Qalansawe residents threaten action over home demolitions
City residents have erected a protest tent at the entrance to Qalansawe that has attracted Arab Knesset members and other residents who are promising violent protest if the new demolition orders are carried out.
The five additional demolition orders come on the heels of a firestorm caused by the demolition of nine previous homes in January.
In conversations with Ynet, protestors indicated their intention to protest violently or harm themselves if the demolitions go ahead as planned.
"We don't sleep at night and the situation is hard on the family," said Daliah Odeh, a resident of Qalansawe who received a demolition order for next week. "The house was built on private land. If they harm it, I will burn myself and my children. Why can't we be fined like our neighbors?"
MKs Ayman Odeh and Dr. Yousef Jabareen visited the protest tent to express solidarity with residents.
"We will defend the homes with our bodies," said Odeh. "We need to support the steps taken by the Mayor, Abed al-Basset Salameh, who met with those responsible in the government for building and demanded an arrangement with them."
In response to a request for a statement, the Ministry of Finance said, "We have no interest in responding."
