrew, which was forwarded to Ma’an via fax. He explained that the mosque was being funded by local residents and village’s people who live in abroad. It is the second largest mosque in the village, and is central, surrounded by Palestinian homes built since 1967.
Eid said Israeli authorities claimed the mosque was in area c, thereby falling under Israel's full purview.
Chief of the Palestinian Liaison Department Luay Sa'adi further told Ma'an he received Israel's response to the order, which said the mosque's demolition would be stayed. However, Sa'adi said an official letter from Israel halting the demolition has to be received.
Jabarin said Israeli courts dismiss "verbal agreements," adding that a halt order must be officially distributed by the Civil Administration detailing the demolition's suspension.
