Demolition of Jerusalem terrorist's house suspended since 2004

The Jerusalem Municipality filed a motion asking the court to order the demolition of the east Jerusalem home of Hossam Dawyyat, the terrorist who carried out the bulldozer attack in central Jerusalem, back in 2004, but was denied.

The municipality issued an order for the Sur Baher's house demolition in mid 2004, due to building violations. In September of that year, Hossam Dawyyat's father petitioned the Jerusalem Municipal Court for a continuance, in order to appeal the decision to tear down the family home. He filed several other similar motions in the past four years, the last one in April of 2008.

The Jerusalem Municipality objected to each of the motions, but the court granted them still, choosing to suspend the order until April of 2009.

Sunday saw some 20 right-wing activists, including extremists Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir demonstrate several hundred yards away from the entrance to Sur Baher, demanding the terrorist's house be torn down.

The rally was authorized by the police, which deployed large forces in the area to keep the peace. According to the protestors, the police prevented them from coming near the village and the rally eventually dispersed quietly.

Rally at Zur Baher (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

"The police have laid the basis for the next riot," Marzel told Ynet. "It is inconceivable that the Jerusalem police kept up from protesting near the village. They don't want us coming in though the back door? Fine, we'll come in through the front. I can only assume some people won't coordinate (any future rally) with the police and will just show up demanding eh house be torn down."

In the wake of last Wednesday's attack, both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak called for the tearing down of the terrorists' house and a punitive measure.

A Justice Ministry debate on the matter, held last Thursday, found that though not illegal, such punitive measure may carry significant judiciary repercussions.